Super reconciliation¶

There are three numbers for super: the amount you worked out, the amount you reported, and the amount the fund actually received. Reconciling super means checking that all three line up — for each employee and each period.

When they match, you know the super has landed where it should. When they do not, you have found a problem early, while it is still easy to fix.

In one line

Reconciling super means checking that the super you calculated, reported through STP, and the funds actually received all match — per employee, per period.

Why this matters¶

Super counts as paid only when the super fund receives it — not when you send it. So it is possible to think super is done when the money is still stuck somewhere, or has been sent back. Reconciling catches these gaps. It protects your employees' super and protects you from a late or missed payment you did not know about.

What you will learn¶

What super reconciliation means
A simple routine you can follow each period
The common gaps to look out for

Understanding the concept¶

Reconciling super is just a three-way check. For each employee and each period, compare:

Calculated — the super you worked out on the correct earnings in the pay run.
Reported — the super you reported to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) through Single Touch Payroll (STP).
Received — the super the fund actually received, confirmed by the fund or your clearing house.

If all three agree, that employee is reconciled for that period. If they disagree, the difference tells you where to look.

A simple routine:

After each pay, check the calculated super matches what STP reported.
After you pay, wait for the fund or clearing house to confirm receipt.
Compare the received amount against the calculated amount.
Follow up anything that does not match, then note it as resolved.

For accountants & bookkeepers

The riskiest of the three is "received", because it depends on parties outside your payroll. The ATO points out that a payment is only counted as paid when the fund receives it, and that a clearing house payment which is not processed, or reaches the fund late, counts as a late payment. So reconcile against fund or clearing-house confirmations, not against the date you pressed pay. Under Payday Super (from 01/07/2026) super must reach the fund within seven business days of payday, which makes prompt receipt checks part of the routine, not an end-of-quarter task.

Example¶

Sam, a bookkeeper, reconciles super at the end of a period. For four of five employees, the calculated, reported and received amounts all match — done. For the fifth, the calculated and reported amounts agree, but the fund shows nothing received. Sam checks the clearing house and finds the contribution was returned because that employee's fund details were out of date. Sam updates the details, resends the contribution, and confirms the fund receives it. Because Sam reconciled, the gap was found and fixed instead of sitting unnoticed.

Common mistakes¶

Treating "sent" as "received" — super is paid only when the fund receives it.
Missing a returned contribution — money sent back by the fund (often wrong member or fund details) that never reached the employee.
Reconciling only the total, not each employee — one employee's gap can hide inside a matching grand total.
Reconciling too late — small gaps are easy to fix early, harder near a due date.

How this works in myaccountant¶

In the app — myaccountant shows what super was reported and what was paid for each employee, and the status of each contribution as it moves to the fund. This helps you compare the calculated, reported and received amounts and spot a contribution that has not reached a fund or has been returned.

Key points¶

Reconcile three numbers: super calculated, reported, and received by the fund.
Do it for each employee and each period, not just the total.
Super is only paid once the fund receives it — check confirmations, not send dates.
Watch for returned contributions and payments that never reached a fund.
Reconciling early makes any gap quick and cheap to fix.

Learn next¶

General information only — not tax, super or financial advice.

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