Missing employee information¶

To pay an employee's super, you need a few key details about where the money should go. When one of those details is missing, the payment can fail to land, be returned, or not be paid at all — even though you did everything else right.

This lesson walks through the details that matter, what happens when one is missing, and a calm way to fill the gaps before you pay.

In one line

Super needs the right employee details to land — collect a fund, member number and TFN, request a stapled fund if none is chosen, and confirm before you pay.

Why this matters¶

Super is only counted as paid when the fund receives it. If a detail is missing, the money may never reach the fund, and you may not find out until later. Getting the details right up front avoids returned payments, chasing, and delays.

What you will learn¶

The details needed to pay super correctly
How missing details stop a payment landing
How to fill the gaps and confirm before paying

Understanding the concept¶

To send super to the right place, you generally need:

A chosen super fund — the fund the employee wants their super paid into.
A member number — the employee's account number with that fund.
A tax file number (TFN) — needed so the fund can match the money to the right person.

When a detail is missing, problems follow. With no fund chosen, there is nowhere to send the money. With no member number, the fund may not be able to match the payment. With no TFN, the fund may not be able to link the money to the employee.

The ATO explains that if a new employee is eligible to choose a fund but does not, you can request a stapled super fund — an existing account that follows the employee from job to job. You request it after they start, using their TFN, and the ATO tells you the fund to pay into.

For accountants & bookkeepers

The ATO's advice for a new starter is to offer choice of fund first (for example with the standard choice form). If the employee does not choose, you request their stapled fund. The ATO also notes there are consequences for not passing an employee's TFN to their fund, so collecting the TFN early matters.

Example¶

Sam is setting up a new employee for their first pay. The employee has not named a super fund. Rather than guess, Sam offers the employee a choice of fund. When no choice comes back in time, Sam requests the employee's stapled fund from the ATO using their TFN, and receives the fund details to pay into. Sam checks the member number and TFN are on file, then runs the pay knowing the super has somewhere to land.

Common mistakes¶

Running super for a new employee with no fund chosen and no stapled fund requested.
Missing the member number, so the fund cannot match the payment.
Not collecting the TFN, which the fund needs to link the money to the employee.
Paying before confirming the details are complete.

How this works in myaccountant¶

In the app — myaccountant flags gaps in an employee's fund and details before you pay, so a missing fund, member number or TFN is easy to see and fix. That gives you the chance to collect what is missing, or request a stapled fund, before the super goes out.

Key points¶

Paying super needs a chosen fund, a member number and a TFN.
A missing detail can stop the payment landing or being paid at all.
If no fund is chosen, offer choice, then request a stapled fund using the TFN.
The TFN lets the fund match the money to the right person.
Confirm the details are complete before you pay.
Filling gaps up front avoids returned payments and delays.

Learn next¶

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

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