It’s Official: The payday super bill has passed parliament!

Big news for Australian employers, as of 4 November 2025, the Payday Super Bill has officially become law.
This marks one of the most significant payroll compliance changes in years, and it’s set to reshape how businesses manage superannuation.
The new rules come into effect from 1 July 2026, giving employers just under a year to prepare.
Let’s break down what’s changing, and what you need to do to get ready.

What Is the Payday Super Bill?

The Payday Super Bill is designed to ensure employees receive their superannuation contributions more frequently and transparently.
Under the new law, employers will be required to pay super at the same time as wages, rather than monthly or quarterly.

This reform aims to:

• Improve retirement savings for employees.
• Reduce unpaid or late super issues.
• Increase transparency and compliance across businesses.

When Does It Start?

The Payday Super changes take effect from 1 July 2026.
That means employers have about eight months to review payroll systems, update processes, and prepare their cashflow for the transition.

What This Means for Your Business:
Here’s what the new payday super rules require:

• Super must be paid at the same time as wages — no more monthly or quarterly contributions.

• Super contributions must be deposited within 7 business days of payday — ensuring employees’ retirement savings grow faster.
• Cashflow planning is critical — businesses will need to have that extra 12% for super ready for every pay run.

This shift means less lag time between paying employees and paying their super, so your payroll cycle will now include both wage and super payments together.

How to Prepare for the Payday Super Era

Transitioning to payday super will require some careful planning — but with the right systems in place, it can actually streamline your payroll processes.

Here’s what to focus on:

1. Review Your Payroll Setup
   • Check if your payroll software or accounting system supports same-day super payments.
   • Most major platforms (like Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, and Happy HR Payroll) are already working on updates to comply with the new rules.
2. Plan for Cashflow Impact
   • Super payments will no longer sit in your account for weeks or months.
   • That means you’ll need to have sufficient cash reserves for every pay run.
   • Forecasting and budgeting will be key — particularly for businesses with tight margins or large payrolls.
3. Automate Where Possible
   • Automation will be your best friend under the new system.
   • Set up automated super payments to ensure contributions are always made on time — avoiding compliance risks and penalties.
4. Communicate With Your Team
   • Let your employees know what’s changing and when.
   • Transparency builds trust — and many employees will appreciate seeing their super balances grow more regularly.

How Happy HR Can Help

At Happy HR, we’re already helping businesses get ready for payday super.

Our team can support you by:

• Reviewing your payroll setup for compliance and efficiency.
• Assessing your cashflow processes to ensure smooth transitions.
• Implementing automation options to simplify same-day super payments.

Don’t wait until July 2026, the sooner you prepare, the smoother the shift will be.

The Countdown Is On:

The Payday Super Bill represents a new era of payroll compliance — one focused on fairness, transparency, and financial security for Australian workers.
But for employers, it means acting now to review systems, processes, and budgets.
– Start planning today, and make sure your business is ready when payday super goes live on 1 July 2026.

Need Help Getting Started?

Talk to the experts at Happy HR.
We’ll help you build a compliant, automated, and stress-free payroll process, so payday super is simple from day one.

Get in touch today and let’s make your transition to the new super era seamless.