The ATO returned over $1 billion in unpaid super to workers in 2024–25 as compliance actions intensified.
The Australian Taxation Office said $1.1 billion in unpaid super had been returned to nearly one million people’s super funds in 2024–25.
Deputy Commissioner Ben Kelly said the latest figures showed the ATO’s compliance efforts to protect employee super entitlements continue to pay dividends.
“We issued over 200,000 proactive reminders and prompts, helping more employers stay on track, as well as taking stronger action against those employers who failed to comply.”
The ATO raised almost $800 million in Superannuation Guarantee Charge liabilities, supported by 120,000 reminders, more than 70,000 prompts and approximately 15,000 audit cases.
While most employers met their Superannuation Guarantee obligations without intervention, the ATO said the more than $200 million in penalties raised should warn employers that paying accurate super entitlements on time was not optional.
“The ATO works with employers to support their compliance with tax and super obligations, and takes non-compliance with super guarantee obligations seriously.”
Over the past year, the office took more than 20,000 firmer actions against employers that failed to pay the liabilities owing, including issuing director penalty notices, garnishees and taking legal action when required.
“The ATO is committed to ensuring Australia’s workers receive their entitlements. Employers are required to pay superannuation for their eligible workers in full, on time and to the right fund,” Kelly said.
The ATO said improved access to near real-time Single Touch Payroll and superannuation fund data had strengthened its ability to detect and respond to non-compliance.
“The introduction of Payday Super will allow the ATO to detect unpaid super earlier and take action to help a business get back on track and stay on track. For those businesses who don’t want to pay, the ATO will be able to take action faster to protect their employees’ super entitlements.”
