Parliament yesterday passed legislation extending Single Touch Payroll (STP) to all employers from 1 July, this year, which Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert says will protect the rights of Australians to their superannuation.
The rollout of STP would give the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) up-to-date information on the amount of superannuation owed to employees, in what Robert labelled “an important improvement to transparency”.
“Employers should know the ATO will be able to closely monitor superannuation compliance, and employers will face severe consequences for ripping off their workers,” he said.
Industry Super Australia (ISA) just last week called for the STP legislation to be passed, believing that it could lead to a similarly automated system for regular superannuation payments.
The Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) also welcomed the legislation passing, seeing the potential for public accountants to help small businesses transition to digital payment systems.
“While it is appreciated that not all small or micro businesses are digitally ready for STP, their accountant is in the driver’s seat to assist them to meet these new reporting obligations,” IPA chief executive, Andrew Conway, said.
Australia’s superannuation sector is being held back by overlapping and outdated regulation, ASFA says, with compliance costs almost doubling in seven years – a drain on member returns and the economy alike.
Two of Australia’s largest industry super funds have thrown their support behind an ASIC review into how stamp duty is disclosed in investment fee reporting, saying it could unlock more capital for housing projects.
The corporate watchdog is preparing to publish a progress report on private credit this September, following a comprehensive review of the rapidly expanding market.
The fund has appointed Fotine Kotsilas as its new chief risk officer, continuing a series of executive changes aimed at driving growth, but NGS Super’s CEO has assured the fund won’t pursue growth for growth’s sake.