What does super stapling mean for your onboarding process?
Super stapling only applies to new employees, commencing on or after 1 November 2021.
You should follow your usual process of offering new eligible employees an ATO Superannuation Standard Choice form and give them as much information as you can about choosing a super fund that’s right for them. If they choose a super fund, you can submit it to Payroll/HR.
For each new employee that doesn't make a super fund choice, you'll need to search for a stapled super fund. Your search is done via the ATO Online Services for Business portal.
Where your employee has multiple existing super funds, the ATO determines which super fund is the stapled fund.
Unless a choice of fund has been received, you must contribute to the employee's stapled fund (if one exists).
If your employee doesn't choose a fund, and doesn't have a stapled fund either, contributions can be paid to your business’s default super fund or the fund named in the employee's EBA.
Frequently asked questions
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Can I pay super into my default super fund?
When a new employee commences employment on or after 1 November 2021, and no choice of fund is given, you’ll need to check for a ‘stapled’ super fund first. If the ATO advises there’s no stapled super fund for the employee, you can make contributions to your business’ default super fund.
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How can I check for existing funds?
Use the ‘Request stapled fund’ form online, available through ATO online services. You’ll receive an online response when the form is processed (within minutes). A phone service alternative will be available to users without access to online services.
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How long do I have to wait for a response to my check?
The ATO expects results to be available on screen within minutes when using their services.
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What if I’m onboarding hundreds of new employees at once?
The ATO are developing a solution for large volume stapled super fund requests, available from 1 November 2021.
For more information on bulk stapled super fund requests, visit Request stapled super fund details for employees | Australian Taxation Office.
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What information will my employee receive?
If the ATO provides a stapled super fund response, your employee receives an SMS notification of this, if they have a valid mobile number with the ATO, and/or a letter (via myGov or paper).
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Can an employee refuse a check of their stapled super fund status?No. Employees are also unable to nominate which of their existing super accounts is stapled. Instead, they should choose their fund by completing the Superannuation Standard Choice form.
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Can my employee change from the stapled fund later, after commencing employment?
Yes. Employees can complete the Superannuation Standard Choice form again, to nominate a new superannuation fund.