Frequently asked questions

By setting up a Hostplus employer account, you join hundreds of thousands of employers who enjoy benefits like:

• support from our dedicated Employer Services team
• information and updates on your employer obligations and changes to super rules 
• 24/7 online access to your account 
• easy super payments through QuickSuper, our compliant online clearing house.  

But it’s not just employers that benefit. If your employees join Hostplus, they’ll get a whole host of positives, including a low admin fee, strong long-term performance, greater choice and control over their investment options, and innovative and simple member service solutions. Want to learn more? Head to our Why Choose Hostplus page. 

No, there are no joining or ongoing fees for employers. 

We’re here to help. If you’ve got questions before joining Hostplus, or need support once you’ve become a registered Hostplus employer, our dedicated in-house Employer Services team is here to guide you. We’ll also keep you up to date with relevant super information or changes. Contact us.

Joining Hostplus takes less than 10 minutes online using our Join and Pay tool. Visit our Employer Join page for more.

Once you’re a Hostplus employer, it’s easy to make Hostplus your default fund. Head to the Make Hostplus your default fund page to learn more.

Our New Business team, located in offices across the country, can provide you with support both when you join Hostplus and for your future service needs.

Employers must pay Superannuation Guarantee (SG) contributions on behalf of employees who are:

• aged 18 years or over and employed on a full-time, part-time or casual basis (including those who are working in Australia temporarily), regardless of how many hours they work, and  
• aged under 18 years and work more than 30 hours in a week. 

The current Superannuation Guarantee (SG) law requires you to pay eligible employees a minimum of 12% of their ordinary time earnings (OTE). If your employees are covered by an award or employment agreement that specifies a higher super contribution than 12%, you must pay the higher amount.

For the latest information about SG rates and ordinary time earnings, call the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on 13 10 20 or visit ato.gov.au. 

Until 30 June 2026 (during the transition to Payday Super), employers are generally required to pay SG contributions at least quarterly, although some employers choose to pay more frequently.

From 1 July 2026, Payday Super applies. This means SG contributions must be paid each time you pay your employees’ salary or wages, and generally must be received by your employees’ super fund within 7 business days of each payday, subject to limited exceptions (for example, new employees).

Your pay frequency, employment arrangements, awards or agreements may affect how and when super is paid.

The table below outlines common scenarios for when super contributions are due under Payday Super.  These examples are illustrative only, and timeframes may vary depending on the circumstances.

SG obligations are met when contributions are received by the employee’s super fund within the required timeframe. In some cases, contributions may be allocated to an employee’s account after they are received. However, if a contribution cannot be allocated and is rejected and returned (for example, due to incorrect account details, an invalid member number, or a closed account), the SG obligation may not be met.

Employers with defined benefit or other non standard super arrangements may have different processes for meeting SG requirements. If this applies to your business, you should seek specific advice to ensure your obligations are met.

If you don’t pay your SG contributions by the required due date, you may be liable for the Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC), which is paid to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). 

From 1 July 2026, under Payday Super, SG contributions must generally be received by your employees’ super funds within 7 business days of each payday. If this timeframe is missed, the SGC may apply.

The SGC is made up of three parts:

• the outstanding super amount (i.e., the SG shortfall)
• an interest charge of 10% p.a. on the SG shortfall, and
• an administration charge of $20 per employee per shortfall period.

A shortfall period is the period for which SG has not been paid on time – under Payday Super, this generally aligns to each payday where SG is not received by the fund within the required timeframe.

The SG Charge is not tax deductible and additional penalties and charges may also apply. 

If you have questions about the SG charge and other consequences of not paying super on time, call the ATO on 13 10 20 or visit ato.gov.au 

Super fund ‘stapling’ was introduced into legislation to prevent the creation of multiple super accounts. It means that an employee’s super fund will automatically move with them when they change jobs – unless they specifically tell their employer otherwise. 

As an employer, you still need to provide new employees with a Superannuation Standard Choice form when they start working for you, and you’ll still need to pay their super into their chosen fund. If they don’t nominate a fund, you’ll need to check with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for a stapled fund. Where an employee doesn’t choose a fund and doesn’t have a stapled fund, you’ll pay their super into your default fund. 

Under the government’s SuperStream standards, you need to make your employees’ super payments through a SuperStream-compliant system of your choice. There are a few payment options available, including: 

• our clearing house, QuickSuper, which lets you make super contributions for all your staff in one simple transaction – regardless of their super fund, 
• an alternative SuperStream-compliant clearing house solution, or 
  
• through your payroll system – check with your software provider to ensure your payroll system is SuperStream-compliant.  

Visit our How to make payments page to learn more about payment options. 

IMPORTANT: The Australian Taxation Office’s Small Business Clearing House will no longer accept payments from 1 July 2026.  If you currently use this service, you’ll need to switch to a SuperStream‑compliant payment method by that date More information from the ATO (Small Business Clearing House).

A clearing house allows you to make a single lump sum superannuation payment for all employees across multiple superannuation funds. The clearing house then distributes the contributions to each employee’s super account, based on your instructions. 

Registered Hostplus employers don’t pay any fees to use our QuickSuper clearing house solution. 

Yes. Our clearing house, QuickSuper, allows you to make all your employees’ super contributions in a single payment. This includes payments to other super funds. 

Our Register for QuickSuper page provides resources and FAQs for QuickSuper users. Prefer to talk to someone? Contact our Employer Services team.