Payday Super: A guide for Accountants and Bookkeepers preparing their Clients

For many firms, payroll already feels like a balancing act, managing deadlines, client questions, and constant compliance checks. Now it is about to become even more demanding.

From 1 July 2026, employers will need to pay super at the same time as wages. Known as Payday Super, this reform is designed to improve transparency and ensure employees receive their super on time. But for accountants and bookkeepers managing multiple clients, it introduces tighter deadlines, faster payroll cycles, and the need for more automation and data accuracy.

The firms that start preparing now will be the ones who handle the change smoothly, avoid year-end stress, reduce client risk, and reinforce their role as trusted advisors.

What Payday Super means for firms

Every pay run will now include both wage and super payments. That means more frequent transactions, stricter reporting timelines, and increased visibility for the ATO.

Advisors can expect:

• More client questions about cashflow and payment timing
• The need to check payroll and super records more closely
• Greater pressure to automate and standardise payroll processes
  
  

The ATO estimates that around one in four small businesses pays super late or incorrectly, and non-compliance is highest among micro businesses in specific industries. To address this, the government will phase out the Small Business Super Clearing House (SBSCH) by 30 June 2026, with new businesses already unable to register.

That means firms relying on manual or SBSCH-based systems need to help clients move to software that supports SuperStream-compliant payments and start testing those workflows now.

Payday Super compliance: key updates advisors need to know

The reform goes beyond new payment dates. It reshapes how the ATO monitors, reports, and enforces super compliance.

Key points to understand:

• Super must reach the fund within seven working days after payday.
• Data accuracy matters. If fund details such as ABN, USI, or member number are wrong, the payment will not count as received.
• Penalties are increasing. Administrative uplift charges can reach up to 60 per cent of the unpaid super amount.
• ATO enforcement will be risk-based. In year one, the focus will be on education rather than fines, but repeat offenders or firms still paying quarterly will face higher scrutiny.

Steps to help your clients get ready for Payday Super

Preparation starts with understanding where each client stands today and who is most at risk.

1. Prioritise clients who will feel the biggest impact
   Start with clients who pay weekly or fortnightly. They will face the steepest cashflow adjustment, needing to keep roughly $3,500 extra in their account on average to meet new obligations, according to Easy Business App research.
   
   
2. Review payroll and super data
   Ensure every client’s payroll records are complete, including ABNs, USIs, TFNs, and member numbers. Missing or inconsistent data causes delays and rejections.
   
   Make data validation a standard part of your year-end review process.

3. Talk early about cashflow
   Clients who use deferred super as working capital will need to plan for this change.
   
   Paul suggests encouraging shorter invoice terms or enabling card payments. Businesses that accept card payments get paid up to three times faster, based on Easy Business App and Xero data.

4. Automate wherever possible
   Manual payroll systems cannot keep pace with these requirements. Every pay run now triggers both STP and super reporting.
   
   In Easy Business App, once payroll is finalised, Easy Super automatically calculates, submits, and reports payments via Beam, ensuring contributions reach funds within about 48 hours.
   
   Automation reduces the risk of missing deadlines, eliminates clearing house logins, and protects clients’ tax deductions by avoiding late contributions.

Managing Payday Super across multiple clients

When you are handling dozens of payrolls, visibility is everything.

With Easy Business App, advisors can:

• Manage multiple businesses under a single login
• See all payroll, super, and STP data in one dashboard
• Receive real-time error alerts and payment confirmations directly from the clearing house

This allows firms to spot missing payments early, track contribution status, and resolve issues without waiting weeks for a fund response. Easy Business App’s direct Beam integration means payments typically clear in two business days, compared to up to 14 days on other platforms.

Prepare your team before rolling out to clients

Before rolling out changes to clients, make sure your own team is ready.

• Train staff on Payday Super requirements and new workflows
• Run test pay runs that include super payments
• Create a checklist for client data reviews and cashflow impact checks

Testing internally first helps your firm develop repeatable processes and gives clients confidence that you are already ahead of the curve.

The benefits of preparing early for Payday Super

The ATO has confirmed that while the first year will focus on education, penalties will follow soon after.

By acting early, firms can:

• Identify and fix data issues ahead of the deadline
• Help clients plan for new cashflow needs
• Move clients away from SBSCH before it closes
• Standardise systems across all clients

Firms that adopt Payday Super workflows now will not just stay compliant. They will look proactive and reliable when clients need them most.

Give your clients a clear explainer with co-branded PDFs

One of the biggest challenges raised in the webinar was how to help clients understand Payday Super clearly, without firms having to design templates or write long explanations from scratch.

To support this, Easy Business App has created a co-branded one-page Payday Super explainer that advisors can download with their own logo.

With the branding tool, you can:

• Upload your firm’s logo
• Adjust the size and placement
• Download a polished PDF that is ready to send to clients

It’s an easy way to look prepared, keep messaging consistent, and give clients a clear summary of the changes without adding extra admin to your week.

Easy Business App will release more co-brandable resources as the legislation evolves, helping advisors keep clients informed every step of the way.

Free Payday Super Client Resources for Small Businesses and give clients a ready-to-send explainer with your firm’s logo in just a few clicks.

How Easy Business App supports advisors and their clients

Accountants and bookkeepers need tools that simplify compliance across every client, not add more admin.

Easy Business App combines payroll, STP, and super in one secure system. With built-in automation, real-time validation, and fast clearing through Beam, it is designed to handle Payday Super efficiently.

Advisors get full visibility, clients stay compliant, and payments are processed in days, not weeks.

As Paul summed it up:

“You can start doing Payday Super already. If you want your clients to get used to the cashflow impact, you can start paying super after every pay run today.”

Lead your clients through a smooth Payday Super transition

Payday Super is coming quickly, and clients will rely on you to lead the way. The firms that act now will save time, reduce risk, and strengthen client trust when the change arrives.

Start by reviewing systems, testing super inclusive pay runs, and helping clients move to software that is built for this new compliance era.

Easy Business App makes it simple. One platform for payroll, super, and STP, with Australian-based support and advisor tools to keep every client on track.

👉 Join the Easy Business App Partner Programme to access resources, training, and tools that help your clients transition smoothly.