Superannuation is a mandatory employer obligation in Australia. You must pay the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) for all eligible employees - currently 11.5% of their ordinary time earnings. Super must be paid at least quarterly by the due dates, and failure to comply results in the Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC), which includes the shortfall amount plus interest and an administration fee.
Identify which workers are eligible for super (most employees over 18)
Calculate 11.5% of each employee's ordinary time earnings (OTE)
Choose a compliant super fund for each employee (or use their chosen fund)
Pay super contributions at least quarterly by the due dates
Use SuperStream-compliant payment methods
Keep records of all super contributions and employee fund choices
Reconcile super payments against payroll records each quarter
Lodge the Super Guarantee statement if any payments are late
Businesses in Australia operating under the GST + BAS system must meet these compliance requirements set by ATO:
Paying super late - even one day late triggers the SGC
Not paying super on overtime, bonuses or commissions when required
Treating employees as contractors to avoid super obligations
Not using SuperStream-compliant payment methods
Forgetting to offer employees a choice of super fund
Not including super in cash flow planning, leading to payment shortfalls
SortBooks connects to your Xero account and finds transactions sitting in catch-all accounts. AI suggests the right account and tax code, learning from your own past coding. You approve it and SortBooks updates Xero. Reconciled transactions are locked by Xero, so those stay in SortBooks with an Open in Xero link.
AI suggests a category and GST + BAS code for each transaction. You approve it before anything changes in Xero.
Growth and above get a quarterly GST/VAT estimate to check before you lodge with ATO.
Ask about your P&L, cash and who owes you, using live Xero data. Every dollar figure is checked against Xero.
The SG rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2025. SortBooks can suggest the right account for super payments so they're recorded correctly in Xero.
Super must be paid at least quarterly: Q1 (Jul-Sep) due 28 October, Q2 (Oct-Dec) due 28 January, Q3 (Jan-Mar) due 28 April, Q4 (Apr-Jun) due 28 July. The payment must reach the fund by the due date, not just be sent.
SortBooks suggests the right account for super payments that land in catch-all accounts, and updates Xero once you approve, so your super expense is recorded correctly.
AI suggests, you approve, SortBooks updates Xero. Try it free for 14 days.