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Set a Default Super Fund

Employers are required to pay superannuation contributions on behalf of their employees. If an employee does not nominate a super fund, contributions must be paid into your organisation's default fund. This guide explains how to set one up in MyAccountant.

What Is a Default Super Fund?

A default super fund is the fund that receives contributions for any employee who has not provided a Standard Choice Form nominating their own preferred fund. Under Australian law, you must have a default fund in place before you begin paying employees.

Set Your Default Fund

  1. Go to Settings > Superannuation from the main menu.
  2. Click Set Default Fund (or edit the existing default).
  3. Search for the fund by name or USI (Unique Superannuation Identifier).
  4. Select the fund from the search results.
  5. Click Save.

The selected fund will now be used for any employee who does not have a nominated fund on their profile.

How It Works

  • When you add a new employee, if no super fund is entered, the default fund is automatically assigned.
  • If an employee later submits a Standard Choice Form nominating a different fund, you can update their fund on their profile. The default fund is not affected.
  • The default fund applies at the organisation level — all employees without a nomination will use the same default.

Choosing a Default Fund

When selecting a default super fund, consider:

  • MySuper product — your default fund must offer a MySuper product, as required by law.
  • Fees — compare administration and investment fees across funds.
  • Insurance — check what default insurance cover the fund provides to members.
  • Performance — review the fund's long-term investment returns.

You can search for and compare funds on the ATO's YourSuper comparison tool.

Stapled Super Funds

Since 1 November 2021, if a new employee does not nominate a fund, you must first check with the ATO whether they have an existing stapled super fund before using your default fund. A stapled fund is an existing super account linked to the employee.

To request a stapled fund determination:

  1. Log in to ATO Online Services for Business or your registered tax agent portal.
  2. Search for the employee using their TFN, name and date of birth.
  3. The ATO will return the stapled fund details (if one exists).

If a stapled fund is found, use that fund instead of your default. If no stapled fund exists, your default fund applies.

Important Notes

  • You must have a default super fund set before processing your first pay run.
  • The default fund must offer a MySuper product.
  • Always check for a stapled fund before applying the default to a new employee.