As payday super becomes mandatory in July 2026, choosing the right payroll software has never been more critical. Businesses must now ensure that superannuation contributions are calculated and paid at the same time as employee wages. This shift puts enormous pressure on outdated systems and manual payroll processes.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to evaluate and choose the best payroll software to support payday super compliance — without sacrificing speed, accuracy, or ease of use.
Table of Contents
Why Your Payroll Software Matters
The move to payday super means super contributions will happen weekly, fortnightly, or monthly — depending on how often your staff are paid. The right software ensures you:
- Avoid costly non-compliance penalties
- Reduce administrative burden
- Automate Super Guarantee (SG) calculations
- Submit contributions and Single Touch Payroll (STP) reports in real time
1. Evaluate Compliance Capabilities
The most important feature of your payroll software is its ability to handle payday super requirements:
- Real-time SG calculations: Can the system calculate SG for each pay run?
- Automated payment remittance: Does it send super to employee funds without manual steps?
- STP integration: Is it integrated with ATO STP reporting?
- Audit trails and receipts: Does it provide proof of payment and time stamps?
2. Integration With Fast-Clearing Super Providers
Some super clearing houses take several days to process contributions — this delay could make you non-compliant under the new rules. Look for payroll software that integrates with:
- Real-time clearing houses
- APIs that send payment data instantly
- Providers with payment confirmations and alerts
Pro Tip: PayTime integrates with fast-clearing super gateways that deliver confirmation of SG receipt within 24 hours.
3. Scalability and Customisation
As your business grows, your payroll system should scale with you. Choose software that can:
- Handle hundreds (or thousands) of employees
- Adjust to various award rates, pay types, and enterprise agreements
- Customise pay schedules and contribution settings per department or team
This is particularly useful for franchises, national businesses, or companies with high staff turnover.
4. Ease of Use and Support
Your payroll and HR teams will use this software weekly — ease of use is key.
- Is the interface intuitive?
- Are workflows simple and efficient?
- Can team members easily access reports and adjust entries?
- Is customer support responsive and based in Australia?
PayTime offers onboarding support, free demos, and ongoing training so businesses never feel left behind.
5. Cost vs. Risk
While free or low-cost software might seem attractive, non-compliance penalties can be steep:
- SGC Penalties: Interest + $20 per employee per quarter
- Lost time: Manual errors can mean hours of rework
Investing in a compliant, automated solution may actually save you money by:
- Reducing admin costs
- Avoiding ATO fines
- Preventing payroll errors
6. Reporting and Dashboards
Strong reporting tools allow you to:
- Track super payments per cycle
- Monitor compliance in real time
- Access audit trails for ATO review
Look for software with clean dashboards, downloadable reports, and exportable formats for your accountant or bookkeeper.
7. Real Business Case: How PayTime Helps
Case Study: Mid-Sized Retailer in NSW
- Employees: 78 across multiple locations
- Previous payroll: Manual SG via spreadsheets
- Problem: Constant missed deadlines, confused staff, ATO warnings
Solution: Switched to PayTime’s payday super-ready payroll
- Automated SG processing
- Integrated fast-clearing provider
- Customised scheduling for departments
- 3-hour onboarding and training
Result: Zero compliance breaches, time savings, and happier staff
Final Checklist: What to Look For
| Feature | Must-Have? |
| SG automation | ✅ |
| Real-time STP | ✅ |
| Fast clearing integration | ✅ |
| Australian support | ✅ |
| Custom pay cycles | ✅ |
| Clear audit trail | ✅ |
| Employee portal | Optional but useful |
Conclusion
Payday super is a major shift — but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. With the right payroll software, you can ensure timely contributions, avoid penalties, and support your employees’ retirement goals. Whether you have 5 staff or 500, switching now to a payday-super-ready platform like PayTime gives you a head start
