Struggling With STP Finalisation or Payday Super? Get Expert Help Now
If you're unsure about your Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation or your new Payday Super obligations, the best people to help are a registered BAS agent or bookkeeper - like the team at Key Admin. They lodge on your behalf, keep you compliant, and take the guesswork (and the stress) out of the ATO's deadlines.
As a small business in Melbourne or across Australia, payroll compliance can feel overwhelming right now. Two major obligations are landing at once, and getting either one wrong can be costly. Here’s what you need to know and where to get help.
STP finalisation: the 14 July cut-off
Every employer reporting through Single Touch Payroll must make an end-of-year finalisation declaration. This is what tells the ATO your employees' payroll data for the year is complete and correct, so they can lodge their tax returns.
The STP finalisation deadline is 14 July each year. If you can't finalise by then, you'll need to apply to the ATO for a deferral, you can't simply let it lapse. (Employers with closely held payees may have different due dates.)
ATO reference: End-of-year finalisation through STP. Also known as the STP finalisation deadline, this is a key payroll compliance requirement in Australia.
Getting this right matters: incorrect or late STP finalisation can hold up your employees' tax returns and flag your business with the ATO.
Payday Super: what's changing from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, the way you pay super changes completely. Instead of paying the super guarantee quarterly, you now need to pay it every payday, at the same time as wages.
The key things to know:
- Super must reach your employees' funds within 7 business days of each payday (limited exceptions apply, such as for new starters).
- Super is calculated on qualifying earnings, a broader base than before, still at the 12% rate.
- The Small Business Superannuation Clearing House SHSCH) has now closed, so if you relied on it, you'll need an alternative way to pay super.
- Missing the new deadlines triggers the super guarantee charge (SGC), assessed directly by the ATO.
These Payday Super changes in Australia significantly impact cash flow and payroll processes. And this is one of the biggest payroll compliance changes for Australian small businesses in recent years.
Who should you actually go to for help?
You don't have to work this out alone. The right person depends on what you need:
- A registered BAS agent or bookkeeper, for day-to-day payroll, STP lodgement, finalising your year, and setting up compliant Payday Super processes (ideal for small businesses needing hands-on payroll compliance support in Melbourne and across Australia)
- Your payroll software provider, to make sure your system is configured for Payday Super and STP Phase 2.
- Your accountant or registered tax agent, for tax strategy and complex structuring questions.
- The ATO website, for the official rules though it won't do the lodging for you.
Get help before the deadline
STP finalisation is due 14 July, and Payday Super is already in effect. If you’re not confident you’re on top of both, now is the time to act.
The Key Admin team can review your payroll, complete your STP finalisation, and set up your Payday Super processes correctly, so you stay compliant and stress-free.