Super Stapling Checker — Australia 2026
Check what happens to your super under the 2021 stapling rules when you change jobs in Australia. Tool walks through ATO Your Super pathway, identifies whether your existing fund follows you automatically, and shows employer obligations. Includes 2026 super guarantee rate (12%) and Payday Super July 2026 transition rules.
| 2026 Super Guarantee Rate | 12.0% |
| Estimated Annual SG on Your Salary | — |
| Stapling Rule Applies? | — |
| Will Employer Open New Account? | — |
| Payday Super Effective | 1 July 2026 |
| Multiple Account Risk | — |
What is Super Stapling?
Super stapling is the Australian government rule that became law on 1 November 2021. Under stapling, your superannuation fund "follows" you from job to job — instead of every new employer opening a new default super account, your existing super account automatically becomes the destination for new employer contributions. The rule was introduced to stop the proliferation of multiple unused super accounts (which were costing Australians billions in duplicate fees and insurance premiums) and is administered by the ATO via the Your Super online portal (source: ato.gov.au).
When you start a new job, your employer must first ask if you want to choose a super fund. If you provide a choice, they must use that fund. If you do not provide a choice, the employer requests your stapled fund details from the ATO using your Tax File Number. The ATO returns your existing fund details, and the employer makes contributions there. Only if you have no stapled fund (typically because you have never had super before) does the employer use their own default fund.
The 2026 Super Guarantee Rate is 12%
The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate was 11.0% in 2024, rose to 11.5% on 1 July 2024, and reached its final legislated level of 12.0% on 1 July 2025. For tax year 2025-26 (July 2025-June 2026) and ongoing, every employer must contribute 12.0% of eligible wages to the employee's chosen or stapled super fund. The Maximum Super Contribution Base for 2025-26 caps SG at salaries above $65,070 per quarter ($260,280 annual) — employers are not required to pay SG on income above this threshold (source: ato.gov.au/super-for-employers).
From 1 July 2026, Payday Super takes effect — employer SG contributions must be made within 7 business days of each pay event rather than the current quarterly timing. This means employees will see contributions arrive in their super fund much more frequently. The new timing applies to all employers and all employees in standard employment. See our Payday Super employer checklist for full compliance details.
How to Find Your Stapled Fund
You can find your stapled super fund through the ATO Your Super online service. Log in to myGov and link the ATO service. Under "Super → Manage → Transfer super," you will see a list of all known super accounts associated with your TFN, including which one is currently stapled. If you want to consolidate accounts, you can also initiate transfers from this screen — but pause first: an active insurance policy in one of those funds may not transfer cleanly, and merging funds can extinguish valuable insurance cover.
Before consolidating super funds: check insurance coverage in each account (life, total permanent disability, income protection), check exit/transfer fees, check current investment performance, and consider whether one fund has materially lower fees. After consolidation, compare with our superannuation balance projector for retirement planning.
Common Stapling Scenarios
Scenario 1 — first job ever, no super history: employer will open a default fund and that becomes your stapled account from then on. Choose carefully if you have any preference. Scenario 2 — changing jobs with existing super: employer requests stapled fund from ATO, contributions go there automatically unless you provide a choice form. Scenario 3 — multiple accounts from past jobs: consolidate via myGov Super to reduce duplicate fees, but verify insurance before merging. Scenario 4 — gig economy / multiple part-time jobs: each employer must contribute SG to your stapled fund regardless of how many employers you have.
The key consumer protection: stapling prevents accidental creation of new accounts but does not prevent you from actively choosing a different fund. Your right to choose superseded everything — if you provide a choice form on day one, that fund is used regardless of stapling. See our super balance projector and super concessions calculator. Last updated April 2026. Sources: ato.gov.au, moneysmart.gov.au, Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.