If you’re a small business owner who’s been using the ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House (SBSCH) to pay your employees’ super, we’ve got some news that might make you reach for another coffee. The free service that’s been making your life easier is closing down, and you’ll need to find an alternative before July 2026.

The government has announced that the SBSCH will be shutting down as part of the new “payday super” reforms. Here are the key dates:

• 1 October 2025: no new businesses can register for the SBSCH;
• 30 June 2026: last day existing users can use the service; and
• 1 July 2026: the SBSCH closes completely.

The closure coincides with new legislation that will require employers to pay super contributions at the same time as wages (payday super), rather than using the current quarterly system. Under these new rules, super contributions must reach your employees’ funds within seven days of each payday.

The ATO is pulling the plug because the SBSCH was designed for the old quarterly super payment system, and it simply doesn’t fit with the new payday super world we’re heading into.

If you’re one of the over 200,000 small businesses currently using the SBSCH, this change will impact you in several ways:

• You’ll need to find a new solution before the June 2026 deadline
• Costs might increase – the SBSCH is free to use, but may alternative solutions charge fees
• Timeframes will be tighter – under the new rules from1 July 2026, super contributions must reach funds within seven days of payday
• Your processes will change because you’ll need to integrate super payments into every pay run

If you’re already using payroll software for wages, payroll software with built-in super payments might be your easiest transition. Many popular accounting packages now include super payment features that let you pay contributions directly through the same system you use for payroll. The beauty of these integrated solutions is that once you’ve run payroll, paying super can be as simple as clicking a button.

Most super funds also offer free clearing house services to employers. These typically require you to register as an employer with that fund, but then you can manage contributions to multiple funds in one place. The main trade-off is that you’ll need to use a separate web portal and either upload data from your payroll system or enter it manually.

There are also independent commercial providers. These tend to offer more sophisticated features and can handle high volumes of transactions. Commercial providers often charge fees, but they typically offer robust compliance features and reliable processing.

The ATO recommends starting your transition early – don’t wait until 2026. This gives you time to test your new process and iron out any issues before the deadline.