ATO Issues Employer Warning Following $1.1bn Super Return

We have a big moment in Australia’s retirement‑savings system. The ATO recently revealed that it returned A$1.1 billion in unpaid superannuation to almost one million workers in the 2024–25 financial year. This move comes with a serious warning to employers: paying super on time is not optional. We will explain what caused the ATO alert and how the super gap became so large. We also outline what businesses and workers need to know now and what may happen next.