APRA-regulated Superannuation funds have specific obligations for reporting and paying unclaimed super money. The guidance was last updated on 1 October 2026 and outlines how funds should determine member entitlements, report unclaimed amounts and meet scheduled payment requirements. Pasted markdown

Under the Superannuation (Unclaimed Money and Lost Members) Act 1999, APRA funds are required to report and pay unclaimed super money. Funds must also consider a member’s individual circumstances in accordance with the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993. Pasted markdown

Member Circumstances Must Be Considered

Funds should make the member’s best interests their primary consideration when dealing with unclaimed super.

They are also expected to make reasonable attempts to contact members and advise them of their entitlement to a super benefit before reporting an account as unclaimed.

The relevant unclaimed money tests should be applied at the member level rather than the individual account level. Once a member’s benefit has been determined, the amount should be reported and paid on the next scheduled statement date. Pasted markdown

Reporting to the ATO

Funds must report and pay unclaimed super money in the approved form by the required due dates.

Where no unclaimed money, lost member accounts or inactive low-balance accounts need to be reported or paid, the fund is still required to lodge a non-lodgment advice. Pasted markdown

Accounts containing New Zealand-sourced amounts must be reported separately.

For state and territory public sector super schemes, different rules can apply where local legislation requires unclaimed super money to be reported and paid to a state or territory government instead of the ATO. Pasted markdown

Scheduled Due Dates

For an unclaimed money day of 31 December, reporting and payment are due by 30 April of the following year.

For an unclaimed money day of 30 June, the due date is 31 October of the same year. These scheduled dates do not apply to Trustee voluntary payments. Pasted markdown

Multiple Types of Unclaimed Super

Where more than one category of unclaimed super applies to a member, legislation sets an order of precedence.

The sequence begins with non-member spouse or deceased member amounts, followed by former temporary residents identified under a section 20C notice, members who have reached eligibility age, small or insoluble lost member accounts, inactive low-balance accounts and trustee voluntary payments. Pasted markdown

Confirm the Lodgment Has Been Accepted

Funds must ensure that the parent form lodgment and payment totals match. A payment carrying the matching payment reference number must also be sent with the data message.

Where processing is successful, an unclaimed super money outcome response is generally sent within three working days. Data-message errors must be corrected and resent within 30 days. Pasted markdown