SBSCH has closed: how do you pay super now?

The Small Business Super Clearing House (SBSCH) closed permanently on 1 July 2026. If you used this free ATO service to pay your employees' super, you now need another way to do it. This post explains what changed, who it affects, and the steps to keep your staff super flowing without a late payment.

What has actually changed

The SBSCH was a free service run by the ATO. You sent one payment with all your staff super details, and it split the money out to each fund for you. As of 1 July 2026 that service is switched off. You can no longer log in, and you can no longer view or download your old records.

There is one trap to watch. Any super payment that reaches the SBSCH on or after 1 July 2026 is sent back to you, and that return can take up to 7 business days. If you are close to a due date, that delay alone could make your payment late.

If you have not moved to a new provider yet, do it before your next super run.

Who this affects

This matters to any small business that used the SBSCH to pay staff super. Sole traders paying only their own super into their own SMSF were not using the clearing house in the same way, so this change is really about employers with staff.

The pressure point is the next quarterly deadline. Super for the April to June 2026 quarter is due by 28 July 2026. Your replacement method needs to be chosen, set up, and tested before that date, not on the day.

Your replacement options

The ATO lists a few ways to pay super under the SuperStream rules. The right one depends on how you run payroll:

• Payroll software with a built-in super feature, which handles the data and the payment together.
• A commercial clearing house, which works much like the SBSCH did but is run by a private provider.
• Your employees' super fund, as many larger funds offer their own clearing house service.
• A messaging portal, which converts your contribution data into the right format and sends it to each fund while you make one payment.

For most small employers, the super feature inside your existing payroll software is the simplest path, because you are already entering the pay data there.

How to switch across safely

Moving provider is straightforward if you take it in order. Here is a simple run of steps:

1. Pick your new method from the options above.
2. Check it is SuperStream compliant. Payroll and clearing house providers will confirm this, or you can check the ATO's certified product register.
3. Gather each employee's details: their tax file number, plus their fund's ABN and unique superannuation identifier (USI).
4. Set up the new provider and run a small test payment well before 28 July.
5. Keep proof of the payment date for your records.

One timing point matters with commercial clearing houses. Your super counts as paid on the date the fund receives it, not the date the clearing house receives it from you. Under the old SBSCH, the payment counted the moment the clearing house accepted it. So leave a few extra days before the due date so the money reaches the fund in time.

Common mistakes to avoid

The three that catch people out are leaving the switch too late, still sending money to the old SBSCH details out of habit, and forgetting that a commercial clearing house needs extra lead time. Any of these can turn an on-time payment into a late one.

Late super is not just a timing problem. If you miss the deadline you have to pay the super guarantee charge, which is more than the super itself, includes interest and an admin fee, and is not tax deductible. Paying on time keeps it simple and keeps it deductible.

A worked example

Say Priya runs a cafe with four staff and always used the SBSCH. In early July 2026 she sets up super payments through her payroll software, enters each employee's fund ABN and USI, and runs a $50 test contribution to check it lands. It arrives at the funds two days later, so she knows the setup works. On 20 July she pays the full April to June quarter, a week before the 28 July due date. Because she switched early and tested first, her staff super is paid on time and she avoids the super guarantee charge completely.

The SBSCH closed for good on 1 July 2026, and payments sent to it are now returned within 7 business days.

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still log in to the SBSCH to see my old records?⌄

No. The service closed on 1 July 2026 and you can no longer view or download your records. Save anything you need from your own payroll or bank records instead.

What happens if I accidentally pay super to the SBSCH now?⌄

The payment will be returned to you within 7 business days. That delay could push you past a due date, so switch to a new method before your next run.

When is my next super payment due?⌄

Super for the April to June 2026 quarter is due by 28 July 2026. Make sure your new payment method is set up and tested before then.

Which replacement is easiest for a small business?⌄

For most small employers, the super feature built into payroll software is the simplest, because it handles both the data and the payment in one step.