Payment Options
Frequency of Payments
Cbus requires employers to make monthly on-time payments. The Contribution Return form you receive each month from Cbus will clearly display the date by which payment is required.
Employer Payment Periods
Click here for weekly, fortnightly and monthly payments period date ranges for 2008. This will assist you once you have registered to become a participating employer to align your payment periods throughout the year.
Payment Methods
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Payments can be made to Cbus by: |
Clearing House |
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Cbus provides a Clearing House facility for employers which is provided by ADP Employer Services. Employers should contact ADP directly on 1800 000 729 to subscribe to this service. More information on ADP is available at http://www.asiapacific.adp.com/ |
Call Cbus on 1300 361 784 to obtain information about any of the payment systems outlined above. Administration is even simpler with our online facility. You can make payments, check payments have been received and change employee details all online, at your leisure.
You can have a look for yourself on our online contributions page.
Contribution Methods
Cbus offers several different ways of submitting contribution returns which have been designed to suit the size of your business:
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SuperSite - Payment by Internet |
SuperSiteTM allows you to lodge your contribution return and access your records via the Internet. It is particularly suitable if you have 40 or less employees. SuperSite will provide the following benefits to you at no cost:
Note: when adding new members, you will still need to mail completed Membership Application forms to Cbus. |
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Manual (Paper) |
The Cbus Service Centre will provide you with an Employer Contribution Return form to update each month to facilitate your monthly payments, and assist you to make them on time. This is not a bill or an invoice. Its purpose is to provide all the details necessary for the Cbus Service Centre to allocate each member's monthly contribution to his or her account. It lists all members for whom you paid contributions in the preceding month, provided payment was received on time. You can download an Employer Handbook which contains a Guide to Completing your Contribution Return form by clicking here. |
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SuperConverter |
SuperConverter allows you to send superannuation data directly from an electronic payroll system and submit your Contribution Return form to Cbus by disk or email. SuperConverter is compatible with many different payroll systems and can handle bulk transfers. Alternatively, we can provide you with a standard Excel spreadsheet which you update each month as necessary with amounts, details of new / terminated employees and contribution dates. You then attach the spreadsheet to an email and forward it directly to Cbus. (Suitable for employers with 40 or more employees). |
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SuperData |
SuperData provides an electronic contribution service for employers who do not use an electronic payroll system, and have up to 200 employees. The SuperData programs loads directly onto your PC. An email or disk with the contribution return is automatically generated. |
Call the Cbus Service Centre on 1300 361 784 to obtain information about any of the Contribution payment methods outlined above, for more information about submitting your contribution return, or help to select the best option for your business.
How Much to Pay
Employers must pay the minimum Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate (9% pa of ordinary time earnings) or any higher amount as set out in any enterprise agreement, industrial agreement or award, or as agreed between employer and employees.
If you make superannuation contributions under an award, your contributions also count toward meeting the SG if the award fund is a complying fund. You must ensure the contributions are enough to satisfy both the award and the SG.
Late Payments
Late payments or failure to pay contributions can disadvantage your employees and can attract penalties against you as their employer.
If your SG obligations are not met, the ATO will charge additional contributions, interest and fees. You can find further information about your SG obligations on the ATO website.
Insurance
New members joining Cbus can select up to six units of cover without medical evidence under the unique automatic acceptance conditions offered by the insurer. The benefit is available to employees joining Cbus provided that their completed and signed application form is received by the fund within six months of the member commencing work for a Cbus participating employer who is paying on time monthly employer contributions.
Participating employers should ensure that all new employees complete membership applications upon starting work. Employers need to send the completed membership forms promptly (within 28 days) with the monthly contribution return. This will ensure that members maximise their insurance cover at any time, subject to acceptance of satisfactory health evidence by the insurer. Members can contact the Cbus Service Centre on 1300 361 784 if they would like to change their level of insurance.
Superannuation Guarantee
The aim of the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is to provide better incomes for Australians in retirement and ensure that as many Australians as possible have access to superannuation providing higher standards of living in retirement for future generations.
The SG has applied since 1992 and since 1 July 2002 it has been 9% of earnings. The SG applies to all employees and it is up to the employer to ensure that existing employee superannuation arrangements comply, and make changes, where necessary.
The SG complements rather than replaces Award superannuation or obligations under industrial agreements such as Enterprise Bargaining Agreements. If the Award or industrial agreement specifies superannuation payments below the minimum required by the SG, the employer should make further contributions up to the minimum level (9% from July 1 2002).
An employer's liability to contribute is based on the employee's ordinary time earnings base (OTEB) where one has been established in an Award or agreement. Employers should be aware that the SG is payable on any allowances such as shift allowance, casual allowance or site allowance, if these are made as regular payments to the employee. Where the SG rate exceeds the agreed contribution in an agreement, then the employer must payer the higher amount.
It is important to check rates because in a number of cases the new SG rate of 9% might exceed amounts in existing agreements where these amounts are expressed in dollars.
Administration Problems
If you experience problems with any aspect of your Contribution Return, please telephone the Cbus Service Centre on 1300 361 784. You may prefer to email us or fax your query to 1300 361 794. Ring between 8am to 8pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday to Friday, for the cost of a local call from anywhere in Australia. Alternatively, contact your Cbus Employer Coordinator for assistance.
No Payment Due This Month?
If you do not employ any Cbus members in a particular month, you must still lodge an Employer Contribution Return form. This is important. If no form is received, Cbus will record you as being in arrears. Please write 'Nil' on the form and return it to Cbus.
