Skip to main content

SuperStream FAQs

1. What is SuperStream?

SuperStream is the Superannuation data and payment standard introduced in 2012 to streamline the process of sending super contribution payment and accompanying data to an employee’s super fund in an electronic format.

2. What is changing with SuperStream?

From 1 October 2021, you are required to use the SuperStream standard when a member requests a rollover of their member balances to another super fund. This includes rollovers between APRA-regulated funds and SMSFs. Additionally, the following Release Authorities can be processed via SuperStream. This will improve the processing speed and simultaneously reducing errors.

  • First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) 

  • Excess Concessional Contributions (ECC)

  • Excess Non-Concessional Contributions  (ENCC)

  • Excess Non-Concessional Contributions Tax (ENCCT) 

  • Div 293 Due & Payable 

  • Div 293 Deferred Debt

Rolling super money to or from a non-complying fund is excluded from the SuperStream Standard

3. What SuperStream services are supported by the new BGL ESA?

The new BGL ESA will support SuperStream Contribution, Rollovers and Release Authorities.

4. Is the BGLSF360 ESA ROLL3.0-X compliant? 

Yes, BGLSF360 ESA is certified for Rollover v3. 

Ensure that your SMSF is registered on the BGLSF360 ESA and ATO's records have been updated accordingly.

If the external party (or transferring fund) has any concerns, please refer them to the SMSF Alias Lookup Table.

5. Can I register with the BGLSF360 ESA outside of Simple Fund 360? 

The BGLSF360 ESA is only available for BGL 360 users. To register with the new BGLSF360 ESA, the fund will need to be in Simple fund 360 and registered directly through the software.

For more information on how to register, click here. 

6. Is there a cost to using the AUSTPOSTSMSF and BGLSF360 ESA? 

AUSTPOSTSMSF and BGLSF360 ESA is free of charge when registered directly with Simple Fund 360.

As of 01/10/2021, all new registrations will use the BGLSF360 ESA only. Existing Australia Post registrations will continue to be supported for Contribution data in Simple Fund 360. The BGLSF360 ESA is only available for BGL 360 users. For more information on how to register, click here. 

7. Are SuperStream Rollovers & Release Authorities supported in Simple Fund Desktop?

Not supported in Simple Fund Desktop. SuperStream registered funds being migrated from Simple Fund Desktop to SF360 will have the option to switch over to the BGLSF360 ESA within SF360.

Notification letters for trustees and employers, with the new ESA can be prepared in SF360.

8. What if a fund in Simple Fund 360 uses an ESA other than BGL ESA or AUSTPOSTSMSF ESA?

If you decide to use an alternative ESA you will not be able to receive or handle SuperStream messages in Simple Fund 360.

SMSFs will have to check with the ESA provider on their support for Rollovers/Release Authorities and Contributions. Please see SMSF Messaging providers.

Users previously registered with the AUSTPOSTSMSF ESA on Simple Fund 360, will still be able to receive contribution data as before. 

9. Is it mandatory to register my fund with an ESA?

From 1st October 2021, SMSFs would need to use SuperStream to rollover member benefits to or from their fund. As such, if the fund is expecting rollovers, then the fund must register with an ESA, under SuperStream standards. 

However, the following rollovers are excluded from SuperStream Standards: 

  • Transfer of super from an overseas superannuation fund.
  • Application for contribution splitting from the member's account in Fund A to their spouse's account in Fund B.
  • Transfer of super between a member's account and their spouse's account in another fund under a family law superannuation split.
  • One or both of the parties are non-regulated/non-complying. 

SMSFs will have to check with the ESA provider on their support for Rollovers/Release Authorities and Contributions. Please see SMSF Messaging providers.

If you decide to use an alternative ESA to BGLSF360, SuperStream messages won't be integrated into Simple Fund 360. 

10. If the SMSF chooses to stay on the AUSPOSTSMSF ESA, is the fund SuperStream compliant for Contribution and Rollover purposes?

SMSFs will have to speak to Australia Post to find out about their SuperStream capabilities for rollovers and release authorities. Your SMSF will not receive SuperStream rollover data into SF360 if you stay on the AUSPOSTSMSF ESA. 

The SMSF is still compliant for SuperStream Contribution purposes if they choose to stay on the AUSPOSTSMSF ESA. The SMSF will still be able to receive SuperStream contributions data into SF360.

11. What is the transition period for funds that are currently registered with AUSPOSTSMSF ESA via Simple Fund 360 to change over to the new BGL ESA?

From 28/09/2021 you will be able to instantly switch from AUSTPOSTSMSF ESA to the BGL ESA. Remember to update the ATO details and the trustee employment details.

Click here, for more information on how to switch.

12. How do I notify the ATO of the ESA Change? Is there a timeframe to notify? 

SMSFs should ensure they notify ATO when changing their ESA, this can be done via the below methods: 

Refer to Changes to your SMSF for more information. 

There is no timeframe to notifying the ATO of these changes. However if you want to receive Release Authorities via SuperStream or expecting rollovers, ATO will need to be notified of the new ESA.

13. Is the SMSF allowed to have multiple ESAs?

SMSF can only have one ESA as only one ESA can be recorded on ATO systems at any point in time. The SMSF annual return only accepts one ESA.

14. What does the SMSF need to do prior to rolling super money to or from my SMSF using SuperStream?

From 1 October 2021, rollover of any super money to or from your SMSF needs to occur via SuperStream.

Prior to initiating a rollover request, the fund needs to ensure the following details are up to date with the ATO records. Delays in the process may occur if a transferring fund finds a discrepancy between the details held by the ATO and an SMSF's details. It is pivotal that all this information is up to date.

  • An ESA that supports SuperStream RolloverV3 services. To fully benefit from the functionalities built-in Simple Fund 360 for Rollovers / RA and Contributions through SuperStream, you have to use the BGL360 ESA. To register, click here. 

  • Make sure the SMSF has a Complying or Registered status. You can check the status of the fund on Super Fund Lookup.

  • SMSF ABN: Refer to Super Fund ABN Lookup. 

  • Up-to-date Member’s details. If it requires updating, refer to Changes to your SMSF. 

  • SMSF’s unique bank account (cannot be the tax agent’s bank account). This will be used for superannuation payments. If it requires updating, refer to Changes to your SMSF. 

  • Ensure your BGL Software ID is entered into ATO Access Manager for the transferring fund to access ATO’s SVS/SMSFMemberTICK services. The BGL Software ID is unique to the firm and can be found on the Lodging Party screen. This step is only required when processing a Roll-Out.

15. What does the SMSF need to do after changing their ESA in SF360?

SMSFs should ensure they notify ATO when changing their ESA (refer to Changes to your SMSF). If the SMSF is receiving employer contributions via SuperStream, they should also notify their employer of this change. You could do this by using the ATO’s Standard Choice Form or prepare the Employer Notification Letter in SF360.

Please ensure ATO’s records are up to date prior to initiating a rollover request as the process involves an obligation to perform checks on the receiving fund and member’s details including the ESA, matches those held by the ATO. A unique bank account (not a tax agent's bank account) is recorded with ATO.

16. How can a rollover request be initiated?

Members who wish to roll their benefits to another super fund have a number of options available to them.:

  1. For requests to rollover part of their super balance, members must make the request directly with either their existing super fund (transferring fund) or the fund they wish to roll the benefits too (receiving fund).
  2. For a request to rollover their whole super balance, members can choose to:

17. How long will paper form rollovers be accepted?

During the transition period from 31 March 2021 to 1 October 2021 funds are able to proceed with the rollover using their existing manual/paper process.

From 1 October 2021, funds will be unable to proceed with the rollover and should advise the member they are unable to complete the rollover because the ESA is not SuperStream ready.

18. What is the timeframe required to complete a rollover?

Regulation 6.34A of the SIS Regulations prescribes a three business day timeframe for standard rollovers and transfers and applies if a transferring fund trustee is required to rollover or transfer an amount to a receiving fund under regulation 6.34 SIS Regulations.

While members may approach either the transferring or receiving fund to request a partial or full rollover (they cannot initiate a partial rollover via ATO Online), the three-day timeframe does not apply until the transferring fund receives all the information required by the approved form. A trustee must request any further information required within five days of receiving the member’s request (6.33C(2)) and then must complete that rollover within three days of receiving that information.

19. Can I process a cheque for Rollover requests? 

As per the ATO's requirements, a cheque cannot be processed for rollover requests, rather it must be done via electronic payment.

The SuperStream standards require that the bank details of the receiving fund be included in the electronic message. Further, The Payment Reference No must be matched to the Electronic Payment Reference under SuperStream standard. 

20. Is payment via bank branch accepted for Rollover requests? 

As per the ATO’s requirements, payment via bank branch does not comply with the SuperStream Rollover Version 3 Standard. Funds do not have to accept these payments, and may choose to reject them as they do not comply with the standard.

Only electronic fund transfer via online banking is accepted under the SuperStream standard. In the event the SMSF trustee cannot transfer the total rollover amount due to daily limits set by their financial institution, ATO recommends to:
  • Increase your transfer limit with your financial institution.
  • Change the rollover amount to under your limit and repeat as required.

21. What are the SMSF Verification Service (SVS) and SMSFMemberTICK services and how does the fund access these ATO services?

SVS: Superannuation entities (transferring fund) who receive a request to rollover their member’s super balance to an SMSF must use the SMSF Verification Service (SVS) to verify the receiving SMSF details before making the rollover.

SMSFMemberTICK: Service that allows SMSF trustees and their nominated intermediaries to match member details to information held by the ATO using the member's TFN and other key identity information. SMSF trustees who receive a request to rollover their member's super balance to another fund must use the SMSFmemberTICK service to verify the member's TFN before making the rollover.

The above ATO  services must be used by the transferring fund before processing a rollout under the SuperStream standard. These have been built into Simple Fund 360.

For the transferring fund to access these ATO services as part of the rollout process within Simple Fund 360, you will need to enter the BGL Software ID into their ATO Access Manager. If you are already using SF360 for Annual Return lodgement, this would have been setup already. We would still recommend you to confirm the setup, prior to making the rollover out of the SMSF.

The BGL Software ID is unique to the firm and can be found on the Lodging Party screen.

22. Are death benefits rollovers included in SuperStream Rollovers?

Yes. Death Benefit Rollovers (DBR) paid to an adult recipient will be undertaken within the SuperStream Standard without the need for a Death Benefit Rollover Statement. DBRs to a child recipient will be managed through SuperStream but also require a Death Benefit Rollover Statement to be sent to the receiving fund.

23. What do IRR and RTR stand for?

Initiate Rollover Request (IRR), and Rollover Transfer Request (RTR). These are the message specifications used by the ATO.

Related articles