Superannuation or Super is money set aside over your lifetime to provide for your retirement. It is equivalent to a pension or social security payments in other countries.
For most people, super begins when they start work and their employer starts paying super for them – these payments are known as super guarantee contributions.
Super funds invest your money in many things such as property, shares and managed funds. Complying super funds receive more favourable tax treatment than individuals and companies.
If you want to make the most of your super, you need to understand a few of the rules, including:
- Who pays your super, how much they should pay and when they should pay it
- How tax applies to super funds
- When you can access your super benefits, and
- The caps on the tax concessions offered, so you don’t breach them and face a higher rate of tax.
If you have worked in Australia on a temporary visa and are not Australian or a New Zealander and intend to leave Australia permanently, you may be entitled to a refund of your superannuation.
What are the steps?
- Any questions go firstly to FAQs otherwise Lets Talk
- Complete the application and tick the box Superannuation Refund. Start Saving
- What is superannuation?
- Who is eligible for a superannuation refund?
- What is the rate of contribution?
- How often are the contributions made to your fund?
- Can I apply for a refund of the superannuation that I paid while working in Australia?
- When may I claim my superannuation refund?
- How much superannuation can I get back?
- I am a Permanent Resident who has left Australia for good. If I cancel my Permanent Residency can I get my super back?
- Can I claim my Superannuation (Pension) back if I have left Australia permanently and my visa has expired?
- I worked in Australia a long time ago - can I still get my superannuation refund?
- How can you help in getting my superannuation back?
- From where do you claim your superannuation refund?
- How are you different to other companies?
- Am I able to pick my own superannuation fund for my employer to contribute to?
- How long will it take to get my refund?
- How do I cancel my visa?
- How do I certify a document?
Q. What is superannuation? 
A. Superannuation is a mandatory amount of money paid by your employer into an account in your name with Superannuation Fund for your retirement. All workers including temporary residents to Australia are entitled to superannuation.
This is equivalent to pension or social payments in other countries. Generally, if you meet the following requirements:
- you earned more than $450 per month;
- you are over 18 years of age
- you are not working in domestic or private services for less than 30hrs/week; and
- you are not covered by a bilateral superannuation agreement (i.e. USA, Netherlands or Portugal employees on secondment in Australia).
Your employer will automatically deduct amounts from your salary/wages and contribute this amount to your superannuation fund on your behalf. The amount deducted is currently 9% of your gross salary.
You may not be aware of how much these superannuation contributions amount to.
Please contact us so our friendly staff can provide an approximate estimate of your superannuation refund.
Q. Who is eligible for a superannuation refund?
A. Most individuals who have entered Australia on a temporary visa that entitles them to work, and are departing permanently, are eligible for a refund.
However some circumstances might change this eligibility; if you have applied for residency in Australia or you are a New Zealand resident you will not be eligible.
Please contact us if you have further or specific enquiries in regards to superannuation refunds.
Q. What is the rate of contribution?
A. Superannuation is calculated at 9% on your gross weekly earnings subject to certain limited exceptions such as if you earn less than $450 per month.
Q. How often are the contributions made to your fund?
A. The contributions must be made by your employer, a minimum of 28 days after the close of each quarter.
Q. Can I apply for a refund of the superannuation that I paid while working in Australia?
A. You can claim your superannuation contributions (paid by your Australian employers into a superannuation fund on your behalf, 9% of gross earnings) if you have left Australia permanently and your visa has expired. You will need your superannuation fund name and superannuation membership number from your employers.
Q. When may I claim my superannuation refund?
A. You will be able to claim your refund once you have: finished working for your employer; departed Australia and your visa has expired. You will not be able to claim until both these conditions have been satisfied.
However, if your visa is still valid after you have left Australia and you do not intend to return on that visa, please arrange cancellation otherwise we can arrange it for you.
Q. How much superannuation can I get back?
A. Please contact our friendly staff for an estimate of your superannuation refund.
Q. I am a Permanent Resident who has left Australia for good. If I cancel my Permanent Residency can I get my super back?
A. The concession to claim back superannuation is available to those that have superannuation contributions while they are on a temporary work visa, who have left Australia permanently and their temporary visa is cancelled. If the contributions are made while you are on a Permanent visa then you have to wait for normal retirement age in Australia to collect the funds.
Q. Can I claim my Superannuation (Pension) back if I have left Australia permanently and my visa has expired?
A. Yes.
Q. I worked in Australia a long time ago - can I still get my superannuation refund?
A. Yes – provided you have left Australia permanently and your visa has expired (or cancelled), you can claim your Australian superannuation refund as far back as 1992. Fill out our application form and submit the relevant documents and we will get this money back for you.
Q. How can you help in getting my superannuation back?
A. We can organise all necessary documentation and apply for your refund for no upfront fee. We will ensure you receive the maximum return on your superannuation in the quickest possible time. If you do not receive a refund there is no fee!
To claim back your Super Start Saving.
Q. From where do you claim your superannuation refund?
A. You can only claim your superannuation refund from the funds themselves and not from your employer.
Q. How are you different to other companies?
A. Our registered Tax Agents are able to deal directly with the ATO for you. They are also Chartered Accountants which is the highest possible accounting qualification in Australia, granted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Australia.
To ensure your security, we put all refund money into a trust account.
Our staff have detailed understanding of temporary resident tax and super issues, and are willing and able to help you.
They are also sensitive and understanding and can assist you with your needs.
Q. Am I able to pick my own superannuation fund for my employer to contribute to?
A. You are able to choose your own nominated super fund for all your jobs so you can get your money back quickly. We use Colonial First State. Contact them on 1300 300 273.
Q. How long will it take to get my refund?
A. Approximately 6 weeks after you have permanently left Australia and your visa has expired or been cancelled. This is assuming we have received all the necessary information. It will take additional time if it is necessary to cancel your remaining visa, and/or search for lost or unknown superannuation amounts.
Q. How do I cancel my visa?
A. If you are outside Australia, you can request the department to cancel your visa in order to access your superannuation. Your request for cancellation must include the following information:
- A clear statement that you wish to have your visa cancelled
- Full name and date of birth
- Passport number
- When you visited Australia
- Subclass of the visa you wish to have cancelled
- Current residential address
- The date that you departed Australia
You must also provide details of all people who hold a visa because they are a member of your family unit, or hold a visa only because you hold your visa. (This includes, but is not limited to, people who were included in your visa application).
Any visa(s) held by members of your family unit, that are held only because you hold your visa, will also be cancelled whether they are in or outside Australia.
Any visa(s) held by people, other than members of your family unit, that are held only because you hold your visa, may also be cancelled whether they are in or outside Australia.
Requests for cancellation should be sent in writing via post:
Postal address:
Certification of Immigration Status Department of Immigration and Citizenship
GPO Box 1496
Hobart TAS 7001
Tips
Payslips: from the moment you commence employment, ensure you receive a payslip from your employer every time you are paid. The payslip contains the details of your gross earnings, tax paid and super contributions for that pay period and year to date.
PAYG Payment Summaries: when you cease employment, you should keep your final payslip and request a PAYG Payment Summary or a Statement of Earnings letter from your employer. These documents are necessary to lodge your tax return.
Working for different employers: make sure you note the contact details of every employer you have worked for. This is important to chase up any documents necessary for lodging your tax return.
Q. How do I certify a document?
A. To certify a document, take the original documents and the photocopies to ONE of the following people and have them certify, in English, that the copy is a true and correct copy of the original:
- A member of the Police Force
- A registered medical practitioner
- A dentist
- A veterinary practitioner
- A pharmacist
- A branch manager of a ban
- A minister of a religion
- A teacher
- A member of the legal profession
- A Justice of the Peace
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