Where Is My Super? How to Find and Manage Your Accounts

Superannuation, often simply called “super,” represents Australia’s compulsory retirement savings system, designed to provide individuals with financial security in their later years. Many people accumulate multiple super accounts throughout their working lives, especially when changing jobs. This can lead to accounts becoming difficult to track, sometimes classified as “lost” or “unclaimed.” Understanding how to locate and manage these accounts is an important step toward securing one’s long-term financial future.

What Superannuation Is

Superannuation serves as a long-term savings vehicle, with contributions generally preserved until an individual reaches their preservation age and meets conditions for release, typically at retirement. Employers are mandated to contribute a percentage of an employee’s earnings into a chosen super fund, known as the Superannuation Guarantee (SG). As of July 1, 2025, this compulsory contribution rate is 12% of an employee’s ordinary time earnings. Individuals can also make voluntary contributions to their super, which may offer tax benefits subject to certain limits.

Various types of super funds exist, accommodating different needs. Industry funds are often not-for-profit and may have lower fees, while retail funds are typically run by financial institutions and offer a wider array of investment options. Public sector funds are for government employees, and corporate funds are tied to specific employers. Self-managed super funds (SMSFs) offer greater control but come with increased responsibilities.

Finding Your Super Accounts

Locating all your superannuation accounts is primarily facilitated through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) via the MyGov online portal. This digital gateway shows comprehensive details of all super accounts linked to an individual’s Tax File Number (TFN). This includes active and inactive accounts, and any super funds the ATO holds as “unclaimed” money.

To begin this process, individuals need to access their MyGov account and link it to the ATO. If a MyGov account has not been established, create one and add the ATO service. Once the ATO is linked, navigating to the superannuation section within the ATO online services will display a list of all identified super accounts. It can take up to six months for a newly opened super account to appear in MyGov.

This online method is generally the most comprehensive and convenient. The ATO also offers alternative search methods for those unable to use MyGov, such as a dedicated lost super search line or a paper form. While contacting previous employers or super funds can sometimes yield information, the MyGov/ATO portal provides a more efficient, consolidated view. Regularly checking this portal helps individuals stay informed about their super balances and any changes across their accounts.

Consolidating and Managing Your Super

After locating all super accounts, individuals can consolidate them into a single chosen fund. Consolidation requests are primarily initiated through the ATO online services via MyGov. Within the superannuation section, the “Transfer super” option allows users to combine accounts and direct funds into their preferred super account. This streamlines financial management by reducing the number of accounts to track.

Consolidating accounts can offer several advantages, such as saving on multiple sets of administration and investment fees charged across various funds. It also simplifies record-keeping, as individuals will receive statements and communications from a single fund, making it easier to monitor investment performance and contributions. However, before consolidating, it is important to review the features and benefits of each existing fund, especially insurance coverage, as transferring funds may result in the loss of certain insurance policies.

Beyond consolidation, ongoing management of superannuation involves ensuring personal details, like contact information and beneficiary nominations, remain current with the chosen fund. Individuals should regularly review their super statements to confirm employer contributions and understand investment performance. If considering a change to a different super fund, the process typically involves contacting the new fund directly or using the ATO’s online services to facilitate the transfer of the entire balance.