Do you get paid super on bonuses?

Most Australians are familiar with the super contributions that come with their regular pay. But how does it work if you get paid a bonus? Keep reading to understand what is considered a bonus and whether you might be entitled to super on bonuses

What is a bonus?

A 'bonus payment' is like a special pat on the back, but in cash. It's an extra chunk of money your employer might give you on top of your usual pay.

So, why would an employer give you a bonus? Here are a few common reasons:

• you've smashed your job goals or sales targets (performance bonus)
• your boss wants to give you an incentive to stick around (retention bonus)
• a new employer wants to sweeten the deal to get you to join their team (sign-on bonus)
• your employer wants to reward you at the end of the year (often called an annual or Christmas bonus)

Does an employer need to pay superannuation on bonuses?

Employers need to pay super on bonuses if certain requirements are met. Under the superannuation guarantee (SG) rules, if your bonus counts as 'qualifying earnings (QE)', then your employer has to make a super contribution for that bonus. This would be included as part of a minimum super contribution of 12%, though they may choose to contribute more than this if they want to.

So, let's say you score a bonus for the awesome work you've done during your regular work hours. In that case, your employer can't just give you a pat on the back and the extra cash. They've also got to make a contribution to your super – just like they do with your everyday pay.

Which types of bonus payments qualify for super contributions?

Not all bonuses are created equal when it comes to super. Let's break down which types of bonuses qualify for super contributions by your employer:

Performance bonus: If you've achieved certain performance targets or goals and earned a bonus for it, it qualifies for super contributions.

Christmas bonus: Worked hard all year and scored a little extra for being on the nice list? That also qualifies for a super contribution.

‘Ex gratia’ bonus for work done in your ordinary work hours: This is a fancy name for a bonus that your employer didn't have to give you, but they did so to reward you for work done during ordinary hours. Even though this is a discretionary bonus, it still qualifies for super contributions.

When is an employer not required to pay super on a bonus?

There's one important exception to the super on bonuses rule: overtime. If you get a bonus for work that you did entirely outside of your ordinary working hours, your employer doesn't have to pay super on it.

For example, if all your work on a project was done in your overtime only and you got a bonus for it, that bonus wouldn't require a super contribution from your employer. However, if you receive a bonus for nailing a project that you worked on in both your overtime and ordinary hours, your employer is required to make a super contribution on that bonus because it is sufficiently connected with your ordinary hours of work.

Up until recently, there has been a maximum super contribution bonus applied per quarter. If you exceeded this maximum calculation, your employer didn’t need to pay any super for the amount over the limit. However, in from the 2026-27 financial year, the maximum super contribution will be calculated annually in line with qualifying earnings under Payday Super rules.

The fact that the maximum contribution is now calculated on this annual basis should ultimately help most variable income workers (variable income workers are workers whose earnings fluctuate regularly rather than following a set, guaranteed salary - for example, shift workers, casual workers and freelancers and sales professionals who work on commission). In short, workers who receive large, irregular bonuses or commissions may receive higher total superannuation contributions because the quarterly cap that limited those payments no longer applies. 

 For more details about the MSCB, check the ATO website.

So, the next time you receive a bonus, it's worth considering whether it will contribute to your superannuation. It's not just about the immediate gain but also how it may help enhance your future retirement.