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Your SMSF electronic service address
You can choose to keep your super savings in a self-managed super fund (SMSF) to manage your retirement investments yourself. An SMSF is different from a traditional super fund because all members serve as trustees and decide how the fund operates and invests. As an SMSF trustee, you are also responsible for the fund’s legal and legislative compliance.
Your employer will use the SuperStream process to deposit superannuation guarantee payments into the SMSF. SuperStream is a standardised process to exchange payments and information between employers, super funds, and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). With SuperStream, employers transfer money and the associated data electronically in a specific format.
You will need to provide your employer with details of your SMSF, including the Australian business number (ABN), unique superannuation identifier (SuperStream USI), bank account details and the electronic service address (ESA).
What is my SMSF ESA?
The electronic service address, or ESA, receives information related to SuperStream transactions. Once you have an ESA, it confirms that the SMSF is technically configured to exchange information electronically with employers and the ATO. An ESA is usually in the form of an URL or IP address, and is not an email address.
If you don't have an active ESA, your payments will be transferred to your employer's default super fund. Your employers will receive an error notification and may ask you to fill out a superannuation standard choice form.
How do I obtain an ESA for my SMSF?
Your SMSF administrator, tax agency, accountant, or bank should be able to provide you with an ESA. A dedicated SMSF messaging provider can also offer you one. You should be able to get one free of cost or for a small charge.
The ATO has published a list of messaging service providers who can give your SMSF an ESA.
Once your SMSF has an ESA, members can provide it to their employers to receive SuperStream contributions through a clearinghouse, and you can receive details of employer contributions. You will be able to process schemes such as the first home super saver (FHSS) scheme and rollovers with other super funds of your members.
Once you get or update your SMSF ESA, you need to notify the ATO.
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