1. What is SuperStream?
SuperStream is a government reform designed to enhance the efficiency of the super system. Under SuperStream, employers are required to make super contributions, both data and payment, on behalf of their employees electronically. All super funds, including SMSFs, must receive contribution data and payments electronically in accordance with the SuperStream standard.
SuperStream Gateways will collect your contribution data from employers and distribute this data to your SMSF.
This means that employers will be able to send superannuation contributions and data to multiple funds in one standard electronic format, instead of sending information to separate funds in multiple formats.
2. Can I purchase an ESA from BGL / Simple Fund 360?
The ESA BGLSF360 is included in the base subscription for Simple Fund 360.
- BGL's ESA is unavailable for individual purchase outside of this subscription.
This ESA is only available for BGL 360 users as registration is completed from within the software.
For more information on how existing Simple Fund 360 users can register, click here.
3. 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 existing Simple Fund 360 users can register, click here.
4. 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
5. What SuperStream services are supported by the new BGL ESA?
6. 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.
7. Is there a cost to using the BGLSF360 ESA?
The 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. The BGLSF360 ESA is only available for BGL 360 users. For more information on how to register, click here.
8. 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 be automatically registered with the BGLSF360 ESA within SF360, if the fund was previously registered with SuperStream in Desktop. For more information, click here.
Notification letters for trustees and employers can be prepared in SF360.
9. What if a fund in Simple Fund 360 uses an ESA other than BGL 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.
10. 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.
No, as of 30/06/2023 all ESAs registered in Simple Fund 360 have been updated to the BGLSF360 ESA.
For more information, click here.
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:
- Through a registered agent
- Contact ATO via phone: 13 10 20 – you must be the authorised contact for your SMSF
- By lodging the paper form Change of details for superannuation entities (NAT 3036) (PDF, 605KB).
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?
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?
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.
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.:
- 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).
- For a request to rollover their whole super balance, members can choose to:
- Go directly to their transferring fund or the receiving fund.
- Submit a request using ATO’s Online services (MyGov) and ATO will send the request electronically to the transferring fund.
- Send a Request for rollover of whole balance of super benefits between funds (NAT 75359, PDF 186KB) form, to their transferring fund.
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.
- 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?
23. What do IRR and RTR stand for?
24. How to check your SMSF Bank details are up to date to the ATO
The bank account details can be reviewed by accessing the Financial institution details screen from the Profile Menu. For more information please click here
25. Where can I find Simple Fund 360's ESA?
Simple Fund 360's Electronic Service Address (ESA), BGLSF360, can be found in the SuperStream Dashboard screen.
From the SuperStream Dashboard, you can check whether the fund has been registered with Simple Fund’s ESA.
26. How can I set up bank account details to auto prefill a Rollover request form?
When processing a Rollover or Roll-in, you will be required to select the SMSF's Bank Account.
If a Bank Account has already been created, you can select it to prefill the Request Form.
If the fund's Bank Account has not been set up in Simple Fund 360, the prefill option will not be available to you.
To learn about how to create a Bank Account, press here.