Superannuation for Nannies in Australia: What Families Need to Know in 2026 | Pay The Nanny [ ![Pay the nanny logo](https://assets.paythenanny.nz/images/logo-white.png) ](/) [Parents](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Families) [Nannies](https://paythenanny.com.au/For-Nannies) [Agencies](https://paythenanny.com.au/for-agencies) [Pricing](https://paythenanny.com.au/pricing) [Contact](https://paythenanny.com.au/contact) [Sign Up](https://paythenanny.com.au/signup) [Log In](https://paythenanny.com.au/app/login) Article ------- Superannuation for Nannies in Australia: What Families Need to Know in 2026 =========================================================================== By Mark Hudson · 27 March, 2026 Superannuation rules for nannies can be confusing, especially with new changes like Payday Super coming in 2026. This guide explains when you need to pay super, when you don’t, and how to stay compliant as a household employer. ![Superannuation for Nannies in Australia: What Families Need to Know in 2026](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/200/conversions/WocI3Ec95jCppcXJhFC8-webp-featured.webp) Superannuation is one of those things families don't think about until they're already in trouble with it. If you employ a nanny in Australia, getting super right from the start saves you from back payments, ATO penalties, and a lot of unnecessary stress down the track. The rules for nannies aren't quite the same as a standard employer-employee setup. There's a specific exemption for domestic workers that changes the picture considerably, and with Payday Super arriving in July 2026, now is a good time to make sure you're across everything. This guide updates our [2025 superannuation overview](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/superannuation-for-nannies-in-2025) and [2023 edition](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/superannuation-for-nannies-in-2023) with the latest information for the current financial year. Do You Actually Have to Pay Super for Your Nanny? ------------------------------------------------- Not always. Whether super applies depends on a few factors specific to your arrangement. Under current ATO rules, you're required to pay superannuation for your nanny if: - They're 18 or older and earn $450 or more per calendar month (note: this threshold is being removed under the Payday Super reforms), or - They work more than 30 hours per week, regardless of age. However, there's an important carve-out that applies to many nanny arrangements specifically. You do not have to pay super if your nanny is classified as a domestic or private worker and works fewer than 30 hours per week. You can of course (and many families do) still pay your nanny superannuation even if it isn’t mandatory. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of nanny employment in Australia. Plenty of families are paying super when they don't need to, and some aren't paying it when they should be. The 30-hour threshold is where most of the confusion sits. You can verify your obligations directly with the ATO here: [ATO: Work out if you have to pay super for domestic or private workers](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/super-for-employers/work-out-if-you-have-to-pay-super#ato-Domesticorprivateworkers) What Makes Someone a Domestic or Private Worker? ------------------------------------------------ The ATO classifies a worker as domestic or private when they work in or around a private home. For nannies, this typically covers: - Childcare and looking after kids during the day or overnight - Light household duties carried out alongside their main role - General support with family routines and logistics This classification matters because it's what unlocks the under-30-hours exemption. A nanny working 25 hours a week in your home falls into this category. The same person working 35 hours a week does not get the exemption, and super applies. Track your nanny's weekly hours carefully. It's easy for a "regular 28 hours" to quietly become 32 during busy periods, which changes your obligations. How Much Super Do You Need to Pay? ---------------------------------- When super does apply, it's calculated as a percentage of your nanny's ordinary time earnings. That means their base pay for regular hours worked. Overtime is generally excluded from the calculation. The Super Guarantee rate from 1 July 2026, increased to **12%**, where it will remain for the foreseeable future/ **Quick example:** Your nanny works 35 hours a week at $35 per hour. - Weekly wages: $1,225 - Super at 12%: $147 per week Under the old quarterly system, that super would be paid four times a year. Under Payday Super, it gets paid with every pay run. If you’re interested around what the current pay rates are for nannies in Australia, we update our guide each [year here](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/nanny-pay-rates-australia). Payday Super: The Big Change Coming in July 2026 ------------------------------------------------ From 1 July 2026, the way employers pay super is changing significantly. The Federal Government is introducing [Payday Super](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/payday-super-for-nannies), which requires super contributions to be paid at the same time as wages rather than quarterly. This is the most substantial overhaul to superannuation payment rules in years. What Changes Under Payday Super ------------------------------- At the moment, employers can pay super quarterly as long as it lands before the quarterly due date. From July 2026, that window closes. Every time you pay wages, super goes with it. For families managing payroll themselves, this creates some real practical pressures: - Cashflow planning. Super can no longer be set aside and paid in a lump sum. It needs to be budgeted as part of every pay cycle. - More frequent admin. Weekly or fortnightly super payments instead of four per year. - Less margin for error. Missing a payment is more visible and happens faster under the new system. The ATO has indicated it will improve monitoring of super payments through Single Touch Payroll data, so compliance will be much easier to audit from both sides. We've put together a [dedicated guide on how Payday Supe](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/payday-super-for-nannies)r affects nanny employers if you want the full detail. Common Mistakes Families Make with Nanny Super ---------------------------------------------- A few patterns come up repeatedly when families get this wrong. **Assuming the domestic worker exemption always applies.**The exemption is real and valid, but it has a hard cut-off at 30 hours per week. If your nanny's hours creep up, you need to reassess. If they work more than 30 hours in just one week, you'll need to pay super for that week. **Paying cash and assuming nothing applies.** Informal arrangements still fall under Australian employment law. Cash payments don't change your obligations as an employer, and the ATO treats underpayment of super seriously. **Not tracking hours.** Because super eligibility can hinge on whether someone works 29 or 31 hours, accurate records matter. This is especially true if hours vary week to week. **Ignoring Payday Super.** From July 2026, quarterly payments won't cut it. Families who've relied on the quarterly rhythm will need to change how they manage payroll entirely. How Pay The Nanny Handles Super ------------------------------- If Pay The Nanny manages your payroll, you don't need to worry about any of this manually. Super is calculated automatically based on your nanny's pay, the correct rate, and their eligibility. Payments are processed in line with ATO requirements. And Payday Super is already built into the platform ahead of the July 2026 deadline. For families using our service, nothing changes when Payday Super kicks in. The system handles it in the background. For families not yet using Pay The Nanny, July 2026 is a useful forcing function to sort out a compliant payroll setup before the changes hit. Super and Modern Awards: One More Thing to Check ------------------------------------------------ If your nanny is covered by the [Miscellaneous Award 2020](https://library.fairwork.gov.au/award/?krn=MA000104) or is employed under a written contract, make sure there are no additional super provisions in the agreement that go beyond the Super Guarantee minimum. In most household nanny arrangements this isn't an issue, but it's worth checking if you've put together a formal contract. **A Quick Summary** Here's the short version: - Domestic workers under 30 hours per week are generally exempt from super although many families still pay super even if the hours are less than 30 per week - Over 30 hours per week, Super Guarantee is mandatory at 12% - Payday Super arrives 1 July 2026 and requires super to be paid with every wage payment - Accurate tracking of hours is important, especially near the 30-hour threshold If you're not confident your current setup is compliant, it's worth reviewing it before July 2026 rather than after. Need a Simpler Way to Manage Nanny Payroll? ------------------------------------------- Pay The Nanny handles wages, tax, and super for Australian families, all in one place. Whether you're just starting out with a new nanny or switching from a manual setup, we make sure everything is done correctly from day one. [Get started with Pay The Nanny](https://paythenanny.com.au/signup) or [reach out to our team](https://paythenanny.com.au/contact) if you have questions about your specific situation. [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/156/conversions/RLUFizxH3obgwcqOMyao-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/superannuation-for-nannies-in-2025)By Mark Hudson · 13 June, 2025 ### [Superannuation Changes for Nannies in 2025](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/superannuation-for-nannies-in-2025) From 1 July 2025, superannuation contributions for nannies in Australia will increase to 12%. And from 1 July 2026, employers must pay super on payday. Here’s what families employing a nanny need to know and how Pay The Nanny can take care of it all for you. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/superannuation-for-nannies-in-2025) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/148/conversions/sBOhv1v5CEY33KqGGBZO-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/nanny-pay-rates-australia)By Mark Hudson · 12 December, 2025 ### [Nanny Pay Rates for 2026](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/nanny-pay-rates-australia) Nanny pay rates across Australia have lifted again as we head in to 2026, with all states recording increases for both permanent and casual roles. This update breaks down the numbers, highlights key trends, and explains what shifting wage patterns mean for families and nannies. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/nanny-pay-rates-australia) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/197/conversions/SQJtf3jESfMOycbdGxJr-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/payday-super-for-nannies)By Mark Hudson · 20 February, 2026 ### [Payday Super for Nannies](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/payday-super-for-nannies) From 1 July 2026, Payday Super will require employers to pay super at the same time as wages. For families employing a nanny, this could mean new cash flow pressures and compliance risks. The good news? If you use Pay The Nanny, everything is already handled for you. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/payday-super-for-nannies) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/204/conversions/nGj6mFjYDfaP2upb3Zzd-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/raising-kids-in-2026-vs-1996-whats-actually-changed)By Mark Hudson · 23 April, 2026 ### [Raising Kids in 2026 vs 1996: What's Actually Changed?](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/raising-kids-in-2026-vs-1996-whats-actually-changed) Parenting hasn’t just changed, it’s been completely redefined. From screen time to schedules, raising kids in 2026 looks very different to 1996. Here’s what’s actually changed and why modern families are navigating a whole new world of childcare. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/raising-kids-in-2026-vs-1996-whats-actually-changed) [ ![](https://assets.caresies.io/articles/52/conversions/QDUJpv5MtZh07MUq0yep-webp-featured.webp) ](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/employment-contracts-for-nannys)By Mark Hudson · 02 April, 2026 ### [Employment Contracts for Nannys](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/employment-contracts-for-nannys) Employing a nanny in Australia? A solid contract is your first step. This guide covers what to include, from NES entitlements and the Miscellaneous Award to Payday Super changes in 2026, plus how Pay The Nanny can help with ready-made contract templates. [Read more...](https://paythenanny.com.au/articles/employment-contracts-for-nannys) ![Pay the nanny](https://paythenanny.com.au/images/logo-white.png)Join Our Community Stay in the loop! Subscribe to receive the latest updates, exclusive content, and special offers straight to your inbox. 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