ATO issues guidelines to get SuperStream lodgment right
The ATO has highlighted a number of common issues with SuperStream release authority lodgments, which can result in processing delays and have negative impacts on members.
Subsequently, the regulator has issued a list of recommendations that will help those using SuperStream get their lodgments right and ensure successful payments.
Firstly, a release authority statement (RAS) should be lodged within 10 business days of receiving it from the ATO via SuperStream and ensure the lodgment is accepted within this time frame to avoid penalties.
Secondly, the ATO recommends not to overpay or make duplicate payments, as this can lead to member refunds and an illegal early access to super. Only release the amount requested in the release authority.
If an RAS cannot be lodged or a corrected one is rejected via an RAS message, contact the relevant software provider to fix any system issues.
It is also recommended that a successful RAS message be sent with each payment, as without this, the ATO can't allocate payments to the member. Submit a successful RAS, confirmed by a release authority statement outcome response (RASOR) with the code SUPER.GEN.RLVR.2 to meet this obligation.
Finally, it is essential to ensure there are adequate assurance processes in place to accurately process release authorities.
If there are any issues processing release authorities, the ATO suggests escalating them to it promptly via the super enquiry service. If there are system issues, discuss them with the relevant software provider and give the ATO an estimated time for the fix.