Superannuation guarantee charge survives High Court challenge

29 September 2011
| By Tim Stewart |

The Government's super guarantee charge (SGC) has held up to the scrutiny of the High Court, with the failure of a case launched by Roy Morgan Research.

The SGC is effectively the Government's only method of enforcing the super guarantee. It gives the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) the power to collect late employer contributions - along with interest calculated at 10 per cent, which is paid to the employee.

Roy Morgan Research argued that the ATO did not have the constitutional power to collect a levy for the "private and direct benefit" of employees, as opposed to the collection of money for "public purposes".

But the High Court judges ruled unanimously that the SGC was a tax, and threw the case out.

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation Bill Shorten said he was pleased the SGC would remain in place to ensure employees were compensated appropriately if their employer was late paying their contributions.

"The SGC plays an important role in the integrity of our superannuation system, and I am pleased to see it will be maintained under this High Court decision," Shorten said.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

1 year 10 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

1 year 10 months ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

1 year 10 months ago

With ESG investing in focus as COP30 begins this week, new MSCI reports highlight how private-sector funding is driving progress, and why businesses must strengthen their...

11 hours 51 minutes ago

The Gateway Network Governance Body has unveiled a detailed roadmap to guide the superannuation industry through the upcoming Payday Super reforms....

12 hours ago

Australian super funds increase international allocations beyond 50 per cent for the first time, signalling deeper diversification and liquidity focus, major bank researc...

12 hours ago

TOP PERFORMING FUNDS

ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND