If you’ve just started a new job, your employer will probably hand you a form called the Superannuation standard choice form. It looks a bit official, and it is — this is the form that tells your employer which super fund to pay your super guarantee contributions into. Get it right and your money lands in the fund you want; get it wrong and your contributions can be delayed. This guide walks through every section of the form in plain English, so you know exactly what to write and where to find the details you need. You can download the official form from the ATO here: Superannuation standard choice form (ato.gov.au).
What this form actually does
The standard choice form is the way employees tell their employer which super fund should receive their compulsory super contributions. Most employees are entitled to choose their fund. If you don’t make a choice, your employer checks whether you have a “stapled” fund from a previous job and pays there — otherwise your contributions go into the employer’s default fund. The form is published by the Australian Taxation Office and is the same no matter which employer you work for.
Before you start: gather these details
Having everything in front of you makes the form take about ten minutes. You’ll need:
- Your personal details — full name and, if you have one, your employee identification number.
- Your tax file number (TFN) — optional, but worth including. If you don’t provide it, your contributions may be taxed at a higher rate, and your TFN also makes it easier to keep track of your super over time.
- Your chosen fund’s details — the fund’s ABN, full fund name, address, phone number and its USI (unique superannuation identifier).
- Your member number — the account or member number your fund gave you when you joined.
- A letter from your fund — if you’re nominating an APRA-regulated fund, you’ll need to attach a letter from the fund stating it is a complying fund and will accept contributions from your employer.
If you’re nominating a self-managed super fund (SMSF), you’ll also need the fund’s ABN, address, electronic service address (ESA), and the fund’s bank account BSB and account number, plus documents confirming the fund is compliant and will accept contributions.
Where to find your fund details: your fund’s ABN and USI are usually on its website (often under “employer” or “joining” information), in your welcome letter or annual statement, or you can simply call the fund and ask for the “employer contribution details”.
Your three options for completing the form
You don’t have to fill out the paper form — there are three ways to do it:
- Through myGov (easiest if you already have a fund). Log in to ATO online services via myGov, go to the Employment menu, select New employment and complete the Super details section. Your existing super fund details will be pre-filled. You’ll need your employer’s ABN and their default fund’s USI to finish it.
- Download the PDF. Get the Superannuation standard choice form from the ATO website. You can enter your details electronically (you may need to enable JavaScript in your PDF reader for the fields to work) or print it and fill it in by hand.
- Your employer’s payroll software. Some employers use commencement-enabled payroll software that includes the form digitally — ask your employer or payroll contact.
How to fill out the form, step by step
Section A — you (the employee) complete this
Item 1: Choice of fund. Tick one box to say which fund should receive all your future super contributions. Your choices are your APRA-regulated fund or retirement savings account, your self-managed super fund, or your employer’s nominated (default) fund. Choose the option that matches the details you gathered above.
Item 2: Your details. Write your first and last name, your employee identification number if you have one, and your TFN. Remember: quoting your TFN is optional, but leaving it out can mean higher tax on your contributions and makes tracking your super harder.
Item 3: Nominating your APRA fund or RSA. Fill in your fund’s ABN, name, address, phone number, USI, your account name (if applicable) and your member number. Don’t forget to attach the letter from your fund confirming it is a complying fund that will accept your employer’s contributions — the form can’t be processed without correct fund information.
Item 4: Nominating your SMSF. Only complete this if you ticked the SMSF box in Item 1. Enter the fund’s ABN, name, address and phone number, plus the electronic service address and the fund’s bank account BSB and account number. Attach the documents confirming the fund is compliant and will accept contributions.
Item 5: Sign and date. Read through everything, check the box confirming you’ve attached the required documents, then sign and date the form.
Section B — your employer completes this
You don’t fill this part in. When your employer gives you the form, they should already have completed Section B with their business details and signed it, including details of their default (nominated) super fund.
Section C — your employer completes this after you return the form
Once you hand your completed Section A back, your employer fills in Section C, recording the date they received your choice and the date they acted on it. This part is purely for the employer’s records.
What to do with the finished form
Hand the completed form to your employer as soon as you can — your employer can only start paying into your chosen fund once they’ve received it. Do not send the form to the ATO; it stays between you and your employer, who must keep it for at least five years.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Getting the USI wrong. The USI is the code that identifies your fund for electronic payments — one wrong digit can send contributions to the wrong place. Copy it carefully from your fund’s website or statement.
- Forgetting the fund’s letter. If you’re nominating an APRA fund, the letter confirming the fund is complying and will accept contributions is required — without it, your form is incomplete.
- Leaving the TFN blank without realising the cost. It’s optional, but skipping it can mean your contributions are taxed at a higher rate.
- Not signing and dating the form. An unsigned form doesn’t count.
- Sending the form to the ATO. It goes to your employer, not the tax office.
- Using old fund details. Fund names, ABNs and USIs can change after mergers, so check the current details rather than copying from an old statement.
What happens after you hand it in
Once your employer receives your completed form, they are required to pay your super guarantee contributions into the fund you nominated. They’ll record the date in Section C and keep the form on file. If you later change your mind, you can generally change your fund choice once every 12 months by filling out a new form — ask your employer or payroll team how they handle it.
Quick FAQs
Do I have to use this form if I’m happy with my current fund? If you’re starting a new job and want contributions to keep going to the same fund, you still need to tell the new employer — complete the form with your existing fund’s details.
What if I don’t return the form at all? Your employer will check whether you have a stapled fund from previous employment. If not, and you’ve made no choice, they’ll open an account for you with their default fund.
Can my employer refuse my chosen fund? Generally, no — employers must pay into the fund an eligible employee nominates, as long as the fund is a complying fund that accepts employer contributions.
