Changed jobs a few times? Moved house? Chances are you have super sitting in accounts you’ve forgotten about — and it’s not earning you anything while it sits there. Billions of dollars in lost and unclaimed super belong to everyday workers, and some of it could be yours. The good news: finding it takes about five minutes once you know where to look. Here’s how to do it, step by step. (The official starting point is the ATO’s website: ato.gov.au.)
What counts as “lost” super?
The ATO marks an account as lost when it loses touch with you — usually because your fund has the wrong address, you changed your name, or nothing has been paid into the account for a while. You’ll see these accounts listed with a “Contact fund” note when you look them up.
Unclaimed super is slightly different. That’s super that has been handed over to the ATO to look after — shown as “ATO-held super” in your account. It includes lost accounts with small balances and money from inactive accounts that were transferred to the ATO so fees wouldn’t keep eating into them.
Both kinds are still yours. Neither is gone — it’s just waiting to be claimed.
Step 1: Search online through myGov (the easiest way)
This is the fastest way and it covers everything — lost and unclaimed super alike.
- Create a myGov account at my.gov.au if you don’t already have one.
- Link it to the ATO (Australian Taxation Office). If you’ve ever lodged a tax return, you probably have this option ready.
- Click Super in the menu, then Fund details. You’ll see every super account in your name, including ones the ATO has flagged as lost.
- To move money across, go to Super, then Manage, then Transfer super. If you don’t see a “Transfer super” option, the ATO doesn’t hold anything eligible for transfer under your name.
Don’t like doing it on a computer? The free ATO app does the same job on your phone.
Step 2: Search by phone if you prefer talking to someone
Call the ATO’s automated lost super search line on 13 28 65. Have your tax file number (TFN) and date of birth handy, and follow the voice prompts. One thing to know: this line only works for lost super, not unclaimed super — for the full picture you’ll need myGov.
If you want to speak to a person about super, call the ATO super enquiries line on 13 10 20.
Step 3: Use a paper form if you’re not online
If you’d rather put pen to paper, print the lost super search form from the ATO website, fill in any funds you know held your super, and post it to:
Australian Taxation Office, PO Box 3578, Albury NSW 2640.
Step 4: Ask your current super fund to find it for you
Many super funds now have a free “find and combine” tool in their app or member portal. If you’re happy with your current fund, this is the laziest option — they do the searching and the transferring for you. Ask your fund what it offers.
Before you move anything: check fees and insurance
Don’t rush the transfer. Every super account charges admin fees, and most include insurance cover you’re paying for. Before consolidating, check:
- Whether the old fund charges an exit or transfer fee.
- What insurance (life, income protection, TPD) you’d lose by closing an account — the smaller account might actually have the better cover.
- That you’re moving the money into the fund that suits you best, not just the one with the biggest balance.
A quick tip from MoneySmart worth remembering: the best fund for you might be one of the small accounts, or a completely new fund — compare properly before you consolidate.
Once it’s found: stop losing it again
- Give every fund your TFN. Without it, your super can end up taxed at a higher rate and is easier to lose track of.
- Keep your address and contact details current with your fund — that’s the number-one reason accounts go “lost”.
- Know about stapled super. Since 1 November 2021, if you start a new job and don’t choose a fund, your employer pays into your existing “stapled” account instead of opening a new one — which means fewer stray accounts going forward.
- Check myGov once a year. A yearly glance at Fund details takes two minutes and keeps everything in one place.
Quick answers to common questions
Can I get my lost super paid to me in cash?
Usually not while you’re working — super is preserved for retirement. But if you’re over 65, or you have less than $200 in unclaimed super, the ATO can pay it directly to you.
I don’t know my tax file number. Can I still search?
Yes. Sign in to myGov, go to the ATO section and click Personal details — your TFN is listed there.
What if myGov doesn’t show anything?
Search deeper: contact past employers to ask which funds they paid into, dig through old payslips and paperwork, or call the ATO lines above. Some older accounts predate digital records, so they don’t always show up in the first search.
Finding lost super is one of those rare money tasks that’s genuinely free, takes minutes, and can add thousands to your retirement. Set aside five minutes today and check — future you will be glad you did.
