Provided by Mercer: 30/4/08
If you’ve changed your address or your job in the past and haven’t notified your super fund, you may have ‘lost’ super. A super account is considered ‘lost’ if it hasn’t received a contribution for at least two years, or if the fund has received two items of returned mail for a member.
Super funds are required to notify the ATO of any lost super accounts. The ATO then records details of the account on its Lost Members Register until located by the member.
The ATO's SuperSeeker tool may help you locate any 'lost super'.
To start you search:
- Click on the below ‘Find your lost super’ link which will take you to the ATO’s secure website
- Enter your Tax File Number, name and date of birth
- If a possible match is found, the ATO will provide you with the fund’s contact details
- Contact the fund to see if they have any super belonging to you
- Consider whether to consolidate your super by rolling any found super into your main super fund account (check for any withdrawal fees first though).
Further details on SuperSeeker (including information on the ATO’s privacy policy) are available on the website ato.gov.au/super
The ATO also offers a SuperSeeker self-help phone service, available 24 hours a day/7 days a week by calling 13 28 65.
Each year the trustee of the Mercer Super Trust conducts a search of the Australian Tax Office (ATO) Lost Members Register on behalf of members. This handy service is free of charge and helps you locate all your super!
If you're a member of the Mercer Super Trust, the trustee will provide your Tax File Number to the ATO, which they use to search for funds belonging to you. We will send you a letter if we find ‘lost’ super in your name. You then have the option of rolling your ‘lost’ super into the Mercer Super Trust.
If you would prefer that the trustee of the Mercer Super Trust did not contact the ATO on your behalf to search the Lost Members Register, please let us know by calling the Helpline on 1800 682 525.
Remember, if you have moved house and one or more pieces of correspondence have been returned to your super fund, then you may be considered a lost member.
To avoid this occurring, make sure that you let your super fund know if you change your address or other contact details.
This information has been prepared by Mercer (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 32 005 315 917 for general information only. The information does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Therefore, you should not act on this information if you have not considered the appropriateness of this information to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs. You should consult a licensed or appropriately authorised financial adviser before making any investment decision.
