Federal Member for Lyne Alison Penfold has called on the Albanese Labor Government to ensure small businesses are not unfairly penalised over historical superannuation discrepancies that may be caused by errors in government or superannuation fund data.
The call follows reports that the Australian Taxation Office is issuing notices to businesses identifying potential unpaid or late superannuation contributions dating back to 2021, with warnings of significant penalties and interest.
Ms Penfold said every worker was entitled to receive their superannuation, but employers were equally entitled to fair treatment and accurate information from the ATO.
"Small business owners across Lyne work hard to pay their employees, meet their obligations and keep their doors open.
"They should not have to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours trying to disprove an allegation based on information the ATO has not adequately explained.
"If there is a genuine superannuation shortfall, it needs to be addressed. But a difference between payroll records and superannuation fund reporting does not necessarily mean an employer has failed to pay."
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers has raised concerns about historical ATO notices identifying apparent discrepancies across multiple quarters, including the difficulty employers face in obtaining the information needed to reconcile payments.
Ms Penfold said those concerns came as the independent Tax Ombudsman reported a 74 per cent increase in complaints in the six months to September 2026 compared with the same period last year.
"That should be a warning to the Government about the pressures taxpayers and small businesses are experiencing.
"Regional businesses are already dealing with rising operating costs, workforce pressures and additional compliance requirements.
"They have also had to adjust to new Payday Super obligations introduced in July.
"The last thing they need is an unexplained demand concerning superannuation payments they may have made years ago."
Ms Penfold said she wanted the Treasurer to ensure that businesses were provided with the specific employee, fund and payment information supporting any allegation before penalties were pursued, together with a fair opportunity to resolve errors.
"The lessons from the Robodebt Royal Commission were clear. Government must be accountable for the accuracy of its systems, and people must have a meaningful opportunity to challenge decisions affecting them.
"Technology should help the ATO identify genuine non-compliance, not make it harder for honest businesses to establish that they have done the right thing."
Ms Penfold is calling on any small business owners across Lyne who believe they have been unfairly caught up in the ATO's automated superannuation compliance process to contact her office.
"I want to hear directly from local businesses that have received these notices, particularly those who have already paid their employees' superannuation but are now being asked to explain alleged shortfalls or face the prospect of significant penalties.
"If you've done the right thing and are now being caught up in an automated process that doesn't reflect the facts, please get in touch with my office.
"I want to understand the extent of the problem here in Lyne, help affected businesses get answers and take their experiences directly to the Treasurer and the ATO.
"Small businesses should not be left fighting a government computer system to prove they have met their obligations.
"Protecting workers' superannuation and treating small business fairly should go hand in hand."
ENDS