Start with the agency that owns the rule
Use the ATO for contribution caps, employer obligations, lost super, early release and tax administration. Use ASIC’s Moneysmart for plain-language education, calculators and comparison guidance. Use Services Australia for Age Pension eligibility, rates and means tests.
For complaints, begin with the fund or provider’s internal process and keep a written record. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority may handle unresolved complaints within its rules. Employment and family-law issues can require different agencies or professional advice.
Verify the destination before signing in
Government and fund impersonation scams are common. Type the official domain, use a saved app or follow a link from a source you already trust. Do not sign in to myGov or a fund from an unexpected message, sponsored search result or caller-provided link.
Check for the correct Australian government domain, secure connection and page context. A realistic logo or familiar language does not prove authenticity. Never share a password or one-time verification code with someone offering help.
Use calculators as estimates
Official calculators can help estimate employer payments, retirement balances and income, but the result depends on assumptions for returns, inflation, fees, contributions and future rules. Save the inputs and date alongside the result so you can understand why it changes later.
Run a cautious scenario as well as the default one and check whether dollar values are in today’s terms. A calculator is most useful when it changes a decision—such as a contribution amount or retirement date—not when its single output is mistaken for a forecast.
Quick reference
Key things to remember
- ATO online services through myGov — accounts, balances, contributions and lost super.
- Moneysmart — independent consumer education and calculators.
- Services Australia — Age Pension rules and Payment Finder.
- ASIC registers — verify advisers and licensees.
- AFCA — external complaints about financial firms.
Put it into practice
Your next steps
- 01
Bookmark official domains, not search ads.
- 02
Check the page review date.
- 03
Keep reference numbers for account enquiries.
- 04
Report broken or suspicious links.
Check the source
Official information
Super and tax rules change. These primary sources are the right place to verify the details before you act.