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What is a SAFF file and how do I use it?

  • Updated

Context: How to complete and submit your SuperStream Alternative File Format (v1.0) contribution file through the Employer Portal.

1. What is a SAFF file?

A SuperStream Alternative File Format (SAFF) file is a CSV containing your employees' superannuation contribution details. It follows the SuperStream Alternative File Format (version 1.0) defined by the ATO, allowing you to submit contributions for all employees in a single file upload.

Your payroll system may generate this file automatically. If not, you can complete it manually using the SAFF template and upload it to the Employer Portal.


2. File structure

Row Purpose Columns Content
1 Header A–F Version, negatives flag, file ID
2 Category headings A–EC Section labels (Sender, Payer, Fund, Employer, Member…)
3 Column headers A–EC Individual field names — 133 columns
4+ Employee data A–EC One row per employee, per fund, per pay period
Important: Rows 2 and 3 are optional under the ATO standard but required by the Employer Portal. Do not remove them.

3. Formatting rules

These apply to every SAFF file. Getting them wrong is the most common cause of rejected uploads.

Before you start

AmountsNumeric only, up to 2 decimal places. 1000.00/1250.50 $1,000.00
DatesMust include a delimiter. 2026-03-15/15/03/2026 20260315
ABN / BSBABN = 11 digits. BSB = 6 digits. No spaces or dashes. 062000 062-000
Phone numbersDigits only with area code. 0292001234 (02) 9200 1234
NamesNo spaces in Mc/Mac. No spaces around hyphens. McDonald/Smith-Jones Mc Donald
File formatSave as .csv — do not upload .xlsx files.
Excel warningExcel strips leading zeros. Format ABN, BSB, USI, and Account Number columns as Text before entering data.
One row per employeeEach employee appears once per file per fund. Combine multiple contribution types in a single row.

4. Completing your file

Header Record — Row 1 (Cells A1–F1)

File metadata. Most values are fixed — just set your File ID if needed.

Cell Field Required Value
A1 Version Label Yes VERSION
B1 Version Number Yes 1.0
C1 Negatives Supported Label Yes NEGATIVES SUPPORTED
D1 Negatives Supported Value Yes FALSE (or TRUE for reversals)
E1 File ID Label Optional FILE ID
F1 File ID Value Optional Unique per upload, e.g. payperiod20260315
Sender Details — Columns F–L

The person or organisation submitting the file — typically the employer or payroll agent.

Cell Field Required Format Example
F ABN or WPN Yes 11 digits, numeric 53004085616
G Organisation Name Yes Text, max 200 Acme Solutions Pty Ltd
H Family Name Yes Text, max 40 Thompson
I Given Name Yes Text, max 40 Sarah
J Other Given Name Optional Text, max 40 Jane
K Email Address Yes Valid email payroll@acme.com.au
L Telephone Yes Digits with area code, no spaces 0292001234
Payer Details — Columns M–Q

The entity making the payment — usually the same as the employer.

Cell Field Required Format Example
M ABN Yes 11 digits, numeric 53004085616
N Organisation Name Yes Text, max 200 Acme Solutions Pty Ltd
O BSB Number Yes 6 digits, numeric 062000
P Account Number Yes Max 9 digits, numeric 12345678
Q Account Name Yes Text, max 100 Acme Solutions Pty Ltd
Fund Details — Columns R–AC

The destination super fund. What you fill in depends on whether the fund is APRA-regulated or an SMSF.

APRA fund vs SMSF

Cell Field APRA Fund SMSF
R Fund ABN Strongly recommended Mandatory
S Fund USI Mandatory Leave blank
T Fund Name Yes Yes
U Target ESA Leave blank Mandatory
AA BSB Leave blank Mandatory
AB Account Number Leave blank Mandatory
AC Account Name Leave blank Mandatory
Note: For APRA funds, the portal auto-populates BSB, Account Number, Account Name, Payment Method, Transaction Date, and PRN from the ABN and USI you provide.

Other fund fields

Cell Field Required Notes
V Payment Method Code Yes DirectCredit or DirectDebit. Auto-populated by the Employer Portal.
W Transaction Date Conditional Auto-populated by the Employer Portal.
X Payment Reference Number Conditional Auto-populated — do not enter manually.
Y BPay Biller Code Conditional Leave blank in the Employer Portal.
Z Payment Amount Yes Total of all contribution amounts across all employees.

Finding fund details

APRA fund USI: Ask the fund, or search the ATO Fund Validation Service.
SMSF ESA: The trustee registers with a messaging provider and gives the ESA to the employer.
ABN: Available from the fund or via ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au).

Employer Details — Columns AD–AG
Cell Field Required Format Example
AD ABN Yes 11 digits, numeric 53004085616
AE Location ID Optional Alphanumeric, max 20 SYD
AF Organisation Name Yes Text, max 200 Acme Solutions Pty Ltd
AG Fund Employer Identifier Optional Alphanumeric, max 12 AB1645752

Location ID is useful for multi-site businesses. Fund Employer Identifier is recommended where multiple entities share one ABN.

Member Details — Columns AH–BE

Identity

Cell Field Required Format Example
AH TFN Conditional 9 digits, numeric 123456789
AI Title Optional MR, MRS, MS, DR etc. MR
AK Family Name Yes Text, max 40 Chen
AL Given Name Yes Text, max 40 David
AM Other Given Name Optional Text, max 40 Wei
AN Sex Code Yes 0, 1, 2, or 3 1
AO Birth Date Yes Date format 1985-06-15

TFN must be provided if the employee gave it to you. Sex Code: 0=Not stated, 1=Male, 2=Female, 3=Intersex/Indeterminate. Single-name members: enter name as Family Name, put NOT APPLICABLE as Given Name.


Name Suffix List – Cell AJ

If a value is provided in cell AJ it must be exactly from this list.

Value Description
II Second (generational)
II Second (generational)
IV Fourth (generational)
AC Companion ofthe Order of Australia

Address

Cell Field Required Notes
AP Address Usage Code Yes RES (residential) or POS (postal)
AQ Address Line 1 Yes If unknown, enter UNKNOWN
AR–AT Address Lines 2–4 Optional Additional lines as needed
AU Locality (Suburb) Yes UNKNOWN if not known. OVERSEAS if international.
AV Postcode Conditional 4 digits. Mandatory for AU. 0000 if unknown.
AW State/Territory Conditional ACT NSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WA AAT. ACT if unknown.
AX Country Code Yes 2-letter ISO code. au if unknown.
Standard addressAQ: Unit 4AR: 22 Kent StreetAU: SydneyAV: 2000AW: NSWAX: au
PO BoxAQ: PO Box 555AU: ParramattaAV: 2150AW: NSWAX: au
Unknown addressAQ: UNKNOWNAU: UNKNOWNAV: 0000AW: ACTAX: au
InternationalAQ: 226 W 52nd StAR: New York NY 10019AU: OVERSEASAX: us

Contact & identifiers

Cell Field Required Notes
AY Email Optional Employee's personal email
AZ Landline Optional With area code, no spaces
BA Mobile Optional Starts with 04, no spaces
BB Member Client ID Optional Strongly recommended for fund matching
BC Payroll Number Optional From your payroll system
BD Employment End Date Optional For terminating employees
BE Employment End Reason Optional Resignation, Termination, etc.
Contribution Details — Columns BF–BO

Pay period and contribution amounts. All amounts: numeric, up to 2 decimal places, no $ or commas.

Cell Field Required What it is
BF Pay Period Start Date Yes First day of the pay period
BG Pay Period End Date Yes Last day of the pay period
BH SG Amount Optional Superannuation Guarantee — 12% of OTE (from 1 July 2025)
BI Award/Productivity Optional Mandated by award or industrial agreement
BJ Personal Contributions Optional Employee after-tax voluntary
BK Salary Sacrifice Optional Employee pre-tax sacrifice
BL Voluntary Amount Optional Non-mandated employer contribution
BM Spouse Contributions Optional For employee's spouse
BN Child Contributions Optional For a child under 18
BO Other Third Party Optional Any other third-party contribution

At least one contribution amount per row. The sum across all rows must equal the Payment Amount in cell Z.

Registration Details — Columns BP–CE

For new employees or when updating employment details. Leave blank for existing employees with no changes.

Cell Field Required Notes
BP Employment Start Date Optional Recommended for new starters
BQ At Work Indicator Optional True = working on start date
BS Annual Salary (Contributions) Optional Used to calculate expected contributions
BW Weekly Hours Worked Optional Decimal hours (72hrs 30min = 72.50)
BX Occupation Optional Max 20 chars, no spaces
BY Insurance Opt Out Optional True = no fund insurance
CB Employment Status Optional Casual, Contractor, Full time, Part time
CC Super Commence Date Optional When contributions begin
CD Super Cease Date Optional When contributions stop
Defined Benefits — Columns CF–EC

Only relevant for defined benefit fund members. Most employers leave this blank. Contact the receiving fund for their specific requirements — these vary between funds.


5. Common scenarios

Standard APRA fund SG contribution
Complete: Sender + Payer + Fund (ABN + USI) + Employer + Member + Pay period + SG Amount. Fund bank details are auto-populated.
SMSF contribution
Same as above, but: leave USI blank. Provide ESA, BSB, Account Number, and Account Name for the SMSF.
Salary sacrifice or multiple contribution types
Same as standard, plus fill in the relevant amount columns (BK for salary sacrifice, BJ for personal, etc.) — all in one row per employee.
New employee — first contribution
Standard fields plus Registration: Employment Start Date (BP), At Work Indicator (BQ), Annual Salary (BS), Weekly Hours (BW), Occupation (BX), Employment Status (CB), Super Commence Date (CC).
Terminating employee — final contribution
Standard fields with final pay period dates. Also: Employment End Date (BD), End Reason (BE), Super Cease Date (CD).

6. Troubleshooting

Problem Likely cause Fix
BSB / account number rejected Leading zeros stripped by Excel Format column as Text, re-enter value
Date rejected No delimiters or wrong format Use YYYY-MM-DD or DD/MM/YYYY
Duplicate file rejected Same File ID as previous upload Change File ID in cell F1
Fund not found Incorrect USI or ABN Verify via ATO Fund Validation Service
ABN validation failed Wrong digit count or formatting Must be exactly 11 numeric digits
Member not matched Missing or wrong Member Client ID Check with fund for correct member number
Payment amount mismatch Total ≠ sum of contribution rows Cell Z must equal all contributions combined
Name rejected Spaces in Mc/Mac or around hyphens McDonald not Mc Donald

7. Glossary

ABN — Australian Business Number (11 digits)

APRA — Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

BSB — Bank State Branch number (6 digits)

CSV — Comma-Separated Values file format

ESA — Electronic Service Address (for SMSFs)

MIG — Message Implementation Guide (ATO spec)

OTE — Ordinary Time Earnings

PRN — Payment Reference Number

SAFF — SuperStream Alternative File Format

SG — Superannuation Guarantee (currently 12%)

SMSF — Self-Managed Super Fund

TFN — Tax File Number

USI — Unique Superannuation Identifier

WPN — Withholding Payer Number

 

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