API Description
Stapled super fund API can be used by an employer or the authorised representative of the employer to submit for a single employee to determine their stapled super fund.
If the employer needs alternate stapled super fund as previously notified accounts are unable to accept contributions from that employer. A subsequent request can be made with a query parameter (&unableToMakeContribution=true) to indicate the employer was not able to make contributions to the previously notified fund.
Use cases
When an application software uses ATO Stapled super fund API to make a request for stapled super fund for a new employee, it is required to send the required data in the API request and a response containing the stapled super fund details will be returned from the API.
Stapled super fund API - Request and Response Conceptual Structure
Request stapled super fund – outcome descriptions
The stapled super fund response may contain a request outcome with a reason code (see example value or schema of the 200 response for the Stapled super fund API specification). If so, there is a required action for each reason code. Use the information below to determine what this action is.
Reason Code 1: Unmatched
Description: The information supplied didn’t match our records.
Action:
- Check the accuracy of the information you provided and resubmit if necessary.
- If the information you provided is accurate and doesn’t match our records, and the employee doesn’t provide a super choice, the employer can make super contributions to their default fund or to another fund that meets the choice of fund rules.
Reason Code 2: Excluded client
Description: We’re unable to provide you with the employee’s stapled super fund account.
Action:
- The employer can make super contributions to their employee’s chosen fund if their employee can provide their choice of fund details.
- If the employee can’t provide their choice of fund details, the employer should make super contributions to their default fund or to another fund that meets the choice of fund rules.
Reason Code 3: No active payer/payee link
Description: We couldn’t confirm an employment relationship.
Action: The employer needs to lodge a TFN declaration or STP pay event for their employee, before another stapled super fund request for this employee is submitted. For contractors, view ato.gov.au/stapledsuperfund.
Reason Code 4: Choice fund
Description: The employee has an existing super choice.
Action: The employer must make super contributions to the account provided.
Reason Code 5: Choice SMSF
Description: The employee has an existing super choice that is an SMSF.
Action:
- The employer must make super contributions to the account provided.
- The employer will need to obtain the fund bank details and electronic service address from their employee, as the fund is a self-managed super fund (SMSF). The employer should contact us on 13 10 20 if you can’t get these details.
Reason Code 6: Stapled fund
Description: The employee has a stapled super fund account.
Action: The employer must make contributions to the account provided.
Reason Code 7: Stapled SMSF
Description: The employee has a stapled super fund account that is an SMSF.
Action:
- The employer must make super contributions to the account provided.
- The employer will need to obtain the fund bank details and electronic service address from their employee, as the fund is a self-managed super fund (SMSF). Contact us on 13 10 20 if you can’t get these details.
Reason Code 8: Use default fund
Description: The employee does not have a stapled super fund account.
Action: The employer can make super contributions to their default fund or to another fund that meets the choice of fund rules.
Test scenarios
The stapled super fund API test scenarios are provided in the sandbox environment to help you in the development of your software.
We recommend testing for an optimal user experience.
Scopes
ato.super.stapledsuperfund.c,r
Rate Limit
Not applicable.
Response messages
For response messages specific to the stapled super fund API, see Stapled super fund API – response messages.
For response messages common to all the APIs available in our API catalogue, see Common response messages.
Release notes
API version 1.1.27
- Release date: 29 Aug 2025 (Sandbox), 14 Nov 2025 (Production)
- Description: The following new feature and changes have been implemented in this release:
- Enhanced to support Alternate Stapled Super Fund, enabling employers to lodge a subsequent stapled super fund request that excludes previously notified accounts which are unable to accept contributions from that employer.
- New test scenarios have been added.
- No breaking changes to external software development.