Payslip Errors
How well do Aussies keep track of their payslips, and which mistakes are costing them?
What’s missing in your payslip?
Many Aussies donโt regularly check their payslips, meaning small errors can easily go unnoticed, costing workers hundreds and even thousands each year. We surveyed 1,000 Australians and analysed data from the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) and the Australian Tax Office (ATO) to identify who isnโt reviewing their payslips, the industries most affected, and the types of mistakes slipping through the cracks.
With Payday Super on the horizon, now is a great time for workers to take a closer look at their pay.
Key Takeaways
3/4 Aussies donโt check their payslips regularly
Checking payslips carefully isnโt common; just 28% of full-time workers do it, along with 23% of part-time and 19% of casual employees.
Most common payslip errors
The most common payslip error is incorrect payment amounts, whether that be hours, rate or salary, with almost half of respondents identifying this mistake in the past.
Superannuation is often overlooked
The majority of Australians don’t check the super component on their payslips, with only 15% checking for it every pay cycle.
How many Aussies check their payslips regularly?
When was the last time you actually checked your payslip? If youโre like most Aussies, probably not recently. Our survey found that only one quarter (26%) of Australians check each payslip diligently, while the rest either check casually or very rarely, leaving many at risk of missing errors like underpayments or super mistakes.
Full-time workers lead the way, with 28% checking every payslip, followed by 23% of part-timers, showing that even predictable salaries are worth monitoring. Casual employees, who face the most variable pay, are the least diligent, with just 19% checking every pay and 39.2% โVery Rarelyโ looking, highlighting how tricky it can be to keep track when hours and wages keep changing.
Most common payslip mistakes
Among people who reported noticing an error, the most common payslip mistake is being paid the wrong amount, reported by 46.7% of workers, especially casuals (64.3%), likely due to flexible hours and pay. Missing overtime or penalty rates affected 31.1%, mainly full-time employees, while leave errors, like incorrect balances (18.6%) or unrecorded leave (13.2%), were also common.
How often Aussies check their super โ and why they donโt
Superannuation is an important figure to check each pay cycle, yet most Aussies leave it unchecked โ 28.3% review it every two to three months, 26.9% monthly, and only 15.7% every pay day. Many skip it due to overconfidence or competing priorities: 37.3% assume itโs handled correctly, 20.6% donโt think about it, and 17.1% feel secure after past checks.
How much money are Aussies losing to payslip errors?
FWO repayments
In 2024–25, the FWO repaid over $353 million to Australian workers, showing payslip errors are far from rare. Education and Training topped the list ($68.7M), followed by Retail Trade ($59.9M) and Mining ($54.8M), while Agriculture ($596K) and Information Media ($657K) saw smaller repayments, likely due to smaller workforces and lower reporting rather than flawless pay practices.
Super gap
The Super Guarantee (SG) gap, the difference between what employers should pay and what workers actually receive, shows how many Aussies miss out on retirement savings. In 2022–23, over 1 million workers were affected, with a $6.24 billion shortfall, about 6% of the $104.8 billion owed. As wages and SG rates rise, this gap could grow, leaving even more workers missing out on their rightful retirement funds.
With Australia gearing up for Payday Super, which will require employers to pay super at the same time as salaries and wages, ensuring payroll and superannuation are accurate each pay cycle will become even more important for small businesses.
With Australia gearing up for Payday Super, which will require employers to pay super at the same time as salaries and wages, ensuring payroll and superannuation are accurate each pay cycle will become even more important for small businesses.
ABOUT THE DATA
About the data
The primary data for this campaign was obtained through a commissioned nationally representative survey of 1,000 Australians, conducted via third-party provider PureProfile. The survey assessed individual behaviours and experiences related to reviewing payslips, identifying the frequency of checks, common errors noticed, and the resulting financial or emotional impact.
To provide a comprehensive view of the landscape of wage theft and underpayment in Australia, this survey data was bolstered by a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman for the 2024-25 financial year. This request provided objective data on the number of underpayment-related Requests for Assistance (RfAs), completed investigations, non-compliant businesses, and the total dollar value of recoveries across different industries and states.
Finally, independent research was integrated from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to analyse the “Super Guarantee Gap” and the broader issue of lost or unclaimed superannuation.
Data Processing & Classification
To ensure the findings were robust and representative, several data refinement steps were taken:
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Checking Frequency Index: Survey respondents were categorised based on their self-reported payslip review habits across five key components: pay and earnings, hours/time, leave balances, superannuation, and tax deductions. Based on their responses, participants were classified into four distinct categories:
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Diligent Checker: Reviews every payslip (100%).
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Casual Checker: Review payslips about 50% to 75%+ of the time.
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Very Rarely Checks: Reviews payslips occasionally (less than half the time).
- Never Checks: Never reviews payslips.
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- Industry Filtering: To maintain statistical integrity, any industry with fewer than fifteen survey respondents was removed from the industry-specific breakdowns to avoid skewed results from small sample sizes.
- State Filtering: To ensure statistical accuracy, states with a minimum of 20 respondents were included. Hence, survey results pertaining to the Northern Territory were removed due to a low sample size.
- Employment Type Refinement: While the survey included various employment types, contractors were removed from specific employment type tables due to limited respondent numbers in that specific segment, ensuring the focus remained on Full-time, Part-time, and Casual employees, where data was most significant.
This holistic approach combines subjective consumer behaviour with objective regulatory data to provide a definitive look at payslip accuracy and the cost of errors for Australian workers.
Sam Allert, CEO at Reckon comments:
“For many busy Australians, checking their payslip can seem tedious and unnecessary, especially given the level of trust many workers place in their employers.
Our research shows that only 26% of Aussies check every payslip. However, missing small errors can lead to big consequences. Superannuation isnโt immune either, with over $6 billion in unpaid contributions between 2022 and 2023.
We recommend checking your personal details, hours worked and pay rate on every payslip. Make sure variables like overtime, penalty rates and deductions are correct, and keep an eye on your super contributions and leave balances. If something doesnโt add up, report it straight away.
I believe there is a huge opportunity for businesses, particularly small business owners, to improve payroll accuracy and transparency. By using the right tools and payroll software, employers can keep communication clear, reduce errors, and ensure their staff feel confident theyโre being paid correctly, especially as Australia prepares for Payday Super in July.”
– Sam Allert, Reckon Chief Executive Officer
โReckon Payroll is so easy to use & even gives you your pay slips. I would highly recommend it to any business.โ
Curves Gym, Ulladulla
Set up with Reckon Payroll
Be ready for Payday Super
Pay super the right way, on time, and stay compliant from 1 July 2026.
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