The largest round of the Gillard Governments Superannuation Clearing House mailout to small businesses is now underway as employer response to this free service surges ahead.

In coming days more than 258,000 NSW and ACT small businesses with fewer than 20 employees will receive letters reminding them of how the Clearing House can make meeting their superannuation obligations easier.

Human Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the first stage of the mailout last month led to a tenfold increase in employer registrations in South Australia and a sevenfold increase in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

A record 1,046 businesses registered with the service in August, Ms Plibersek said.

More and more small businesses are finding the Clearing House is a simple and convenient way to make their employees superannuation contributions.

Minister for Small Business Senator Nick Sherry said more than 135,000 superannuation contributions worth $75 million had been made since the Clearing House was introduced in July last year. Almost 7,000 small businesses are now using the service.

Over 43,000 employees are registered to have superannuation contributions made on their behalf via the Clearing House, Senator Sherry said.

The beauty of the Clearing House is that it simplifies making superannuation contributions to multiple funds.

Instead of making multiple payments to different superannuation funds, the employer only needs to make one payment to the Clearing House. The Clearing House will then direct the contributions to the relevant funds of their employees.

More than 683,000 eligible small businesses across the country will have received letters by the end of the year.

To register for the service visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/super

Small Business Superannuation Clearing House uptake as at
11 September 2011

State

Registered employers

Registered employees

Amounts received and paid
NSW 1,886 12,369 23,969,704
VIC 1,258 7,859 14,541,113
QLD 1,221 8,619 13,167,442
WA 1,060 8,095 15,796,176
SA 866 3,791 3,405,019
TAS 307 1,507 1,429,841
ACT 151 893 2,090,779
NT 132 712 824,315
TOTAL 6,881 43,845 75,224,389

Media contacts: Minister Pliberseks office, Simon Crittle 0466 773 531; Minister Sherrys office, Joe Scavo 0413 800 757.