Before Your First Day
Use this checklist before you start to understand the full value of your new role and avoid common pay mistakes.
Understand Your Salary Package
- ✅ Confirm total package vs base salary. Some offers quote a "total remuneration package" that includes super. A $100,000 total package means your cash salary is approximately $89,286 with $10,714 going to super (12%). A $100,000 base salary plus super means you receive $100,000 in cash and $12,000 in super, a total value of $112,000.
- ✅ Check for salary sacrifice availability. Ask whether your new employer offers salary sacrifice into super or a novated lease. Pre-tax salary sacrifice reduces your taxable income and can save thousands in tax. See our Salary Sacrifice Calculator to model the tax savings.
- ✅ Verify the applicable award or enterprise agreement. If your role is covered by a modern award, check the minimum pay rates for your classification level. Use our Award Rates Guide to confirm your offer meets or exceeds the award minimum.
Review Your Employment Contract
- ✅ Employment type: Full-time, part-time, or casual. Casual employees receive a 25% loading but do not receive paid leave entitlements.
- ✅ Pay frequency: Weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. This affects your cash flow planning.
- ✅ Notice period: Standard is 1-4 weeks depending on tenure, but contracts may specify different terms.
- ✅ Probation period: Most new roles include a 3-6 month probationary period with reduced notice requirements.
- ✅ Leave entitlements: Full-time employees receive 4 weeks annual leave and 10 days personal/carer's leave per year under the National Employment Standards.
First Week Paperwork
Complete these administrative tasks in your first week to ensure your pay, tax, and super are set up correctly.
TFN Declaration
- ✅ Complete the TFN Declaration form (NAT 3092). Your employer will provide this or you can download it from the ATO website.
- ✅ Tax-free threshold: Claim the $18,200 tax-free threshold only if this is your highest-paying job (or only job). If you have another job where you already claim it, select "No".
- ✅ HECS-HELP debt: If you have a student loan, tick "Yes". Your employer will withhold additional amounts for HELP repayments once your income exceeds the threshold ($69,528 in FY2026-27).
- ✅ Submit within 28 days of starting. Without this form, your employer withholds tax at the highest rate (47%).
For a complete walkthrough, see our TFN Declaration Guide.
Super Fund Choice
- ✅ Provide your existing super fund details (fund name, USI, and member number) to avoid creating a new account with default fees.
- ✅ If you do not have a fund, compare options at the ATO's YourSuper comparison tool or accept the employer's default fund.
- ✅ Consolidate multiple accounts. If you have super from previous jobs in different funds, consider rolling them into one fund to reduce fees. You can do this through myGov.
Your employer must pay super at the 12% SG rate into your chosen fund. Learn more in our Superannuation Guide.
Bank Details and Other Setup
- ✅ Provide your bank account details (BSB and account number) for salary deposits.
- ✅ Emergency contact details for workplace safety records.
- ✅ Tax residency status: confirm you are an Australian resident for tax purposes to ensure correct withholding rates.
First Pay: What to Check
When you receive your first payslip, verify these items immediately. Errors caught early are easiest to fix.
- ✅ Verify gross pay matches your contract. For salaried employees, divide your annual salary by the number of pay periods (26 for fortnightly, 12 for monthly). For hourly workers, check hours multiplied by your rate.
- ✅ Check tax withholding is reasonable. Use our Pay Calculator to compare expected vs actual PAYG withholding. If tax seems too high, confirm your TFN declaration was processed and the tax-free threshold applied.
- ✅ Confirm super is being paid. Super may not appear on your first payslip if it has not yet been processed. Since Payday Super started on 1 July 2026, contributions must reach your fund within 7 business days of each payday (20 business days for a new employee's first contribution), so check your super fund online portal a few weeks after starting to confirm it arrived.
- ✅ Check leave balances are accruing. Full-time employees accrue annual leave from day one. After your first pay period, you should see leave balance appearing on your payslip or in your employer's HR system.
- ✅ Review allowances and loadings. If your contract or award includes shift penalties, overtime rates, or allowances (meal, travel, uniform), verify these are being applied correctly.
Verify Your Pay
Enter your salary to check that your payslip deductions match what you should be paying in tax.
Use our Pay CalculatorUnderstanding Total Package Value
When evaluating a job offer, look beyond the base salary number. The total value of a compensation package includes several components:
| Component | Example ($90k base) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $90,000 | Cash salary before tax |
| Superannuation (12%) | $10,800 | Paid by employer into your super fund |
| Salary sacrifice (if available) | $5,000 – $15,000 | Pre-tax contributions reduce taxable income |
| Leave entitlements | ~$6,923 | 4 weeks paid annual leave (4/52 of base) — already inside the base salary, not extra cash |
| Other benefits | Varies | Parking, health insurance, bonuses, WFH equipment |
| Total package value | $100,800+ | Base salary plus super, before other benefits |
When negotiating, ask about salary sacrifice options, bonus structures, and professional development budgets. A $5,000 salary sacrifice into super saves approximately $1,200 for someone in the 37% bracket compared to receiving the same amount as cash salary ($1,950 of income tax and Medicare levy avoided, less $750 of 15% contributions tax in the fund). Model different scenarios with our Salary Sacrifice Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How this guide works▼
Employment and pay setup information is sourced from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO). Superannuation calculations use the FY2026-27 SG rate of 12%. Tax withholding amounts are based on current PAYG withholding tables. Award rates and minimum entitlements are set by the Fair Work Commission.
Sources & References
- 1TFN declaration, Australian Taxation Office
- 2Choosing a super fund, Australian Taxation Office
- 3Starting a new job, Fair Work Ombudsman
- 4Pay slips, Fair Work Ombudsman
Last verified: 9 October 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.
Anita Bell
AuthorFounder & Senior Bookkeeper
Accountancy degree (2015); certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One
Anita Bell earned her accountancy degree in 2015 and has worked as a senior bookkeeper with Prime Bookkeeping for over 5 years. This built her skills in Australian and New Zealand tax legislation and industry regulations. She is certified in Xero, QuickBooks Online, MYOB, Saasu, Zoho and Reckon One, and works with payroll and rostering software including Gusto, Deputy, Tsheets and KeyPay. She has strong experience in hospitality, building and construction, financial services, real estate, ecommerce, and medical and health services.
Areas of Expertise