Accurate reporting through the Member Account Attribution Service (MAAS) and Member Account Transaction Service (MATS) is essential for ensuring that superannuation funds are processed efficiently and correctly.
These services enable the ATO to manage member accounts, rollovers, and contributions, all of which play a critical role in the decision-making process for superannuation.
As members rely on ATO Online to make informed decisions about their financial future, it is crucial that the data reported is not only accurate but also up-to-date. Incorrect or delayed submissions can cause significant complications for both members and fund administrators.
Timing of submissions
For reversionary accounts, ensure that all reporting is completed before submitting the close MAAS for the deceased account holder. After this, wait 24 hours before submitting the open MAAS for the beneficiary. The ATO emphasizes that
Complete all reporting before you submit a close MAAS for the deceased account holder. Then, wait 24 hours before you submit an open MAAS for the beneficiary.
Additionally, MAAS closures and openings should be submitted in separate batches or files to ensure that the data is processed in the correct order.
It is important to report closed or open member accounts and any updates to these accounts within five business days of the occurrence. This ensures that government contributions and rollovers are directed to the correct destination in a timely manner. The ATO states that
Report closed/open member accounts and any updates to these member accounts within 5 business days of when they occur.
Accurate and complete data
Accurate reporting involves completing all mandatory fields, including Contributions accepted, Inward rollovers accepted, Member outward rollovers accepted, and Government rollovers accepted. This ensures that only the relevant member entitlements are processed through SuperStream. As the ATO notes,
Complete the mandatory fields; Contributions accepted, Inward rollovers accepted, Member outward rollovers accepted, and Government rollovers accepted correctly to ensure we only send the relevant member entitlements to you via SuperStream.
Avoid reusing timestamps from previous lodgments; each MAAS submission should have the current date and time. The ATO reminds users to
Ensure the message timestamp is the current date and time for each MAAS lodgment, rather than reusing a timestamp from a previous lodgment.
Tax File Number (TFN) handling
When reporting member information, if a Tax File Number (TFN) is not available for a member, leave the field blank rather than using a default or invalid TFN. If the TFN is available, make sure to report it accurately to avoid discrepancies. As per ATO guidelines,
If you don’t hold a Tax File Number (TFN) for a member, leave the field blank. Don’t use a default or invalid TFN. Accurately report the TFN in the field if it is available.
MAAS and MATS online services
MAAS and MATS services should only be used for real accounts with accurate member details. Do not use dummy accounts for testing system operations, as this will create actual records and may result in complications. The ATO advises,
Use MAAS and MATS online services only for real accounts with accurate names and information. Do not submit dummy accounts to test system operations, as this will create real records.
Before lodging a MATS transaction for a member, ensure that member account information has been successfully reported through MAAS. Additionally, when responding to a Commissioner’s commutation authority, submit a Transfer Balance Account Report (TBAR) instead of a MATS transaction. The ATO specifies,
When responding to a Commissioners commutation authority, lodge a transfer balance account report (TBAR) instead of using the MATS.
By following these steps, superannuation funds can ensure their MAAS and MATS reporting is accurate, minimizing delays or errors in processing government contributions and rollovers.
