These release notes are specific to the Jem 32.0.0 Australian payroll releases and cover key features. We’ve separated them from our general release notes so you can easily find what’s relevant to you.
The new Australian payroll is packed with features that meet ATO requirements. It’s ready for Single Touch Payroll (STP) Phase 2 reporting and handles ATO tax calculations accurately, so you can stay compliant and save time.
Guides to help you get started are on the way. If you want to learn more about what’s included or how Australian payroll could work for your business, raise an iHelp through Infusion.
Version 32.0.0
Introducing Australian Payroll
Single Touch Payroll (STP) Compliant
Jemini now supports Australian payroll processing with STP reporting
Australian businesses can now run payroll for their employees through Jemini. The system calculates PAYG tax withholding, mandatory superannuation contributions, and generates the reporting files required for Australian Taxation Office compliance.
You'll find the new Australian payroll functionality across several areas of Jemini. The Organisation Component panel includes fields for your Australian Business Number (ABN) branch code, payer country code, and postcode – all required for STP reporting to the ATO. When setting up employees, you can complete their Tax File Number declarations and select their Super Fund details in the employee record.
The new Payroll Management section provides a centralised view for processing Australian pay cycles. From here, you can create pay cycles, review payroll summaries, and generate the banking and ATO files needed for each pay run. Pay Mode now calculates tax and superannuation amounts according to Australian rates and displays net pay using Australian payroll rules.
Payroll Transaction Configuration includes Australian pay types, leave categories, and termination reason codes that align with ATO requirements. You can also upload Australian tax tables using the same process currently used for New Zealand tax tables.
STP reporting happens when you process pay cycles. Select Generate files to create the required ATO submission files containing employee salary, tax, and superannuation information that Australian law requires you to report with each pay run.
(JEM-19263)
STP Compliance in Payroll Transaction Configuration
Jemini automatically creates STP data accumulators
When you set up payroll transactions in Payroll Transaction Configuration and select STP codes for ATO reporting, Jemini now automatically creates the corresponding data accumulators. This connects your transaction setup directly to STP file generation without requiring separate accumulator configuration.
The automatic accumulator creation covers all STP categories including leave payments (like parental leave and cash-out), allowances (such as tool allowances and travel allowances), deductions, superannuation contributions, lump sum payments, and salary sacrifice arrangements. You configure these through the transaction applicability panels where you select the relevant STP codes from dropdown menus.
(JEM-22015)
Configure and process employee allowances with automatic STP compliance
You can configure allowance types in your payroll transaction setup, then apply them to employee pay with automatic STP compliance and correct tax treatment.
When you're configuring payroll transactions, you'll find an "STP Allowance Type" option that lets you select from predefined allowance categories like travel allowances, tool allowances, overtime meal allowances, and cents per kilometre payments. Once configured, these allowance types handle the ATO reporting requirements and tax calculations without requiring manual STP codes or compliance rule management.
In Pay Mode, you select the appropriate allowance transaction and enter the payment amount. Jemini calculates the tax treatment, generates payslip descriptions, and includes everything correctly in your STP files.
This covers allowances including director's fees, bonuses, commissions, and workplace allowances that employees receive for work-related expenses.
(JEM-22494)
Configure and process employee deductions with automatic STP compliance
Configure employee deductions across multiple categories including union fees, workplace giving, child support, salary sacrifice for superannuation, and other employee benefits like novated leases.
When you set up employee pay transactions, assign deduction types with specific amounts and frequencies. Jemini calculates deduction amounts, applies correct tax treatment, and maintains Period-to-Date and Year-to-Date totals.
STP Integration: Deductions flow to STP files with correct ATO category codes and YTD amounts. Salary sacrifice amounts appear separately from standard deductions, with proper tax treatment applied throughout the financial year.
Access deduction setup through Payroll Transaction Configuration to select from available STP deduction categories and salary sacrifice types.
(JEM-22515)
Configure and process lump sum payments with automatic STP compliance
When you process return-to-work payments or back pay corrections, Jemini calculates the tax automatically using ATO-compliant rates. You can select Lump Sum W tax as a tax treatment option for return-to-work scenarios, and the system applies the correct flat rate (currently 32%). For back pay spanning multiple financial years, Jemini splits the amounts correctly for STP reporting while handling the complex tax calculations behind the scenes.
(JEM-22534)
Year-to-date gross pay and PAYGW amounts are included in STP files
When you generate STP files through Payroll Management, Jemini includes year-to-date gross pay and PAYGW withholding amounts in the payee section. Year-to-date gross pay amounts appear under field PAYEVNTTEMP258 and PAYGW amounts appear under field PAYEVNTEMP259, giving the ATO complete annual earnings and tax withholding information for your employees.
(JEM-22411, JEM-22414)
Leave transactions include the correct STP codes
When your employees take different types of leave, Jemini automatically applies the right STP codes so the leave appears in the correct categories in your STP files. Annual leave, personal leave, and business leave get reported as "Other Paid Leave" (Code O), while jury duty and similar absences use "Ancillary/Defence Leave" (Code A), and worker's compensation uses its own category (Code W).
STP codes are already configured in your Pay Transaction Configuration when you set up leave types. During payroll processing, Jemini applies the appropriate codes automatically, so your STP reporting to the ATO shows leave payments in their proper categories without any extra work from you.
(JEM-23177)
Generating STP Files
Generate and submit required STP files directly to the ATO
When you run payroll for Australian employees, you can create Submit files for new payroll data, Update files to correct previously submitted information, and Full File Replacement files when you need to completely replace submitted data.
The system tracks year-to-date amounts for all your employees and handles complex scenarios like multiple employments, terminations, and lump sum payments. Jemini validates all data before submission to prevent ATO rejections and shows clear messages when issues need attention.
You'll find the STP functionality in Payroll Management, where the Generate ATO Files button appears after you've paid your pay cycles. The Payroll Files section shows your submission history and current status with the ATO. You can download processing messages and refresh the status to see updates from the ATO..
(JEM-21726)
Send corrections to the ATO using ATO Update option
When you need to fix mistakes in your STP reporting or handle business changes like switching payroll systems, you can generate ATO Update files instead of regular payment files. ATO Update files correct previously reported data without creating new payments.
You'll use ATO Update files for end of financial year processes, fixing income type misclassifications, correcting year-to-date amounts, updating employee or system identifiers during the financial year, and sending amendments for prior financial years. After 30 June, any changes to the previous financial year must be sent via ATO Update files.
Access this functionality through Payroll Management by selecting Generate files in the payroll files section. You can choose your correction type (adjust YTD amounts, replace identifiers, or zero out data), make your changes, select your employees, then generate and submit the ATO Update file.
(JEM-23001)
STP files include accurate payer period totals
Your STP files will show the correct totals for your entire payroll in the payer period totals section. This includes the total tax withheld (PAYGW), total gross payments, and any child support amounts for the pay period. These totals appear automatically in the employer section of your STP files when you submit payroll events to the ATO.
The payer period totals cover all employees processed in that pay period and help the ATO verify your payroll reporting is complete and accurate. You'll find these totals populated correctly when you generate STP files through the payroll processing workflow.
(JEM-22450)
SAFFE File Reporting
Generate SAFFE files for CSS and PSS superannuation scheme payments
Create SuperStream Alternative File Format Extended (SAFFE) files directly from Payroll Management when processing Australian payroll. SAFFE files are required for making superannuation payments to Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS) and Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS) schemes.
Jemini validates all required information before generating your file, including employee personal details, super fund information, and organisation data. If any required information is missing or incorrect, you'll receive a detailed validation report showing exactly what needs to be fixed.
When you generate a SAFFE file, you select which paid pay cycles to include and the system compiles all the superannuation contribution data into the correct format for uploading to your super funds.
(JEM-15949)
ATO Tax Calculations
Tax calculations handle all major employee categories and complex pay scenarios
Jemini can calculate PAYG withholding tax for Australian employees across different worker categories including residents, Working Holiday Makers, seniors, and seasonal workers. The system handles complex scenarios like back payments using ATO Method B calculations and manages bonus payments with appropriate tax treatment.
ATO tax files (NAT 4466 for seniors and pensioners, NAT 75331 for Working Holiday Makers) are stored in the ATO Tax Table bubble. Jemini automatically applies the correct tax rates and calculations based on employee category and payment type. For back pay situations, Jemini calculates tax correctly whether you're paying missed amounts from previous periods or salary increases that span multiple financial years. Medicare Levy, Medicare Levy Surcharge, and Help/Study Loan calculations are built into the payroll processing.
(JEM-21987)
Income tax withholding for regular employees
When you set up regular employees' tax details in Employee setup, Jemini automatically determines the correct tax treatment code and applies the appropriate ATO tax scales during payroll processing. The system handles different employee tax scenarios including those claiming or not claiming the tax-free threshold, employees with student loans requiring HELP/HECS repayments, and daily casual workers who need special calculation methods.
For employees claiming the tax-free threshold, Jemini uses NAT_1004 Scale 2 which provides lower withholding rates. Employees not claiming the threshold use Scale 1 with higher withholding rates. The system also accommodates student loan repayments by applying NAT_3539 tax scales when HELP/HECS debt repayments are required, and handles daily casual employees by converting daily earnings to weekly equivalents for accurate tax calculations.
(JEM-22257)
Medicare levy calculations
Jemini calculates Medicare levy, Medicare levy exemptions, Medicare levy reductions, and Medicare levy surcharge automatically based on your employee's Tax Details. The system applies the correct rates and eligibility rules for different employee types including regular employees, pensioners, and senior Australians.
When you set up an employee's Tax Details, Jemini validates Medicare eligibility combinations to prevent incorrect setups. For example, you can't claim Medicare Levy Reduction if an employee already has a full Medicare exemption. The system also handles complex scenarios like married employees with dependents, different student loan situations, and various Medicare Levy Surcharge tiers.
(JEM-21940)
Payroll tax tracking and reporting foundation
Jemini now includes the foundation for tracking payroll tax obligations across Australian states. The system tracks payroll tax accumulators for all eight Australian states (NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, NT, ACT). These accumulators are automatically applied to relevant pay transactions like taxable earnings, leave payments, and employer superannuation.
(JEM-3387)
Setting up Australian Employees
Employee Income Stream
Configure STP income stream types in new employe Income Stream bubble
When setting up a new employee. a new Income Stream bubble appears in the Action area after you complete the Occupancy panel. This bubble lets you set and manage the income stream type for Australian employees according to STP requirements.
You can view and manage date-effective income stream records, including historical and future changes. The Income Stream bubble displays validation warnings when your selected income stream isn't compatible with the employee's tax category in Tax Details.
(JEM-22666, JEM-22661, JEM-22691, JEM-22690)
Cross-validation between Income Stream and Tax Category helps prevent STP reporting errors
When you save changes to either Income Stream or Tax Details, Jemini checks if they're compatible according to ATO requirements. If there's an incompatibility, both bubbles display warning indicators and you'll see a message explaining the issue.
You can choose to fix the incompatibility immediately by changing either the income stream or tax category, or you can proceed with your current changes and resolve the compatibility issue later. This validation covers all combinations in the ATO's income stream and tax category compatibility matrix.
(JEM-22790, JEM-23829, JEM-23891, JEM-23892, JEM-24166)
Employee Tax Details
Configure tax information in employee Tax Details bubble
The Tax Details panel guides you through Australian tax requirements for each employee and automatically calculates the correct tax treatment codes. It handles all Australian employee tax categories including regular employees, foreign residents, Working Holiday Makers, seniors and pensioners, actors, voluntary agreements, and ATO-defined categories.
You'll find Tax Details in Australian employee Action bubbles once you’d completed the Occupancy panel. Different fields display based on your answers, so you only see what's relevant for each employee's situation. After you complete the required fields, Jemini generates the tax scale and treatment code needed for STP reporting. The panel also captures Medicare levy settings and HELP debt information, and supports tax offsets where applicable.
(JEM-21921)
Employee Super Funds
Jemini now handles Australian superannuation with complete flexibility and compliance controls
You can configure how Jemini calculates super for different employee situations, including special rules for workers under 18, additional employer contributions, and contribution base limits. This gives you the control you need to match your organization's super policies while staying compliant with ATO regulations.
Under-18 employee rules: Set up automatic compliance with ATO rules that only require super payments when employees under 18 work more than 30 hours per week. Jemini checks each individual week and handles complex scenarios like public holidays, overtime exclusions, and employees turning 18 mid-pay period. Turn this setting on or off in System > Application Settings > Payroll > Australia.
Superannuation contribution thresholds: Control whether super is calculated on full earnings or capped at the ATO's Maximum Contribution Base. Annual MCB rates in Pay > Tax Tables > Super Data. Choose your threshold approach in System > Application Settings > Payroll > Australia.
Additional employer contributions: Configure extra employer super contributions beyond the standard SGC, including RESC (Reportable Employer Superannuation Contributions). Set these up as percentages or fixed amounts through Super Fund configuration and Employee Super Fund details.
Enhanced super fund setup: Super funds now come with pre-configured transaction codes for different contribution types (SGC, RESC, salary sacrifice, and voluntary after-tax contributions), making setup faster and more consistent.
(JEM-22016)
Employee Pay Mode
Jemini now calculates and pays Long Service Leave correctly for Western Australia employees
Western Australia has specific Long Service Leave rules that differ from other Australian states. Jemini now handles these calculations accurately, including the 365-day lookback period for commission and piece-rate workers, proper averaging of hours for employees with varying schedules, and correct inclusion of allowances in ordinary pay calculations.
When processing LSL payments for WA employees, Jemini automatically applies the appropriate calculation method based on their pay structure. For employees with standard pay rates, it uses their current ordinary pay. For commission or piece-rate workers, it calculates their average weekly earnings over the previous 365 days, excluding any unpaid leave periods.
You can configure employee LSL settings in Pay Mode under the employee record, where you'll specify whether they have a standard ordinary pay rate for LSL calculations. The system tracks hours worked and ordinary pay through accumulators to support accurate LSL payment calculations.
(JEM-22073)
Employee Leave
Leave accumulates based on actual hours worked during each pay cycle
Jemini now properly handles Australian leave accumulation rules, which differ from New Zealand's algorithmic approach. Instead of calculating leave on-demand, the system now accumulates leave balances based on actual hours worked during each pay cycle, matching Australian Fair Work requirements.
The system tracks hours worked for different employment types automatically. Full-time employees accumulate leave based on standard patterns, part-time employees based on their agreed ordinary hours, and employees with varying schedules based on their average weekly hours worked.
This covers all major Australian leave types: Annual Leave (4-5 weeks per year depending on shift work), Sick & Carer's Leave (10 days pro-rata), and Family & Domestic Violence Leave (immediate 10-day entitlement that resets annually).
Leave balances now store with 8 decimal places precision to handle the detailed hour-based calculations. The system maintains running totals of accumulated leave rather than recalculating from scratch each time, making leave management faster and more accurate.
(JEM-22578)
Leave loading uses dedicated leave plans for improved balance tracking and payment flexibility
Australian employees with annual leave and leave loading now have separate leave plans that track balances independently. When you attach an annual leave plan that includes leave loading to an employee, Jemini automatically attaches both the annual leave plan and the associated leave loading plan.
This gives you better control over when leave loading gets paid – whether when leave is taken or on termination. You'll find these separate plans in 'Manage attached leave plans' in the employee record, and the Leave Balance section shows balances for both annual leave and leave loading separately.
(JEM-22162, JEM-23537, JEM-23538, JEM-23115, JEM-23112)