How to find your lost super (it's easier than you think)

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How easy is it to lose track of your superannuation?

Given that most people will depend on super to support them when they retire, it might be thought that we'd be well and truly on top of what we have and where it is. Not so, it seems.

According to the federal Treasury, there are over 6 million "lost" super accounts holding a total of $18 billion.

how to find your lost super

If you think you might be one of the millions who have a lost super fund, perhaps by changing jobs or address, going overseas or changing your name, what can you do to reunite yourself with your money?

The first port of call is the Australian Tax Office.

It maintains a "lost members register" (that's basically anybody who can't be reached by their super fund and whose account hasn't received contributions for more than a year).

To access the record, you need to use the ATO's online superseeker tool or phone 132 865. Using your tax file number, the ATO will be able to match your details with its list of lost accounts.

If there is a match, the ATO will give you the name and contact details of the fund holding your cash.

You can then arrange to roll the fund into one of your other accounts, or withdraw it, depending on your circumstances.

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Mark Chapman is director of tax communications at H&R Block, Australia's largest firm of tax accountants, and is a regular contributor to Money. Mark is a Chartered Accountant, CPA and Chartered Tax Adviser and holds a Masters of Tax Law from the University of New South Wales. Previously, he was a tax adviser for over 20 years, specialising in individual and small business tax, in both the UK and Australia. As well as operating his own private practice, Mark spent seven years as a Senior Director with the Australian Taxation Office. He is the author of Life and Taxes: A Look at Life Through Tax.