Business day counter

Why count business days, not calendar days?

Most deadlines that matter to a business are written in business days. Since 1 July 2026, the ATO requires super contributions to be received by the employee's fund within 7 business days after payday, or 20 business days for a new employee's first contribution. The ATO also says payments can take up to 4 business days to reach it. Supplier terms, settlement timelines and lender processes are usually counted the same way.

Calendar maths gets these wrong around weekends and, especially, public holidays — which differ by state. A payday before Melbourne Cup lands on a different super deadline in Victoria than in New South Wales. A Christmas pay run stretches well into January. The counter handles that for you using statewide public holidays from the Fair Work Ombudsman's published lists.

How to use the result

• For Payday Super, treat the result as the last day the fund can receive the money. Work back from it by however long your clearing house or fund takes, and send it earlier.
• For ATO payments, count 4 business days back from the due date to see when to pay if you want it received on time. See BAS due tomorrow.
• For supplier terms written in business days, use the result as the date to diarise — and add it to your ten-day cash calendar.

If the count shows a deadline you can't meet from the cash you have, don't wait until the last day. Our money-tomorrow checker shows whether next-business-day funding is realistic, and the 2026–27 public holiday cash calendar lists the dates that shift deadlines. When you're ready, a 60-second enquiry gets a real person working on it — no credit check to enquire, and your details aren't passed around a list of lenders.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a business day?

For this counter, any day that isn't a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday for the whole of your chosen state or territory. The ATO uses a similar definition for Payday Super deadlines.

How do I count 7 business days for Payday Super?

Choose your state, enter the payday and 7 business days. The counter starts from the day after payday and skips weekends and statewide public holidays. Remember the test is when the super fund receives the contribution, so allow for clearing house time.

Does it include regional public holidays?

Regional holidays, such as show days that apply only in part of a state, are listed as notes but not skipped. If one applies where you are, add a day.

Why is the ATO date different from my state's count?

For lodgment and payment due dates that fall on a weekend or public holiday, the ATO lets you lodge or pay on the next business day, and it counts a public holiday for the whole of any state or territory. The counter's ATO note flags when that may apply.

Which years are covered?

Statewide public holidays from October 2026 to the end of 2027, from the Fair Work Ombudsman's published lists. Beyond that, only weekends are skipped.