How Do I Export A SAFF File Manually For A Third-Party Clearing House?

The SuperStream Alternative File Format (SAFF) is an ATO-defined CSV layout that some employers upload directly to a third-party clearing house or SuperStream gateway (such as SuperChoice or Ozedi) instead of sending contributions through Lightning Payroll's built-in SuperStream connection. The export is optional ÔÇö use it only when your clearing house requires a manual file upload.

In the Desktop App

There are two ways to trigger a manual SAFF export during the SuperStream contribution wizard.

Option 1 ÔÇö Generate CSV from the deposit selection screen

1. Go to Pays >> Payday Super and complete your pay selection as usual, then click Create.
2. On the deposit selection screen, under Output Option, select Generate CSV instead of Send Superstream.
3. Choose the deposits to include and click Next.
4. The CSV export screen opens. The default layout is the ATO Alternate File Format (SAFF v1.0 with 133 columns). Tick Include ATO Headers to add the three required header rows that most clearing houses expect.
5. Click Save As, choose a location and file name, then save. The file downloads as a .csv.
6. Upload the saved file to your clearing house and complete their payment process.

Option 2 ÔÇö Export from the SuperStream Summary screen

1. Complete the SuperStream wizard as normal (select Send Superstream). On the SuperStream Summary screen you will see a Need a manual SAFF file export? button at the bottom of the screen.
2. Click Need a manual SAFF file export?, confirm the prompt, then choose a save location.
3. The file is saved. Upload it to your clearing house.

In the Online (Web/Mobile) App

1. Go to Pays, complete the pay run, then open Payday Super.
2. Select the pays to include, set the Payment Date, and click Create.
3. Work through the SuperStream contribution wizard until the SuperStream Summary screen.
4. Click Need a manual SAFF file export? (shown below the other action buttons when deposits are available).
5. A confirmation modal titled Manual SAFF Export appears. Click Yes, export.
6. The file downloads automatically as Lightning-Payroll-SuperStream-SAFF.csv. Upload it to your clearing house.

Date Format Setting (Desktop App)

By default Lightning Payroll writes dates in the SAFF file as YYYY-MM-DD, which matches the ATO SAFF v1.0 specification and is accepted by most clearing houses. If your clearing house rejects the file and requires DD-MM-YYYY dates instead, go to Settings >> Super Fund Providers and tick Use DD-MM-YYYY dates in SAFF exports (instead of the default YYYY-MM-DD)?. The online app always uses the ATO default format.

Notes

• The SAFF export is a contingency option. If your Ozedi account is set up for the built-in SuperStream connection, there is no need to use a manual export.
• Contribution timing still applies ÔÇö from 1 July 2026, super generally needs to reach the employee's fund within 7 business days of payday. Allow time for your clearing house to process and remit the file.
• After exporting, the deposits remain in Super Fund Deposits so you can mark them as paid once the clearing house confirms receipt.

For a broader overview of clearing house and gateway options, see Can I Use A Clearing House Or Another Super Gateway For Payday Super?