ATO says still $14 bln in lost super

The ATO says there is $14 billion in "lost" superannuation accounts despite its efforts to help reunite people with their retirement nest eggs.

The ATO says there is still a staggering $14 billion in "lost" super accounts waiting to be claimed. (AAP)

The Australian Tax Office has helped Australians find and consolidate 49,000 superannuation accounts in the past month.

But there is still a staggering $14 billion in "lost" super accounts waiting to be claimed.

ATO commissioner John Shepherd estimates that more than $6 billion of this has occurred because funds have not been kept up to date with personal changes.

"When people get married or move house, the last thing on their mind is updating their name and address details with a super fund," Mr Shepherd said in a statement on Friday.

An additional $8 billion is sitting in accounts that have not received a contribution in five years or more.

More than 40 per cent of super account holders have more than one account and those with small balances can be eroded by super fees and charges.

Mr Shepherd said many people fail to take advantage of their ability to choose a fund when they start a new job and end up opening a new account with a different fund each time they change jobs.

He said it only takes a minute to use the ATO's online SuperSeeker to check whether accounts could be rolled into a main fund.