- 2026-27 ATO thresholds
- Marginal system (2025–26+)
- Capped at 10% of income
Repayment income is roughly your taxable income plus a few add-backs (reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions, net investment losses). Enter your best estimate.
Compulsory repayment
- 98.0% Income you keep $78,429
- 2.0% HELP/HECS repayment $1,571
- Per fortnight
- $60
- Per month
- $131
- Marginal repayment rate
- 15%
How this is calculated
If you have a HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET Student Loan or other study and training support loan, the ATO collects a compulsory repayment once your income passes a threshold. From the 2025–26 year onward, repayments use a marginal system: the rate applies only to the income above each threshold, not to your whole income, and the total is capped at 10% of your repayment income.
For 2026-27, the repayment bands are:
| Repayment income | Repayment on income in band |
|---|---|
| Below $69,528 | Nil |
| $69,528 – $129,716 | 15c per $1 over $69,528 |
| $129,717 and over | 17c per $1 over $129,717 |
A worked example
Say you earn $80,000. You are $10,472 over the first threshold of $69,528, and the first band charges 15c in the dollar, so your compulsory repayment is about $1,571 for the year, roughly $60 per fortnight. That is only about 2% of your income, because the rate applies to the slice above the threshold, not the whole $80,000.
Repayment at different incomes (2026-27)
What the compulsory repayment works out to across a range of repayment incomes: annual, per fortnight, and as a share of income.
| Repayment income | Per year | Per fortnight | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|
| $70,000 | $71 | $3 | 0.1% |
| $80,000 | $1,571 | $60 | 2.0% |
| $90,000 | $3,071 | $118 | 3.4% |
| $100,000 | $4,571 | $176 | 4.6% |
| $130,000 | $9,076 | $349 | 7.0% |
Who this is for
Anyone with a study or training loan who wants to check how much will be collected this year, budget for it across their pay cycle, or decide whether a voluntary repayment makes sense before annual indexation is applied. If you also want your income tax and take-home pay after the repayment, use the take-home pay calculator, which folds HELP/HECS into the full picture. For the full repayment thresholds and how the marginal system works, read the HECS/HELP repayment thresholds guide.
Assumptions & data caveats
- STILL DRAFT (draft:true). Verified against ATO on 2026-08-09: income-tax brackets, HELP/HECS marginal model, and super guarantee. NOT yet verifiable: Medicare levy low-income thresholds for 2026-27 (not published; placeholder in place).
- INCOME TAX: VERIFIED for 2026-27. Resident schedule: 0-$18,200 nil; $18,201-$45,000 15%; $45,001-$135,000 30%; $135,001-$190,000 37%; $190,001+ 45%. The second bracket was cut from 16% to 15% effective 1 July 2026 (legislated to fall to 14% from 1 July 2027).
- MEDICARE LEVY: UNVERIFIED for 2026-27. Rate 2%; singles shade-in of 10c per $1 over the lower threshold. The genuine 2026-27 singles thresholds are NOT yet published (indexed annually, typically announced ~May 2027 Budget). Values here ($28,011 lower / $35,013 upper) are the latest published 2025-26 singles figures used as a placeholder; replace once the ATO publishes 2026-27.
- HELP/HECS: now modelled with the MARGINAL system (2025-26 onwards): the rate applies only to income ABOVE each threshold, and total repayment is capped at 10% of repayment income (helpCapRate). Verified 2026-27 table: $0-$69,528 nil; $69,529-$129,717 15c per $1 over $69,528; $129,718-$186,050 $9,028 + 17c per $1 over $129,717; $186,051+ capped at 10% of total. Thresholds are indexed to average weekly earnings each year; reconfirm annually.
- SUPER GUARANTEE: VERIFIED. 12% for 2026-27 (reached its legislated 12% maximum on 1 July 2025; no further increases). Payday Super applies from 1 July 2026 (payment timing, not the rate).
- Repayment income is approximated as taxable income; the ATO definition adds back items such as reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions and net investment/rental losses.
Official sources
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures are general in nature and may not reflect your circumstances. Verify against official sources or a qualified adviser before making decisions.
Frequently asked questions
How is my HECS/HELP repayment worked out? +
Since the 2025–26 year, compulsory repayments use a marginal system. You pay nothing on repayment income below the first threshold ($69,528 for 2026–27), then a set rate on each dollar above it: 15c per dollar between $69,528 and $129,717, and 17c per dollar above $129,717. The total is capped at 10% of your repayment income. The old system, which applied a single rate to your whole income once you crossed a threshold, no longer applies.
What is 'repayment income'? +
Repayment income is your taxable income plus certain add-backs: reportable fringe benefits, reportable (salary-sacrificed) super contributions, net investment and rental losses, and exempt foreign employment income. For most employees it is close to taxable income, so that is a reasonable estimate to enter here.
Is the repayment taken out of each pay? +
Your employer withholds extra tax across the year based on the repayment income you declare, and the actual compulsory repayment is reconciled when you lodge your tax return. This calculator shows the annual amount and a per-fortnight and per-month equivalent so you can see the cash-flow impact.
Does interest apply to my loan? +
HELP loans are not charged interest, but the balance is indexed each year to keep pace with inflation (indexation is now the lower of CPI and the Wage Price Index). Voluntary repayments reduce the balance that gets indexed.
Are these figures exact? +
They are estimates based on the ATO's published 2026–27 thresholds and rates. Thresholds are indexed annually, and your actual repayment depends on your final repayment income and personal circumstances. Always confirm with the ATO or your registered tax agent.