# HELP Debt Repayment Calculator 2025–26

> Your compulsory HELP repayment for 2025–26 under the new marginal system: 15c and 17c per dollar above the threshold, repayment income and the effect on your…

URL: https://paycheck-math.com/au/help-debt-repayment-calculator/  
Breadcrumbs: Home > Australia > HELP Debt Repayment Calculator  
Language: en-AU  
Rates checked: 2026-10-29  

Compulsory HELP repayments start once your repayment income is over $67,000 in 2025–26. Since 2025-26 you repay 15c for each dollar above that, 17c above $125,000 and 10% of all your income above $179,285. On $90,000 that is **$3,450.00**, added to your tax bill.

## Result with default inputs

Inputs: year=2025-26, residency=resident, spouse=false, spouse_income=0, children=0, private_cover=false, help_debt=true, sapto=none, salary=90000, allowances=0, tax_withheld=23000, car_km=0, d_travel=0, d_clothing=0, d_self_ed=0, wfh_hours=0, d_other_work=0, d_union=0, d_gifts=0, d_tax_affairs=0, d_super=0, interest=0, div_unfranked=0, div_franked=0, franking_credits=0, d_invest=0, rent_income=0, rent_expenses=0, cg_long=0, cg_short=0, cg_losses=0, gov_pension=0, other_income=0, rfb=0, resc=0

**Estimated amount owing: $38.00**

- Taxable income: $90,000.00
- Total tax: $19,588.00
- Average tax rate: 21.76%
- Tax on your next 1,000: 32%

| Line | Item | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | **Income** |  |
| 1 | Salary and wages | $90,000.00 |
|  | **Total income** | $90,000.00 |
|  | **Taxable income** | $90,000.00 |
|  | **Tax** |  |
|  | Resident rate 16% on $26,800 | $4,288.00 |
|  | Resident rate 30% on $45,000 | $13,500.00 |
|  | **Tax on taxable income** | $17,788.00 |
| M1 | Medicare levy | $1,800.00 |
|  | Study loan repayment | $3,450.00 |
|  | **Tax and repayments** | $23,038.00 |
|  | PAYG tax withheld | −$23,000.00 |
|  | **You owe** | $38.00 |

_Estimate using ATO rates for the income year you picked. Your notice of assessment can differ, for example because of offsets, losses or income not covered here._


To compute other inputs, call the JSON API: `https://paycheck-math.com/api/v1/calculate?path=%2Fau%2Fhelp-debt-repayment-calculator%2F&year=2025-26&residency=resident&spouse=0` or open the page URL with the same query parameters.

## Worked example (2025–26)

Australian resident, $90,000 of salary with $23,000 of tax withheld, a HELP debt, no private hospital cover. The calculator above opens with these figures; change them to see your own estimate, laid out like a notice of assessment.

| Item | Assessment | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Salary and wages | $90,000.00 |
|  | Total income | $90,000.00 |
|  | Taxable income | $90,000.00 |
|  | Resident rate 16% on $26,800 | $4,288.00 |
|  | Resident rate 30% on $45,000 | $13,500.00 |
|  | Tax on taxable income | $17,788.00 |
| M1 | Medicare levy | $1,800.00 |
|  | Study loan repayment | $3,450.00 |
|  | Tax and repayments | $23,038.00 |
|  | PAYG tax withheld | −$23,000.00 |
|  | You owe | $38.00 |

## Compulsory repayment by repayment income

| Repayment income | 2025–26 | 2026–27 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $60,000 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| $70,000 | $450.00 | $70.80 |
| $80,000 | $1,950.00 | $1,570.80 |
| $100,000 | $4,950.00 | $4,570.80 |
| $125,000 | $8,700.00 | $8,320.80 |
| $150,000 | $12,950.00 | $12,476.11 |
| $180,000 | $18,000.00 | $17,576.11 |
| $200,000 | $20,000.00 | $20,000.00 |

Repayment income is taxable income plus reportable fringe benefits, net investment losses, reportable super contributions and exempt foreign employment income. The repayment never exceeds what you still owe.

## How your tax return is worked out

1. **Add up your income.** Salary, wages and allowances from your income statement, government pensions, interest, dividends plus franking credits, net rent (a loss reduces your income) and your net capital gain.
2. **Take off deductions.** Work-related car (88c a km up to 5,000 km), travel, clothing, self-education and other work expenses, working from home, gifts, tax agent fees and personal super contributions. Cents are dropped from taxable income.
3. **Work out tax on taxable income** at resident rates (tax-free to $18,200), foreign resident rates (no tax-free threshold) or working holiday maker rates.
4. **Take off non-refundable offsets:** the low income tax offset (up to $700) and the seniors and pensioners tax offset. They can reduce your income tax to nil but not below.
5. **Add the Medicare levy** (2%, reduced on low incomes and for families), the **Medicare levy surcharge** if you had no private hospital cover and earn over the threshold, and any compulsory **study loan repayment**.
6. **Take off what you have already paid:** PAYG tax withheld and your franking credits. A negative result is your refund; excess franking credits are refunded too.

## Rates and thresholds

| Item | 2025–26 | 2026–27 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Resident rates (taxable income tops) | 0% to $18,200 / 16% to $45,000 / 30% to $135,000 / 37% to $190,000 / 45% above | 0% to $18,200 / 15% to $45,000 / 30% to $135,000 / 37% to $190,000 / 45% above |
| Low income tax offset | $700 up to $37,500, nil from $66,667 | $700 up to $37,500, nil from $66,667 |
| Medicare levy | 2%; none to $28,011 single, $47,238 family | 2%; none to $28,011 single, $47,238 family (provisional) |
| Medicare levy surcharge starts (single / family) | $101,001 / $202,001 | $105,001 / $210,001 |
| Seniors and pensioners tax offset (single) | $2,230, reduced from $34,919 | $2,230, reduced from $36,034 |
| Study loan repayments start | $67,001 | $69,529 |
| Capital gains discount (assets held 12 months+) | 50% | 50% |
| Car cents per km (max 5,000 km) | 88c | 91c |
| Work-from-home fixed rate | 70c an hour | 70c an hour (assumed) |
| Standard deduction for work expenses | — | $1,000 |
| Lodge by (self-lodgers) | 31 Oct 2026 | 31 Oct 2027 |

Official source: [Tax rates for Australian residents (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/tax-rates-australian-residents), [Low income tax offset (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/tax-offsets/low-income-tax-offset), [Medicare levy reduction (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/medicare-and-private-health-insurance/medicare-levy/medicare-levy-reduction/medicare-levy-reduction-for-low-income-earners), [Medicare levy surcharge thresholds (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/medicare-and-private-health-insurance/medicare-levy-surcharge/medicare-levy-surcharge-income-thresholds-and-rates), [Study and training support loans thresholds (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/study-and-training-support-loans-rates-and-repayment-thresholds), [Seniors and pensioners tax offset (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/tax-offsets/seniors-and-pensioners-tax-offset), [Working from home fixed rate (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/deductions-you-can-claim/work-related-deductions/working-from-home-expenses/fixed-rate-method), [Standard deduction for work expenses (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/income-deductions-offsets-and-records/deductions-you-can-claim/work-related-deductions/standard-deduction-for-work-related-expenses), [Individual tax return instructions 2026 (ATO)](https://www.ato.gov.au/forms-and-instructions/individual-tax-return-2026-instructions). Rates checked on Oct 29, 2026.

## Questions people ask

### Does the repayment depend on how much I owe?

No. It depends on your repayment income, but it is capped at the balance of your debt.

### What changed in 2025–26?

Repayments are now worked out only on income above the threshold (a marginal system) instead of a percentage of your whole income, and the threshold rose to $67,000. Balances were also cut by 20% on 1 June 2025.

### Can I ask my employer to withhold more?

Yes. Tick the study loan box on your TFN declaration so the extra is withheld during the year and you do not get a bill at tax time.

### Is this the same as the ATO’s calculation?

It follows the same steps as your notice of assessment for the items listed. It does not cover business income, partnerships and trusts, foreign income, employment termination payments, lump sums in arrears, tax losses carried forward, the private health insurance rebate, zone and other offsets, or part-year residency.

### Which income year should I choose?

2025–26 is 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026; the return is due by 31 October 2026 if you lodge yourself. 2026–27 runs to 30 June 2027 and introduces the $1,000 standard deduction for work expenses.

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Estimates for information only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check with an adviser or the official tax authority.