Worked example (2025–26)
Australian resident, $80,000 of salary with $17,300 of tax withheld, 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 | $80,000.00 |
| Total income | $80,000.00 | |
| Taxable income | $80,000.00 | |
| Resident rate 16% on $26,800 | $4,288.00 | |
| Resident rate 30% on $35,000 | $10,500.00 | |
| Tax on taxable income | $14,788.00 | |
| M1 | Medicare levy | $1,600.00 |
| Tax and repayments | $16,388.00 | |
| PAYG tax withheld | −$17,300.00 | |
| Your refund | $912.00 |
Deduction and tax saved by hours worked from home (2025–26)
| Hours | Deduction | Saving on $60,000 | Saving on $100,000 | Saving on $150,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 | $140 | $46.90 | $44.80 | $54.60 |
| 500 | $350 | $117.25 | $112.00 | $136.50 |
| 800 | $560 | $187.60 | $179.20 | $218.40 |
| 1,200 | $840 | $281.40 | $268.80 | $327.60 |
| 1,600 | $1,120 | $375.20 | $358.40 | $436.80 |
Equipment such as a desk or laptop is claimed separately (items costing $300 or less at once, more expensive items over their effective life).
How your tax return is worked out
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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), Low income tax offset (ATO), Medicare levy reduction (ATO), Medicare levy surcharge thresholds (ATO), Study and training support loans thresholds (ATO), Seniors and pensioners tax offset (ATO), Working from home fixed rate (ATO), Standard deduction for work expenses (ATO), Individual tax return instructions 2026 (ATO). Rates checked on Oct 29, 2026.
Questions people ask
What records do I need?
Can I use the actual cost method instead?
Does the fixed rate cover my laptop or desk?
Is this the same as the ATO’s calculation?
Which income year should I choose?
Reviewed by Soufyane S.. Last updated Oct 29, 2026. How we check numbers
Estimates for information only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check with an adviser or the official tax authority.