HECS-HELP Repayment Calculator
Enter your repayment income to see the compulsory HELP repayment for 2026–27, the percentage of income it represents and how long your remaining balance will take to clear.
- ATO-based tax rates
- Instant results
- No sign-up
- Private by design
Your repayment income
Use the figure from your income statement or notice of assessment.
All calculations run locally in your browser.
Compulsory repayment
2026–274.0% of your repayment income
- Repayment rate
- 4.0%
- Marginal HELP rate
- 15%
- Set aside each week
- $73
- Years to clear
- 6.5
Repayment breakdown
- Repayment income
- $95,000
- Formula repayment
- $3,821
- HELP balance
- $25,000
- Repayment payable
- −$3,821
- Balance after repayment
- $21,179
If you earn more next year
HELP uses marginal rates, so only the income inside the next band is repaid at the higher rate. Your whole salary does not move to a new percentage.
Repayments are withheld through PAYG and reconciled on your tax return. Indexation, voluntary repayments and changes in income can change the result.
How the compulsory HELP repayment works
HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans are repaid through the tax system once your repayment income passes the minimum threshold. Your employer withholds an extra amount from each pay, alongside PAYG tax, and the ATO reconciles it when you lodge your return. The repayment is not a separate tax; it is a reduction of your study loan balance.
Compulsory repayment = the amount set by the ATO’s marginal HELP formula for your repayment income, capped at your remaining debt.
From 2025–26 the ATO moved from applying a single percentage to your whole income to marginal rates, similar to income tax. That change removed the “cliff” where earning a dollar more could sharply increase the repayment. In 2026–27 the marginal rate is 15% between $69,528 and $129,717, 17% between $129,717 and $186,050, and 10% of total repayment income above $186,050.
2026–27 HELP repayment thresholds
These are the marginal bands used by the calculator. Below $69,528 there is no compulsory repayment. The rates apply only to the income inside each band, not to your entire income.
| Repayment income | Marginal HELP rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $69,528 | Nil |
| $69,528 – $129,717 | 15% |
| $129,717 – $186,050 | 17% |
| Above $186,050 | 10% of total repayment income |
Thresholds are indexed each year. Confirm the current figures on the ATO’s study and training loan repayment page before relying on them for a return.
What counts as repayment income
Repayment income is broader than the salary figure on your payslip. It starts with your taxable income and adds reportable fringe benefits, reportable superannuation contributions, net investment losses, exempt foreign employment income and certain tax-free pensions or benefits. Negative gearing, for example, can add back to repayment income even though it reduces taxable income.
Salary sacrifice to super normally reduces repayment income because it reduces taxable income and is not a reportable contribution for most employees. That is one reason a high-income earner with a HELP debt may choose to salary sacrifice. Extra employer contributions above the standard guarantee are reportable and are added back, so the benefit depends on the arrangement.
If you have a second job, a bonus or investment income, use your combined repayment income, not just your main salary. Thesecond job tax calculator shows how extra income stacks up, and thetax return calculator estimates the final balance after withholding.
Why the repayment can feel larger than expected
The repayment is calculated on repayment income, it is on top of income tax and the Medicare levy, and it is withheld across the year. A pay rise can move part of your income into the 17% HELP band and also into a higher income tax bracket, so the combined deduction rises faster than the raise. The calculator isolates the HELP part so you can see what the loan is actually costing.
A HELP debt does not affect your credit score and has no interest charge, only indexation. It is usually repaid through withholding, so there is no separate bill at tax time unless your income changes during the year or your employer withheld too little. If you expect a large bonus, check whether extra withholding is needed.
HELP repayment examples for 2026–27
The figures use the 2026–27 marginal thresholds and assume no indexation, no voluntary repayments and a full year at the stated repayment income. The rate is the repayment divided by income, so it rises gradually rather than jumping at a threshold.
| Repayment income | Annual repayment | Repayment rate | Set aside weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $0 | 0.0% | $0 |
| $75,000 | $821 | 1.1% | $16 |
| $95,000 | $3,821 | 4.0% | $73 |
| $120,000 | $7,571 | 6.3% | $146 |
| $150,000 | $12,476 | 8.3% | $240 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 | 10.0% | $385 |
At very high incomes the repayment is 10% of total repayment income, which is why the effective rate settles near 10% while the marginal rate on the next dollar is also 10%. Use the calculator above for your own balance and income.
Managing a HELP debt
Check your balance through the ATO’s online services or your myGov account. If your income changes a lot during the year, you can ask the ATO for a withholding variation so the repayment matches your actual annual income. If you are close to clearing the debt, keep an eye on the balance near the end of the financial year so you do not over-withhold.
For a full picture of take-home pay with HELP included, use the salary calculator. To see the tax on a one-off payment, use thebonus tax calculator, and to estimate whether your yearly withholding covers both tax and HELP, use thetax return calculator.
Questions
HECS-HELP Repayment Calculator FAQs
Quick answers about how this calculator works and what it includes.
How is the compulsory HELP repayment calculated?
Your employer withholds a percentage of your repayment income once it passes the minimum threshold. From 2025–26 the ATO uses marginal rates: 15c for each dollar between $69,528 and $129,717, and 17c for each dollar between $129,717 and $186,050. Above $186,050 the repayment is 10% of your total repayment income. The calculator applies the 2026–27 thresholds and shows both the dollar amount and the repayment rate.
What counts as repayment income?
Repayment income is your taxable income plus reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions, net investment losses, exempt foreign employment income and any tax-free pensions or benefits. It is often higher than the salary on your payslip. Use the figure on your income statement or your notice of assessment if you want an exact result.
Is the HELP repayment rate my marginal tax rate?
No. The HELP repayment rate is separate from income tax and the Medicare levy. It is an additional percentage applied to your repayment income. In 2026–27 the marginal HELP rate is 15%, 17% or 10% depending on your income band, while your income tax marginal rate may be 30%, 37% or 45%.
What happens if my repayment is more than my debt?
You only repay the balance of your HELP debt. If the calculated repayment is larger than the amount you owe, the repayment is capped at the outstanding balance and the debt is cleared. The calculator applies that cap and estimates how many years the balance will take to clear if your income stays the same.
Does indexation increase my HELP debt?
Yes. HELP debts are indexed once a year, usually on 1 June, based on the consumer price index. Indexation is added to the balance and is not a repayment, so it can offset part of the compulsory repayment. This calculator does not model indexation, so clearing times are a best-case estimate.
Can I make extra voluntary repayments?
Yes. Voluntary repayments reduce your balance faster and there is no longer a bonus for paying early. You can make a voluntary payment through the ATO’s online services at any time. Paying off a low-interest HELP debt early is not always the best use of money, so compare it with other goals first.
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