How to use the HELP Repayment Calculator
- 1 Enter your repayment income: taxable income plus items such as reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions and net investment losses.
- 2 Optionally enter your HELP balance from myGov.
- 3 Read your compulsory repayment for the year.
- 4 Check the fortnightly amount your employer is likely to withhold.
Worked example
Repayment income of $90,000. The income above the $69,528 threshold is $20,472, and 15% of that is a compulsory repayment of $3,070.80 for the year, about $118.11 a fortnight. At that pace a $30,000 balance would take about 9.8 years, before indexation.
Features
Marginal system
Repayments only on income above the threshold, not on your whole income.
2026-27 thresholds
Threshold $69,528, higher rate from $129,717, and 10% of all income above $186,050.
Years to repay
A rough guide to how long your balance will take to clear.
When to use it
Pay rises
See how much more HELP you repay after a raise.
Paying extra
Decide whether a voluntary repayment is worthwhile.
Graduates
Plan your first full-time salary.
Two jobs
Work out the repayment on combined income.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HELP repayment threshold for 2026-27?
$69,528 of repayment income. Below it you repay nothing.
How is the repayment worked out?
15c for each dollar between $69,529 and $129,717, then $9,028 plus 17c for each dollar up to $186,050. Above $186,050 the repayment is 10% of your total repayment income.
Why did the system change?
From 2025-26 the government replaced the old system, which charged a percentage of your whole income, with marginal rates on income above the threshold. Most people now repay less each year.
Is HELP debt indexed?
Yes. Balances are indexed each 1 June by the lower of CPI and the wage price index. Indexation is not included in the years-to-repay estimate.
Does my employer take it out of my pay?
Yes, if you tell your employer you have a study loan on your TFN declaration. The final amount is worked out when you lodge your tax return.
Can I make voluntary repayments?
Yes, through BPAY or the ATO. Voluntary repayments reduce the balance straight away but do not reduce the compulsory repayment for that year.
Was there a 20% cut to HELP debts?
Yes. Legislation in 2025 cut outstanding HELP and other study loan balances by 20%, applied as at 1 June 2025.
Does a HELP debt affect a home loan?
Lenders count compulsory repayments as a reduction in your income, which can lower how much you can borrow. Clearing a small balance can sometimes improve borrowing power.
What other loans use these rates?
VET Student Loans, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans, SA-HELP and other study and training support loans use the same thresholds and rates.
What if I go overseas?
If you move overseas for more than 183 days in a year, you must update your contact details with the ATO and report your worldwide income each year.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Reviewed by ToolsUnlocked Team · Last updated