How to use the salary packaging calculator
- 1 Enter your gross salary.
- 2 Choose your employer type: charity or PBI, or hospital and ambulance.
- 3 Enter the living expenses you package (0 uses the full cap) and any meal entertainment.
- 4 Enter the provider fee and read your extra take-home pay.
Worked example
A charity worker on $75,000 packaging the full $15,900 and $2,650 of meal entertainment, with a $200 fee. $18,550 comes from pre-tax pay, cutting tax and Medicare levy from $14,520 to $8,431, a saving of $6,089. After the fee that is $5,889 a year more take-home pay (about $227 a fortnight). A hospital worker on the same salary saves about $3,581.
Making the most of salary packaging
- Use the full cap each FBT year from 1 April.
- Add meal entertainment for an extra $2,650.
- Check the provider fee against the saving.
- Remember income tests: reportable benefits can affect family payments.
See your pay with the Pay Calculator, sacrifice into super with the Salary Sacrifice Calculator, and check child care with the Child Care Subsidy Calculator.
Features
Both caps
$15,900 for PBIs and charities, $9,010 for hospitals, plus $2,650 meal entertainment.
2026-27 tax
Income tax at the new 15% first rate, the low income offset and Medicare levy.
Reportable benefits
Shows the grossed-up amount that appears on your income statement.
When to use it
Nurses and hospital staff
See the saving on the $9,010 cap. Check your pay with the Pay Calculator.
Charity and disability workers
See the larger $15,900 PBI cap.
Paying off a mortgage
Package loan repayments and see the effect. Model repayments with the Extra Repayments Calculator.
Comparing jobs
Packaging can make a lower salary at a charity worth more. Compare offers with the Pay Rise Calculator.
Related Pay and Super tasks
Frequently asked questions
How much can I salary package?
Employees of PBIs and health promotion charities can package about $15,900 a year (a $30,000 grossed-up cap). Public and not-for-profit hospital and ambulance staff can package about $9,010 ($17,000 grossed-up). Both can add about $2,650 of meal entertainment and venue hire ($5,000 grossed-up).
How much tax does salary packaging save?
It depends on your tax rate. On a $75,000 salary, packaging $15,900 plus $2,650 of meal entertainment saves about $6,089 a year in tax and Medicare levy before fees.
What can I package?
Most living expenses: mortgage or rent, utilities, groceries, credit card and loan repayments, school fees and more, paid by your provider from pre-tax salary.
Why is the cap $15,900 and not $30,000?
The cap is on the grossed-up value, which is the amount × 1.8868 at the 47% FBT rate. $30,000 ÷ 1.8868 is about $15,900.
When does the cap reset?
Every fringe benefits tax year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.
Does packaging affect Centrelink or HELP?
Yes. Packaged benefits are shown as a reportable fringe benefits amount on your income statement. It counts in some income tests, such as HELP repayments, the Medicare levy surcharge, family tax benefit and child care subsidy, although Centrelink uses a reduced amount for exempt employers.
Does it reduce my super?
Usually not. Most employers pay super on your full salary before packaging, but check your employment agreement.
Can I package if I work for a commercial company?
Not living expenses. Commercial employers can offer salary sacrifice into super, novated car leases and some work items, but not the charity and hospital caps.
What fees do providers charge?
Usually a monthly or yearly admin fee, often $150 to $300 a year. The calculator takes it off the saving.
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.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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