Free HECS/HELP Debt Calculator Australia
Estimate compulsory student loan repayments from your income, compare take-home pay with and without HECS, and see how long your debt may take to clear.
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Estimates only, not tax or financial advice. Results are general information based on published ATO rules and the figures you enter. For advice about your situation, speak to a registered tax agent or licensed financial adviser. How we calculate · Spotted a mistake?
HELP repayment thresholds and rates for 2026-27
Compulsory repayments start once repayment income is above $69,528 ($67,000 in 2025-26). Below the top band you repay a share of the income above each threshold, so the repayment is a marginal amount, not a percentage of your whole income.
| Repayment income | Compulsory repayment |
|---|---|
| $0 – $69,528 | Nil |
| $69,529 – $129,717 | 15c for each $1 over $69,528 |
| $129,718 – $186,050 | $9,028 plus 17c for each $1 over $129,717 |
| $186,051 and above | 10% of total repayment income |
Source: ATO: Study and training loan repayment thresholds and rates
Worked examples
$90,000 repayment income
- $90,000 falls in the band starting at $69,528.
- Income over $69,528 is $20,472; at 15c per dollar that is $3,071.
- Repayment = $3,071 a year, or about $118 a fortnight.
$150,000 repayment income
- $150,000 falls in the band starting at $129,717.
- Income over $129,717 is $20,283; at 17c per dollar that is $3,448, plus the $9,028 base amount.
- Repayment = $12,476 a year, or about $480 a fortnight.
$200,000 repayment income
- $200,000 is above $186,050, so the marginal formula no longer applies.
- Repayment = 10% × $200,000 = $20,000.
How HECS changes your take-home pay
Your employer withholds the repayment from each pay once you tell them you have a study loan, so it comes out of take-home pay. Figures are for 2026-27, a single resident with no other income, after income tax and the Medicare levy.
| Salary | HECS a year | Take-home without HECS | Take-home with HECS | Less per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $70,000 | $71 | $57,080 | $57,009 | $3 |
| $80,000 | $1,571 | $63,880 | $62,309 | $60 |
| $90,000 | $3,071 | $70,680 | $67,609 | $118 |
| $100,000 | $4,571 | $77,480 | $72,909 | $176 |
| $120,000 | $7,571 | $91,080 | $83,509 | $291 |
| $150,000 | $12,476 | $110,430 | $97,954 | $480 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 | $140,130 | $120,130 | $769 |
HECS repayments are not a tax and do not change your income tax, but they reduce the cash you receive. Because repayment income adds back reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions and net investment losses, salary sacrifice and negative gearing do not lower the repayment the way they lower taxable income.
HECS/HELP repayment calculation
Compulsory HECS/HELP repayments apply when your repayment income is above $69,528 in 2026-27. Repayments are marginal: you repay a percentage of the income above each threshold, not of your whole income, until the top band where it becomes 10% of total repayment income.
- Input your values using the fields above (numeric keypad on mobile).
- Results use precise floating-point arithmetic rounded for display.
- Refresh or change inputs and recalculate anytime.
Worked example: $90,000 repayment income
- Enter your expected repayment income for the financial year.
- Income above the $69,528 threshold is $20,472.
- At 15% of that amount, the compulsory repayment is $3,071 for the year.
- Divide by your pay periods to see the per-pay withholding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HECS/HELP repayment threshold for 2026-27?
How much HECS/HELP do I repay?
What counts as repayment income?
When is HECS/HELP debt indexed?
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