Free HECS-HELP repayment calculator. Enter your income and HELP debt balance to see your compulsory annual repayment amount based on current ATO thresholds. Estimates how many years to fully repay your student loan at your current income level.
Taxable income + net investment loss + reportable fringe benefits
Current outstanding balance
Annual Compulsory Repayment
$0
$0 per fortnight
Repayment Rate
0.0%
Below repayment threshold
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HECS-HELP is Australia's income-contingent government student loan scheme (Higher Education Contribution Scheme – Higher Education Loan Program). You only repay once your repayment income exceeds a minimum threshold, and the repayment is collected through the tax system as part of your annual tax assessment or through PAYG withholding from your employer.
For FY 2025-26, no repayment is required if your repayment income is at or below $67,000 (raised from $54,435 under the 2025 Universities Accord reforms). From 1 July 2025 the ATO switched to a marginal repayment system (Schedule 8) — you no longer pay a single rate on your whole income. The compulsory repayment is:
Say your repayment income is $90,000. You're in the first band, so you repay 15% of the amount above the $67,000 threshold: ($90,000 − $67,000) × 15% = $23,000 × 0.15 = $3,450 for the year (about $132.69 per fortnight withheld from your pay). This payoff estimate excludes the annual 1 June indexation that is still added to your outstanding balance.
The repayment thresholds apply to all HELP loans including HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, OS-HELP, SA-HELP, VET Student Loans, and the former Student Financial Supplement Scheme (SFSS). All outstanding balances are combined into a single HELP debt for repayment purposes.
HECS-HELP is the Australian Government's income-contingent loan scheme that covers the student contribution amount for eligible Commonwealth-supported higher-education students. You only repay the loan through the tax system once your repayment income passes the minimum threshold ($67,000 for FY 2025-26), and the outstanding balance is indexed each year on 1 June.
You start making compulsory repayments through the tax system once your repayment income exceeds the minimum threshold, which is $67,000 for FY 2025-26 (up from $54,435 in FY 2024-25 under the Universities Accord reforms). Your employer withholds the repayment from your pay if you've indicated you have a HELP debt on your TFN declaration.
For FY 2025-26 the ATO uses a marginal system: nothing on the first $67,000 of repayment income, then 15% of income between $67,001 and $125,000, then $8,700 plus 17% of income between $125,001 and $179,285, then a flat 10% of your whole repayment income above $179,285. For example, on $90,000 of repayment income you repay 15% of ($90,000 − $67,000) = $3,450 for the year.
Repayment income includes your taxable income, plus any total net investment loss (negative gearing), reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions, and exempt foreign employment income. It's usually higher than your taxable income alone.
Yes, HELP debts are indexed annually on 1 June based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). However, from 1 June 2023, indexation was capped at the lower of CPI or the Wage Price Index (WPI) to prevent debt growing faster than wages.
Yes, you can make voluntary repayments at any time through the ATO. There used to be a 10% bonus for voluntary repayments of $500 or more, but this was removed from 1 January 2012. Voluntary repayments still reduce your balance faster.
If you move overseas, you're still required to make repayments. You must lodge a worldwide income notification with the ATO each year and make repayments based on your worldwide income if it exceeds the repayment threshold.
Sources & methodology
This calculator applies the ATO marginal study and training loan repayment system for FY 2025-26 (Schedule 8): nil below the $67,000 minimum threshold, 15% of income above $67,000 up to $125,000, then $8,700 plus 17% of income above $125,000 up to $179,285, then a flat 10% of the whole repayment income. It then divides your outstanding balance by the annual repayment for a payoff estimate that excludes future indexation. Figures are computed in your browser — nothing you enter is stored or sent to a server.
Authoritative sources
Reviewed by Bishal Shrestha — Founder of OneBookPlus, 10+ years building tools with Australian tax-agent and BAS-agent practices. Last reviewed and updated: May 2026.
Disclaimer: This calculator produces estimates only and is not tax advice. Tax outcomes depend on your individual circumstances. For decisions that affect your tax position, consult a registered tax agent or the ATO directly.
OneBookPlus handles invoicing, GST tracking, BAS prep, and ATO lodgement automatically.