HECS-HELP Repayment Calculator
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.
Your details
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
Summary
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HECS-HELP repayments explained
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.
How the FY 2026-27 repayment is calculated
For FY 2026-27, no repayment is required if your repayment income is at or below $69,528. 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:
- $69,529 to $129,717: 15% of the amount above $69,528.
- $129,718 to $186,050: $9,028 + 17% of the amount above $129,717.
- Above $186,050: a flat 10% of your whole repayment income.
The thresholds are indexed each 1 July, which is why they moved: FY 2025-26 ran the same three bands at $67,000, $125,000 and $179,285. Pick that year in the list above if you are working out a repayment on a 2025-26 return.
Worked example
Say your repayment income is $90,000. You're in the first band, so you repay 15% of the amount above the $69,528 threshold: ($90,000 − $69,528) × 15% = $20,472 × 0.15 = $3,070.80 for the year (about $118.11 per fortnight withheld from your pay). This payoff estimate excludes the annual 1 June indexation that is still added to your outstanding balance.
Types of HELP loans
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is HECS-HELP?
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 ($69,528 for FY 2026-27), and the outstanding balance is indexed each year on 1 June.
When do I start repaying my HECS-HELP debt?
You start making compulsory repayments through the tax system once your repayment income exceeds the minimum threshold, which is $69,528 for FY 2026-27 (up from $67,000 in FY 2025-26, itself raised from $54,435 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.
How much HECS do I have to repay each year?
For FY 2026-27 the ATO uses a marginal system: nothing on the first $69,528 of repayment income, then 15% of income between $69,529 and $129,717, then $9,028 plus 17% of income between $129,718 and $186,050, then a flat 10% of your whole repayment income above $186,050. For example, on $90,000 of repayment income you repay 15% of ($90,000 − $69,528) = $3,070.80 for the year.
What counts as repayment income?
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.
Is HECS-HELP debt indexed?
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.
Can I make voluntary repayments?
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.
What happens to my HELP debt if I go overseas?
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
How we calculate this
This calculator applies the ATO marginal study and training loan repayment system (Schedule 8, NAT 3539-06.2026). For FY 2026-27: nil below the $69,528 minimum threshold, 15% of income above $69,528 up to $129,717, then $9,028 plus 17% of income above $129,717 up to $186,050, then a flat 10% of the whole repayment income. Selecting FY 2025-26 runs the same shape on that year's $67,000 / $125,000 / $179,285 bands. 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. Rates and thresholds last verified: .
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.
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