HELP repayments in 2026–27
See the indexed repayment threshold, the marginal repayment formula and the income components that can make HELP differ from taxable salary.
The 2026–27 marginal formula
The minimum repayment income is $69,528 and the upper threshold in the marginal formula is $129,717. A compulsory repayment is built from 15 cents for each repayment-income dollar above $69,528 up to $129,717, plus 17 cents for each dollar above $129,717. The result is capped at 10% of total repayment income.
| Repayment-income slice | Amount added |
|---|---|
| $69,528 or less | Nil |
| $69,528 to $129,717 | 15% of the slice above $69,528 |
| Above $129,717 | Previous amount plus 17% of the slice above $129,717 |
| Overall cap | No more than 10% of repayment income |
Repayment income is broader than taxable income
The starting point is taxable income with specific adjustments. Reportable fringe benefits, total net investment losses, reportable super contributions and exempt foreign employment income can be added. Salary-sacrificed super is generally reportable, so reducing taxable salary through sacrifice does not necessarily reduce HELP repayment income by the same amount.
The calculator adds the entered salary sacrifice back and provides an “other HELP repayment income” field for additional components. It cannot know the balance of every income source from salary alone.
A $75,000 example
If simplified repayment income is $74,000 after the optional $1,000 work deduction and there are no other adjustments, the amount above $69,528 is $4,472. Fifteen per cent is $670.80. That is below the 10% cap.
What this estimate does not decide
- Voluntary repayments and whether making one is appropriate
- Indexation applied to the outstanding loan balance
- The exact debt balance or a final repayment limited by that balance
- Overseas levy obligations and foreign-currency conversion
- Repayment-income components not entered by the visitor
Official sources
Add HELP to your salary estimate.
Switch on study-loan repayments and add other repayment-income components where needed.