Australian HELP repayment decision tool
HELP Debt and Pay-Rise Impact Calculator Australia 2026–27
See how much of a pay rise reaches your bank account after income tax, Medicare and the current marginal HELP repayment formula.
Estimated result
Enter your details to compare the scenarios.
Income-based repayment and the debt cap
This annual illustration compares the current and proposed salary using the 2026–27 resident income-tax bands, a standard 2% Medicare levy and the marginal HELP repayment formula. It is an annual assessment-style estimate; employer withholding during the year can differ.
Repayment income is salary plus the entered adjustment. The income formula is zero up to $69,528; 15% of the excess up to $129,717; then $9,028.35 plus 17% of the excess up to $186,050; above that, 10% of total repayment income. The amount actually modelled cannot exceed the available loan balance.
How balance and payment timing are simplified
- Start with the entered current HELP debt.
- Subtract the voluntary payment, capped at that balance.
- Apply the entered indexation percentage to the remainder.
- For each salary scenario, take the smaller of the income-based repayment and that modelled debt.
This order is an illustration, not a reconstruction of ATO dates. Real indexation, debt age, new borrowings, credits, voluntary-payment processing and the tax assessment occur on specific dates. A voluntary payment is additional to any assessed compulsory payment; it can affect the debt cap if the debt is cleared or nearly cleared. Confirm actual balances and timing with the ATO.
Worked pay-rise and small-debt example
At $85,000 and $100,000 salaries, no repayment-income adjustment, $100 debt and zero voluntary payment/indexation, the income formula alone is $2,320.80 and $4,570.80. Each actual modelled payment is capped at $100. The $15,000 gross rise therefore leaves $10,200 after the extra $4,500 tax and $300 standard Medicare levy. With zero debt, both HELP payments are zero and the same net change applies.
With a sufficiently large debt, the same income comparison includes $2,250 extra HELP, leaving $7,950. The tool does not estimate levy reductions, Medicare levy surcharge, tax offsets, deductions, salary packaging, residency changes or individual payroll schedules. Further years is the remaining balance divided by the new annual payment, assuming that payment stays fixed and ignoring future indexation.
HELP calculator questions
Can a zero balance still create a compulsory repayment here?
No. This model caps the payment at available debt, so zero debt produces zero compulsory repayment.
Does an extra voluntary payment replace a compulsory payment?
Not generally. It reduces the balance when processed. This tool separately shows the annual income calculation and applies the modelled balance cap; real timing must be checked.
Official sources
Check the underlying pay rise as well
HELP changes one part of the cash-flow result. Use the main pay-rise calculator to see the gross increase, super and estimated take-home change together.