Calculators / HECS-HELP
HECS-HELP repayments, and what they take each year.
Your compulsory repayment on the 2026-27 marginal system1 — a rate only on the income above the threshold, not your whole pay.
$
$
Balances are indexed ~4.4% each 1 June (lower of CPI and WPI). Estimate only, not tax advice.
Compulsory repayment this year
$3,821
about $318/month, withheld through your pay
That's per pay (fortnightly)$147
Repayment rate applied15%
Est. time to clear balance9 yr 5 mo
Indexation (next 1 June)$1,320
Because there’s no interest — only indexation roughly tracking inflation — the “real” cost of a HELP debt is low. Should you pay it off early? →
- 1 Uses the same HELP engine as the PFO app for FY 2026-27 (marginal system). Payoff time assumes today’s repayment held flat with ~4.4% annual indexation. Estimate only.
The new marginal repayment system
The big 2026-27 change: repayments now apply only to income above the threshold, like income-tax brackets, not your whole salary. A pay rise no longer bumps your entire income into a higher repayment rate.
| Income | Compulsory repayment |
|---|---|
| Below $69,528 | Nil |
| $69,528 – $129,717 | 15% of income above $69,528 |
| $129,717 – $186,050 | $9,028 + 17% of income above $129,717 |
| $186,050+ | 10% of total income |
Common questions
How much is my HECS repayment on $95,000?+
About $3,821 in 2026-27 under the marginal system.
Should I pay off HECS early?+
HELP has no interest, only annual indexation (~4.4%). Voluntary repayments only help if indexation outpaces what your money could earn elsewhere. General info, so weigh it with a licensed adviser.