HECS-HELP repayment calculator
Your compulsory HELP repayment for the year, and roughly how long a study debt takes to clear.
Uses the ATO's compulsory repayment rates for the year you pick. The years-to-clear figure assumes a steady income, steady indexation and thresholds that stay the same, so real life will differ. Repayment income is taxable income plus reportable fringe benefits, net investment losses, reportable super contributions and exempt foreign employment income. Check the ATO for the current rates and indexation. Your actual repayment is worked out when you lodge your tax return.
How this calculator works
Since 2025-26 repayments work like tax brackets. For 2026-27 nothing is repaid up to $69,528. From $69,529 to $129,717 it is 15 cents for each dollar over $69,528. From $129,718 to $186,050 it is $9,028 plus 17 cents for each dollar over $129,717. At $186,051 and above it is 10% of your whole repayment income. For 2025-26 the bands were $67,000, $125,000 (with $8,700) and $179,286.
Worked example for 2026-27: repayment income of $80,000 gives ($80,000 − $69,528) × 15% = $1,570.80 for the year. Debts are indexed each 1 June, and the calculator adds that growth before each year's repayment. With $40,000 of debt, 2.8% indexation and 3% income growth, the debt clears in about 13 years. Pay-offs depend heavily on the income growth you assume.
Sources and checks
Our figures and rules follow these official sources:
- ATO: Study and training loan repayment income and rates (page updated 13 October 2026)
Indexation rates are published by the ATO each 1 June. Check the current rate before relying on the years-to-clear estimate.
Figures last checked: 29 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.