HELP Indexation Timing Calculator Australia
See how much you can save by making a voluntary HELP/HECS repayment before the 1 June indexation date. Compare indexation with and without extra repayments.
01 —INPUTS
Your current HELP/HECS debt balance
How much you plan to repay before 1 June
Default is the most recent indexation rate
Note: HELP debt is indexed each year on 1 June. The 2026 indexation rate was 2.8%. Making a voluntary repayment before 1 June reduces the balance that gets indexed.
02 —RESULTS
Indexation Saved$56.00
Summary
Balance Before Indexation$30,000.00
After Voluntary Repayment$28,000.00
Indexation Without Repayment$840.00
Indexation With Repayment$784.00
After Indexation
Balance After Indexation (No Repay)$30,840.00
Balance After Indexation (With Repay)$28,784.00
Share
Tax Accuracy & Sources
Reviewed: March 2026 · Tax year: 2026-27
This calculator is an estimate tool and may not cover all personal circumstances. For state-based taxes, confirm details with your state or territory revenue office.
When is HELP debt indexed?
HELP debts are indexed on 1 June each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Since 1 June 2023, indexation has been capped at the lower of CPI and the Wage Price Index (WPI).
Should I make a voluntary HELP repayment?
If you have spare cash earning less than the indexation rate, a voluntary repayment before 1 June saves you the indexation on that amount. However, HELP is the cheapest loan you will ever have — consider higher-interest debt first.
What was the 2023 indexation spike?
The 2023 indexation rate was originally set at 7.1%, the highest on record, due to post-COVID inflation. The Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Act 2024 capped indexation at the lower of CPI and WPI, backdated to 1 June 2023 — so the ATO now publishes the 2023 rate as 3.2% and the 2024 rate as 4.0% (both reduced from their original higher figures), with the difference automatically credited to affected HELP accounts. This was not limited to future years.
Related calculators
Pay App Compare salary, bonus, HELP, sacrifice and contractor scenarios HELP/HECS Debt Calculators HELP repayment timeline, income threshold, and voluntary vs invest comparison HELP/HECS Repayment Calculator Student loan repayment calculator HELP Repayment Thresholds 2026-27 ATO HELP/HECS repayment thresholds for 2026-27 — $69,528 minimum repayment income and the marginal band structure above it HELP Repayment Thresholds 2025-26 Prior-year HELP/HECS thresholds for returns being lodged now — $67,000 minimum repayment income and its marginal bands HELP/HECS Repayment Rates 2026-27 How the 2026-27 marginal repayment method works — 15c and 17c bands above $69,528, capped at 10% of repayment income