HELP repayment thresholds 2025-26 Australia
Quick answer: compulsory HELP repayments start once repayment income moves above 67,000.00. The 2025-26 rules use a marginal system, so the repayment rises in bands rather than applying one flat percentage to your entire income straight away.
2026-27 thresholds are out ($69,528 minimum) — see the 2026-27 edition.
2025-26 repayment bands
| Repayment income | Rate | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| $0 to $67,000.00 | Nil | No compulsory repayment. |
| $67,001.00 to $125,000.00 | 15% | 15c for each $1 above the threshold. |
| $125,001.00 to $179,285.00 | 17% | $8,700.00 plus 17c for each $1 above $125,000.00. |
| $179,286.00 and above | 10% | 10% of total repayment income. |
What the threshold means in practice
- If you sit just under $67,000.00, a small pay rise can start compulsory withholding.
- If your salary sacrifice or deductions change repayment income, your take-home outcome can move even when gross salary does not.
- Above $179,286.00, HELP behaves more like a straight 10% overlay on repayment income.
Example repayment checkpoints
| Income | Estimated HELP repayment | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| $65,000.00 | $0.00 | Below threshold. |
| $67,000.00 | $0.00 | Below threshold. |
| $75,000.00 | $1,200.00 | Repayment applies at 1.6% effective band rate. |
| $100,000.00 | $4,950.00 | Repayment applies at 5.0% effective band rate. |
| $125,000.00 | $8,700.00 | Repayment applies at 7.0% effective band rate. |
| $150,000.00 | $12,950.00 | Repayment applies at 8.6% effective band rate. |
| $180,000.00 | $18,000.00 | Repayment applies at 10.0% effective band rate. |
STSL on your payslip
STSL stands for Study and Training Support Loans — the ATO's collective term covering HELP/HECS, VET Student Loans, SFSS, SSL and TSL. If you've notified your employer of a study loan on your TFN declaration (or withholding declaration), they withhold an "STSL component" from each pay through the PAYG system.
- The STSL component withheld each pay is only an estimate based on your expected repayment income for the year.
- Your actual compulsory repayment is calculated on your tax return against the annual thresholds and bands above.
- If your employer withheld more STSL than your actual compulsory repayment, the difference comes back as part of your refund.
Calculate your HELP repayment
Move from threshold guidance into a personalized repayment estimate.
Review the 2026-27 tax changes
Compare the current and previous tax year across brackets, Medicare, super and HELP.
See the full marginal-rates guide
Use the long-form explainer if you want side-by-side old-vs-new method detail rather than just the threshold decision.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HELP repayment threshold for 2025-26?
How does the 2025-26 HELP system work?
Why does HELP feel different from income tax?
What is the STSL component on my payslip?
Tax Accuracy & Sources
This page summarizes 2025-26 HELP repayment triggers and band logic for planning. It does not replace ATO repayment income definitions.