ATO GIC Rate March 2026: 10.65% p.a. (Q1 2026)

Published March 2026 Last updated March 2026

Last reviewed:

Primary tax-year context: Current Australian tax settings

This article is general information only. We maintain pages using primary-source checks and date-based reviews. See editorial policy.

ATOTax DebtInterest RatesPolicy Update

The ATO General Interest Charge (GIC) rate for Q1 2026 (1 January – 31 March 2026) is 10.65% per annum, compounding daily.

This rate applies to all overdue tax amounts including income tax, GST, PAYG, and superannuation guarantee charge debts.

General information only. This is not tax or financial advice. Consult a registered tax agent for advice specific to your situation.

Why this matters

GIC accrues daily on overdue tax amounts. The longer a debt remains unpaid, the larger the compounding effect.

Daily compounding concept

  • annual rate: 10.65%
  • daily rate: annual rate divided by days in year
  • each day, GIC is applied to principal plus previously accrued GIC

Practical actions

  1. Prioritise clearing the highest-rate ATO balances first.
  2. Review payment plans if cash flow is constrained.
  3. Re-check the rate at each quarter boundary.

Use the ATO GIC calculator to estimate month-by-month impact.

Sources

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