Franking Credits · Calculator

Franking Credits Calculator Australia

Calculate the estimated tax impact of an Australian franked dividend. Use the credit on your dividend statement to see the gross-up, offset and potential excess credit or top-up tax.

Gross-up & offset25% & 30% ratesRefundable credits
01INPUTS

The dividend amount paid to you (before any tax)

Use the statement amount where available—it is the amount reported to the ATO.

Enter the exact franking or imputation credit shown on your statement.

Your taxable income excluding this dividend

Used only to check the annual $5,000 holding-period threshold.

02RESULTS
Awaiting input

Enter dividend details to calculate your franking credits

Edit inputs ↑

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How franking credits work

Australia's dividend imputation system prevents double taxation of company profits. When a company pays tax on its profits and then distributes dividends, shareholders receive a "franking credit" for the tax already paid.

Franking Credit = Cash Dividend × (Tax Rate ÷ (1 − Tax Rate))

Example: $100 × (0.30 ÷ 0.70) = $100 × 0.4286 = $42.86

The grossed-up dividend ($142.86) is your assessable income. You pay tax on this amount at your marginal rate, then subtract the franking credit.

Who gets a refund?

An excess credit can arise when the franking offset is greater than the extra tax created by adding the grossed-up dividend to your assessable income. A flat marginal-rate shortcut is not reliable near thresholds because the dividend can cross tax brackets, reduce LITO or move through the Medicare levy low-income shade-in.

What this calculator does: compares estimated income tax after LITO and individual Medicare levy before and after the gross-up, then applies the entered franking credit. The result is an estimate of this dividend's effect—not a guaranteed ATO refund.

Worked example

Sarah receives a $1,000 fully franked dividend from BHP. Her taxable income is $75,000.

Cash dividend received $1,000.00
Franking credit ($1,000 × 30 ÷ 70) $428.57
Grossed-up dividend ($1,000 + $428.57) $1,428.57
Tax at 32% marginal ($1,428.57 × 32%) $457.14
Less: franking credit offset −$428.57
Net additional tax on dividend $28.57

Sarah pays an additional $28.57 in tax on her $1,000 cash dividend — an effective rate of 2.86% on the cash received.

The 45-day holding rule

If your total franking credits for the year exceed $5,000, you must satisfy the holding period rule:

Ordinary shares — Hold for at least 45 days (excluding purchase and sale days) around the ex-dividend date.
Preference shares — Hold for at least 90 days around the ex-dividend date.
At-risk requirement — Shares must be held 'at risk' — not hedged, protected, or subject to a related arrangement that neutralises the economic exposure.
Small shareholder exemption — If your total franking credit entitlement is $5,000 or less for the year, the holding period rule generally doesn't apply. Related-payment and dividend-washing rules can still matter.
Company tax rates and franking credits
Company type Tax rate Credit per $1 dividend
Standard companies (most ASX) 30% $0.4286
Base rate entities (small business) 25% $0.3333

Use the actual credit on your dividend statement whenever possible. The 25% or 30% selector is only for estimating a credit when the statement amount is unavailable.

Related insight

If the refund result surprised you

When do franking credits reduce tax vs create a cash refund?

See the actual refund rule, where the 45-day rule bites, and why the final answer depends on your full tax position — not just the dividend alone.

Read the franking credits explainer
FAQ
What is a franking credit?
A franking credit (also called imputation credit) represents tax the company has already paid on its profits. When you receive a franked dividend, you get credit for this tax. If your personal tax rate is lower than the company rate, you may get a refund of the excess.
How do I calculate the grossed-up dividend?
The grossed-up dividend is the cash dividend plus the franking credit. For a $100 fully franked dividend at 30%: $100 + ($100 × 30% ÷ 70%) = $100 + $42.86 = $142.86.
Can I get a franking credit refund?
Excess franking credits are generally refundable for eligible Australian resident individuals, but the final amount depends on your full tax assessment. Other income, LITO, Medicare levy rules, other offsets, the holding-period and related-payment rules, and debts can change the cash amount you receive.
What is the 45-day holding rule?
If your total franking credits for the year exceed $5,000, you must hold shares "at risk" for at least 45 days (90 days for preference shares) around the ex-dividend date to claim the credits. This prevents dividend stripping.
What's the difference between 25% and 30% franking?
A company's corporate tax rate for imputation purposes may be 25% or 30%, depending on its circumstances. Do not infer the credit from company size alone: use the actual franking credit and rate shown on your dividend statement.
Do I need to declare franked dividends?
Yes, you must declare the grossed-up dividend (cash + franking credit) as assessable income in your tax return. The franking credit is then applied as a tax offset. The ATO pre-fills most dividend information from share registries.

Tax Accuracy & Sources

Reviewed: March 2026 · Tax year: 2026-27

Estimates an eligible resident individual's incremental income tax after LITO and individual Medicare levy, then applies the entered franking credit. Family Medicare thresholds, SAPTO, trust and partnership distributions, other offsets, debts, related-payment and dividend-washing rules are not modelled.