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HELP/HECS Debt Repayment Calculator
See how long your HELP debt takes to repay — including compulsory repayments, voluntary extras, and CPI indexation.
CPI indexation modelled Payoff timeline
01 —INPUTS
Your current HELP/HECS loan balance.
Your repayment income (taxable income + reportable fringe benefits + net investment losses).
Indexation is applied 1 June each year. Default is 3%.
Best made before the 1 June indexation date.
Expected annual salary increase. Affects future compulsory repayment amounts.
02 —RESULTS
Enter your HELP debt, income, and CPI rate to see your repayment timeline.
How HELP repayment works
→ Indexation: Your HELP debt is indexed to CPI on 1 June each year, increasing the balance before your compulsory repayments are applied.
→ Compulsory repayments: Calculated from your repayment income (taxable income + reportable fringe benefits + net investment losses) and withheld by your employer through the PAYG system.
→ Voluntary repayments before 1 June: Reduce the balance before CPI is applied, saving you more over the life of the loan. HELP debt is the cheapest debt you will ever have — it is only CPI-indexed, not interest-bearing.
For related tools, see the HELP income threshold calculator to find your repayment rate, and the repay vs invest calculator to compare strategies.
Common questions
How does HELP indexation work?
HELP debts are indexed to inflation (CPI) on 1 June each year. Indexation increases your debt balance before compulsory repayments are applied for that financial year. The indexation rate is based on the March quarter CPI figure released by the ABS. Indexation only applies to debts older than 11 months. Voluntary repayments are best made before 1 June to reduce the balance before indexation is calculated.
What are the compulsory HELP repayment rates?
Compulsory repayments are based on your repayment income and start when you earn above the minimum threshold (around $54,435 for 2025-26). The rate starts at 1% and increases progressively to 10% for incomes above $159,663. Repayments are calculated as a percentage of your total income, not just the amount above the threshold.
Should I make voluntary repayments before the indexation date?
Yes, voluntary repayments are most effective when made before the 1 June indexation date. Payments made before indexation reduce the balance that gets indexed, saving you more over time. After indexation, the higher balance generates more interest-like growth, so early voluntary payments have a compounding benefit. This calculator models the effect of timing your voluntary payments.