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.
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. |
Calculate your HELP repayment
Move from threshold guidance into a personalized repayment estimate.
Open 2025-26 tax-year hub
Jump into salary, weekly, fortnightly and monthly benchmark pages.
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.
FAQ
What is the HELP repayment threshold for 2025-26?
The compulsory HELP repayment threshold is $67,000.00. Below that, no compulsory repayment applies.
How does the 2025-26 HELP system work?
The 2025-26 system is marginal. Repayments start at 15% of income above $67,000.00, step up to 17% above $125,000.00, then switch to a flat 10% of total repayment income above $179,286.00.
Why does HELP feel different from income tax?
Employers withhold based on expected repayment income, so crossing a threshold can change cashflow even if your base tax bracket did not move.
Tax Accuracy & Sources
This page summarizes 2025-26 HELP repayment triggers and band logic for planning. It does not replace ATO repayment income definitions.