Enter your business income and expenses to see income tax, Medicare levy, GST, PAYG instalments, and estimated take-home pay. Built for sole traders, ABN holders, freelancers and contractors using 2025-26 ATO rates.
GST $75k thresholdPAYG instalmentsSuper deduction
01 —INPUTS
Total income received before expenses
Concessional (tax-deductible) super contribution. Cap: $30,000/year.
As a sole trader (ABN holder), you're taxed as an individual. Your business profit — income minus allowable deductions — is added to your personal income and taxed at marginal rates. There is no separate "business tax rate" for sole traders.
Many people searching for a sole trader tax rate, freelancer tax rate, or ABN tax rate are really looking for the personal tax outcome on business profit after deductions.
Sole trader formula
→Taxable Income = Business Income − Deductible Expenses − Voluntary Super
→Total Tax = Income Tax + Medicare Levy + MLS (if applicable) + HELP (if applicable)
→Take-Home Pay = Business Income − Expenses − Total Tax − Voluntary Super
If you're registered for GST, your income and expenses are converted to GST-exclusive amounts for income tax purposes. GST collected and credits are handled separately via your BAS.
2025-26 tax brackets for sole traders
Taxable income
Tax rate
Tax on this bracket
$0 – $18,200
0%
Nil
$18,201 – $45,000
16%
16c for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000
30%
$4,288 + 30c for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000
37%
$31,288 + 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001+
45%
$51,638 + 45c for each $1 over $190,000
Plus 2% Medicare levy on your total taxable income.
Common sole trader deductions
→Motor vehicle — Logbook method (business % of actual costs) or cents-per-km method (88c/km for 2025-26, capped at 5,000 km).
→Home office — Fixed rate method (70c/hour from 1 Jul 2024 under PCG 2023/1) or actual cost method for a dedicated workspace.
→Phone & internet — Business portion based on usage records or a reasonable estimate.
→Tools & equipment — Depreciation rules and temporary instant write-off settings can change — check the current ATO threshold.
GST is separate from income tax. The GST-exclusive amounts are used to calculate your income tax liability.
PAYG instalments
The ATO may require you to make quarterly PAYG instalment payments based on your estimated annual tax. This spreads your tax payments across the year rather than paying a lump sum at tax time.
→Quarterly due dates — 28 October, 28 February, 28 April, and 28 July.
→Amount method — ATO provides an instalment amount based on your last return.
→Rate method — Apply the ATO-provided rate to your actual business income each quarter.
→Reporting — Report on your BAS (Business Activity Statement).
First year tip
If this is your first year as a sole trader, set aside approximately 30% of profits for tax. You won't receive a PAYG instalment notice until after your first tax return.
Super for sole traders
Unlike employees, sole traders don't receive compulsory super contributions. However, you can make voluntary concessional contributions and claim them as a tax deduction:
→Concessional super cap: $30,000/year for 2025-26
→Contributions taxed at 15% inside the fund (usually less than your marginal rate)
Once you know the tax number, plan what to do about it. Personalised year-round decisions ranked by deadline urgency — GST registration trigger, BAS quarterly, IAWO before 30 June, personal super contribution, FBT 31 Mar, structure switch, trust resolution.
Sole traders pay individual income tax on their business profits (income minus allowable deductions). Your business profit is added to any other personal income and taxed at marginal rates. There is no separate business tax rate — you use the standard individual tax brackets, starting with a tax-free threshold of $18,200 for 2025-26.
Do sole traders pay company tax?
No. A sole trader is not a separate company for income tax purposes. You report business income in your individual tax return, and the net profit is taxed at individual marginal rates rather than the company tax rate.
Do I need to register for GST as a sole trader?
You must register for GST if your annual turnover is $75,000 or more ($150,000 for non-profit organisations). If your turnover is below the threshold, GST registration is optional but may benefit you if your clients can claim GST credits. Once registered, you charge 10% GST on sales and can claim GST credits on business purchases.
What expenses can a sole trader claim as deductions?
Sole traders can claim deductions for expenses directly related to earning business income. Common deductions include: materials and supplies, motor vehicle expenses, home office costs, phone and internet (business portion), tools and equipment, professional fees, insurance premiums, and advertising costs. You must keep records for 5 years.
What are PAYG instalments for sole traders?
Pay As You Go (PAYG) instalments are quarterly prepayments of your expected annual income tax. The ATO calculates your instalment amount based on your most recent tax return. You pay quarterly via your Business Activity Statement (BAS). This prevents a large tax bill at the end of the financial year.
Can sole traders contribute to superannuation?
Sole traders aren't required to pay super for themselves, but it's strongly recommended. You can make voluntary concessional (before-tax) contributions up to $30,000/year for 2025-26 and claim a tax deduction. Contributions are taxed at 15% inside the super fund, which is usually less than your marginal rate.
How do I calculate my take-home pay as a sole trader?
Take-home pay = Gross income (ex-GST if registered) - Business expenses (ex-GST) - Income tax - Medicare levy - Any MLS or HELP repayments - Voluntary super contributions. Unlike employees, sole traders must set aside money for tax payments throughout the year.
Tax Accuracy & Sources
Reviewed: March 2026 · Tax year: 2025-26
This calculator estimates 2025-26 sole trader tax including income tax, Medicare levy, MLS, HELP repayments, GST registration mechanics, PAYG instalments and concessional super contributions. It does not model PSI / personal services income rules, business structure changes, or state-level taxes.