2025-26 vs 2026-27 — Australian tax changes
One legislated change takes effect 1 July 2026: the second marginal bracket drops from 16% to 15%. That's the extent of it. This page lists exactly what changes and what stays, with a salary-by-salary savings table and an EOFY pre-flip checklist.
At a glance
- ✅ Marginal rate 2 drops 16% → 15% on $18,201–$45,000 (Stage 3+ phase 2)
- ➖ SG rate stays at 12% (permanent since 1 Jul 2025)
- ➖ Medicare levy stays at 2%
- ➖ CGT discount stays at 50%
- ➖ FBT rate stays at 47%
- ➖ Company tax stays at 25% (base rate entities) / 30% otherwise
- ⚠️ Indexed thresholds (MLS, LITO, HELP, Medicare shade-in, super caps, Div 293/296, car depreciation limit, IAWO) — May/June 2026 budget announcement
Resident tax brackets — 2025-26 vs 2026-27
| Taxable income band | 2025-26 rate | 2026-27 rate |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $18,200 | 0% | 0% |
| $18,201 – $45,000 | 16% | 15% ⬇ |
| $45,001 – $135,000 | 30% | 30% |
| $135,001 – $190,000 | 37% | 37% |
| Above $190,000 | 45% | 45% |
Stage 3+ phase 2 of 3: the bottom marginal rate continues dropping. Phase 1 (37%→30%, 32.5%→16%) landed 1 Jul 2024. Phase 3 (15%→14%) is legislated to commence 1 Jul 2027.
How much will you save?
Annual tax + Medicare at representative taxable incomes, computed live from the centralised tax-year config. Every taxpayer earning above $45,000 saves exactly $268 — the 1% differential on the $18,201–$45,000 band. Below $45,000 the saving scales with income.
| Taxable income | 2025-26 tax+ML | 2026-27 tax+ML | Saving | % of income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25,000.00 | 1,588.00 | 1,520.00 | 68.00 | 0.27% |
| 45,000.00 | 5,188.00 | 4,920.00 | 268.00 | 0.60% |
| 60,000.00 | 9,988.00 | 9,720.00 | 268.00 | 0.45% |
| 80,000.00 | 16,388.00 | 16,120.00 | 268.00 | 0.34% |
| 100,000.00 | 22,788.00 | 22,520.00 | 268.00 | 0.27% |
| 135,000.00 | 33,988.00 | 33,720.00 | 268.00 | 0.20% |
| 180,000.00 | 51,538.00 | 51,270.00 | 268.00 | 0.15% |
| 250,000.00 | 83,638.00 | 83,370.00 | 268.00 | 0.11% |
Includes Medicare levy (2%) for all incomes above the levy threshold. LITO and MLS are not added (LITO applies below $66,667, MLS only for singles without PHI above $101,000). Check your own situation with the income tax calculator.
What stays the same
Superannuation Guarantee
12%
Permanent since 1 Jul 2025 under SGAA 1992 s.19
Medicare levy
2%
Unchanged since 2014-15. Shade-in thresholds indexed annually.
CGT discount (individuals)
50%
Unchanged. Applies to assets held > 12 months.
FBT rate
47%
Fixed at the top marginal + Medicare equivalent.
Company tax rate
25% / 30%
Base rate entities 25% (turnover ≤ $50M + ≤80% passive); otherwise 30%.
Div 293 threshold
$250,000
Unchanged since inception. Not CPI-indexed.
Pending — watch for May 2026 budget
- Medicare levy + MLS thresholds (singles, family, seniors) — indexed annually
- Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) $700 max + taper thresholds — announced per budget
- HELP / HECS minimum repayment threshold (currently $67,000) — CPI-indexed via s 154-35 HESA
- Medicare levy shade-in lower/upper thresholds
- Super concessional cap (currently $30,000) — AWOTE-indexed in $2,500 increments
- Transfer balance cap (currently $1.9M) — CPI-indexed in $100k increments
- Super co-contribution lower/upper income thresholds
- Car depreciation cost limit (currently $69,674) — CPI-indexed annually per s 40-230
- Instant Asset Write-Off threshold (currently $20,000, extended to 30 Jun 2026)
austax.tools will push a single-edit update to the 2026-27 config the day these are announced. Bookmark the tax year hub for notifications.
EOFY pre-flip checklist (before 30 June 2026)
Things to finalise while 2025-26 rates still apply. Post-1 Jul 2026 decisions shift the benefit calculations slightly but the principles are unchanged.
- Super concessional contributions — max out $30,000 cap (2025-26), consider carry-forward if TSB under $500k. Contribution must be received by your fund by 30 Jun 2026.
- Instant asset write-off — $20,000 per-asset limit for small business with turnover < $10M. Asset must be installed and ready for use by 30 Jun 2026. See the IAWO calculator.
- Prepay deductible interest / subscriptions — up to 12 months ahead deductible in current year under s 82KZM. See the prepaid deductions tool.
- Capital losses crystallisation — realise losses before 30 June to offset 2025-26 gains. No wash-sale rule but watch Part IVA. See the CGT harvesting tool.
- Charitable donations — give before 30 June to claim 2025-26 deduction. $2+ minimum to a DGR.
- Work-related deductions — bundle WFH + car + self-ed + union dues. See the bundler.
- Spouse super contribution — up to $540 tax offset on $3,000 contribution if spouse income < $37,000.
- Timing bonuses — if bonus pushes 2025-26 income above $45,000, consider deferring into 2026-27 to capture the 1% rate drop. Max extra $268.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Australian 2026-27 tax year start?
1 July 2026. The Australian financial year runs 1 July to 30 June, so 2026-27 covers 1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2027. PAYG withholding tables apply from the first pay period that starts on or after 1 Jul 2026. Tax returns for 2026-27 are lodged between 1 Jul 2027 and 31 Oct 2027 (or later if using a registered tax agent).
What's changing in 2026-27?
One legislated change: the second marginal bracket rate drops from 16% to 15% on taxable income between $18,201 and $45,000. This is the second phase of the 2024 Stage 3+ income tax cut. Every taxpayer earning above $18,200 is better off by up to $268/year. The third phase (14%) is legislated to take effect on 1 July 2027.
Does SG rate change in 2026-27?
No. The Superannuation Guarantee rate stays at 12%. The SGAA phase-up reached 12% on 1 July 2025 and that is the permanent rate — there's no further legislated increase. Employers must pay 12% of ordinary time earnings into an employee's super fund each quarter.
Will the super concessional cap rise in 2026-27?
The 2025-26 concessional cap is $30,000 (raised from $27,500 on 1 Jul 2024 by indexation). 2026-27 threshold-indexed items — concessional cap, Division 293 threshold, transfer balance cap, co-contribution income bands — are announced in the May/June federal budget. Until announced, we carry the 2025-26 figure as placeholder. Watch austax.tools for updates after the May 2026 budget.
Are HELP/HECS thresholds changing?
The 2026-27 HELP minimum repayment threshold is indexed by the CPI in the prior March quarter (Higher Education Support Act s 154-35). The 2025-26 threshold is $67,000. The 2026-27 figure is published by ATO in May/June 2026 based on the March 2026 CPI release. Until then this page shows the 2025-26 threshold as placeholder.
What about Medicare levy and MLS?
Medicare levy stays at 2% of taxable income. MLS tiers are dollar-threshold indexed annually. The 2025-26 singles threshold is $101,000 (tier 1 start, 1% MLS) through to $158,000 (tier 3, 1.5% MLS). 2026-27 thresholds are announced post-budget. Like other indexed thresholds, this page uses 2025-26 values as placeholder until confirmed.
Should I defer income to 2026-27 to benefit from the lower rate?
For most earners the annual saving is only $268 — not usually worth deferring income when it pushes you into a higher bracket or misses the current-year tax-free threshold. The rate drop helps AFTER you've already optimised deductions, super contributions, and income-smoothing. But for a bonus that would push 2025-26 income above $45,000 and can legitimately be deferred, shifting it into 2026-27 saves 1% of the shifted amount up to $45,000 (max $268 extra).
Sources
Last updated April 2026. Reflects Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Tax Cuts) Act 2024 and current ATO schedules. Threshold-indexed items carry 2025-26 figures as placeholder until May/June 2026 budget announcement. General information only — consult a registered tax agent for personal advice.