The marginal system (2026–27)
| Repayment income | You repay |
|---|---|
| Up to $69,528 | Nothing |
| $69,529 – $129,717 | 15% of the amount over $69,528 |
| $129,718 – $186,050 | $9,028 + 17% of the amount over $129,717 |
| Over $186,050 | 10% of your total repayment income |
Worked example: $100,000 income
Repayment = 15% × ($100,000 − $69,528) = $4,570.80 a year — $87.90 a week. Under the old pre-2025 system the same income attracted a flat percentage of the entire amount; the marginal system is deliberately gentler at incomes just above the threshold. A $35,000 balance at this income clears in roughly 7 years 8 months, ignoring indexation and pay rises.
Frequently asked questions
How do HELP repayments work now?
Since 2025–26, repayments are marginal: nothing until your repayment income passes $69,528 (2026–27), then 15% of just the amount above the threshold, 17% above $129,718, and 10% of your total repayment income once you're over $186,050. Big pay rises no longer trigger a repayment cliff.
What is 'repayment income'?
Roughly your taxable income plus reportable super contributions (including salary-sacrificed super), reportable fringe benefits and a few other add-backs. This calculator uses taxable income plus any super you sacrifice — close for most employees.
Did the 20% student debt cut change my repayments?
The one-off 20% reduction lowered balances (so loans clear sooner), but repayment rates and thresholds are set separately each year — the cut didn't change what comes out of each pay.
Do HELP repayments come out automatically?
Yes — your employer withholds extra PAYG once you tell them you have a HELP debt (on your tax file number declaration), and it's reconciled in your tax return.
Is it worth making voluntary repayments?
There's no bonus for paying early anymore, and indexation (capped at the lower of CPI and WPI) applies each 1 June. Whether extra repayments beat investing the difference depends on your situation — this page just shows the compulsory numbers.
Rates checked against official sources on 1 November 2026: ATO study and training loan repayment thresholds. See how we calculate (AU) for the full method.