HECS on $80,000: the simple version
Good news if you earn around $80,000: since the 2025 changes, your HELP repayment is a lot smaller than it used to be. You now repay only on the part of your income above $69,528, at 15 cents in the dollar. Here’s the maths for a $80,000 repayment income in 2026-27.
- Income above the threshold: $80,000 − $69,528 = $10,472.
- Repayment: 15c × $10,472 = $1,571 for the year.
- That’s 2.0% of your income, or about $60 a fortnight if you’re paid fortnightly.
Under the old system (before 2025-26) you would have repaid a percentage of your whole income — at $80,000 that was several thousand dollars a year. The new marginal system means a pay rise only adds 15c per extra dollar to your repayment.
How it’s collected
If you told your employer you have a study loan (the HELP box on your TFN declaration), they withhold a bit of extra tax from each pay. When you lodge your tax return, the ATO works out your exact compulsory repayment and uses that withholding to pay it. If too much was withheld, it comes back as part of your refund.
How long will $25,000 take?
The calculator is filled in with a $25,000 balance, 3% yearly pay rises and 2.8% indexation. At $80,000 the repayments are small at first, so the debt takes about 17 years to clear (total repaid $31,969 · paid off around 2043-44). A higher income, or a few voluntary payments, shortens that a lot — try changing the numbers.
Repayments around $80,000 in 2026-27
| Repayment income | Yearly repayment | Share of income | Per fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| $70,000 | $71 | 0.1% | about $3 |
| $75,000 | $821 | 1.1% | about $32 |
| $80,000 | $1,571 | 2.0% | about $60 |
| $85,000 | $2,321 | 2.7% | about $89 |
| $90,000 | $3,071 | 3.4% | about $118 |
| $95,000 | $3,821 | 4.0% | about $147 |
Remember: “repayment income” isn’t just your salary
It’s your taxable income plus reportable fringe benefits, net investment losses (like negative gearing), reportable super contributions (salary sacrifice) and exempt foreign employment income. So if you salary-sacrifice $5,000 into super, it still counts. If your salary is $76,000 and you have a $4,000 rental loss, your repayment income is still $80,000.
Two things that can surprise you
First, a one-off bonus or a big overtime year raises your repayment income for that year only — the following year it drops back. Second, if you have two jobs, ask only your main employer to withhold for HELP, or you might over-withhold. Either way, the tax return sorts out the final number, so nothing is lost.
Your balance is indexed every 1 June even in years you repay nothing. The 1 June 2026 rate was 2.8%.
FAQ
How much HECS do I repay on $80,000?
In 2026-27, 15c for each dollar above $69,528: 0.15 × $10,472 = $1,571 for the year, or about $60 a fortnight.
Is HECS taken from my pay every fortnight?
Your employer withholds extra tax each payday if you ticked the HELP box on your TFN declaration. The actual repayment is worked out when you lodge your tax return, and any over-withholding is refunded.
How long to pay off $25,000 HECS on $80,000?
With 3% yearly pay rises and 2.8% indexation, about 17 years (total repaid $31,969 · paid off around 2043-44). Voluntary payments shorten this.
Sources (checked 5 Nov 2026): ATO, “Study and training support loans rates and repayment thresholds” (ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/study-and-training-support-loans-rates-and-repayment-thresholds), Tables 1 (2026-27) and 2 (2025-26); ATO, “Study and training loan indexation rates” (2.8% on 1 June 2026); ATO newsroom, “Study and training support loan changes are now law” (Aug 2025). Cross-checked with the site’s 2026-27 pay calculator and independent HELP calculators.