Under the marginal system you only repay on income above the threshold. These are the compulsory repayments at common incomes, with last year's figures alongside so you can see the difference:
| Repayment income | 2026-27 repayment | 2025-26 repayment |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | Nil | Nil |
| $70,000 | $70.80 | $450.00 |
| $80,000 | $1,570.80 | $1,950.00 |
| $90,000 | $3,070.80 | $3,450.00 |
| $100,000 | $4,570.80 | $4,950.00 |
| $120,000 | $7,570.80 | $7,950.00 |
| $130,000 | $9,076.11 | $9,550.00 |
| $150,000 | $12,476.11 | $12,950.00 |
| $200,000 | $20,000.00 | $20,000.00 |
Every figure here is produced by the same engine that runs the calculator, against the current ATO rate tables — not rounded estimates.
→ Work out your exact figure — the calculator takes your own income, including salary packaging and other add-backs.
Three things drive the numbers above:
Notice that the 2026-27 column is lower than 2025-26 at every income below the top band. That's the thresholds being indexed upward — not a rate cut.
The single biggest reason people's real repayment is higher than they expect: the ATO doesn't use your salary. It uses repayment income, which adds back:
Package $9,010 at a not-for-profit and roughly $17,000 is added to the income your HECS is calculated on — which can move you a whole band.
Your employer withholds an estimate each pay (the STSL line on your payslip) and the ATO settles the real figure when you lodge. Those two rarely match exactly — you get the difference back, or you owe it. If nothing is coming out of your pay at all, there are five common reasons, and most of them end in a bill rather than a refund.
Full HECS rate table & brackets 2026-27