🇦🇺 Australia

PAYG Withholding Calculator Australia — FY 2025-26

Calculate how much tax your employer withholds each pay period. See income tax, Medicare levy, and HELP repayment deductions. Check net pay and super contributions. Reverse gross-up to find the salary needed for your target take-home. Updated for Stage 3 tax cuts.

$
Your gross (before-tax) pay each period
Claim from one employer only. If unclaimed, non-resident rates apply.
Additional withholding for HELP/HECS/VET Student Loan repayment

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How to Use This Calculator

Per Pay Period tab

Enter your gross pay per period, select your pay frequency (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly), and indicate whether you claim the tax-free threshold and have a HELP/HECS debt. The calculator shows tax withheld, Medicare levy, HELP repayment (if applicable), net pay, and employer super contributions.

Annual Summary tab

Uses the same inputs as Per Pay Period but displays annualised figures — total gross income, total tax (including Medicare and HELP), annual net pay, and your effective tax rate as a percentage.

Gross-Up tab

Enter your desired net (take-home) pay per period. The calculator works backwards to find the gross salary needed to achieve that net amount after all deductions, plus the total employer cost including super.

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All inputs are encoded in the URL. Click Share to send your exact calculation to a colleague, accountant, or employer.

The Formula

Income Tax (FY 2025-26 — Stage 3 rates):
$0–$18,200: 0%
$18,201–$45,000: 16%
$45,001–$135,000: 30%
$135,001–$190,000: 37%
$190,001+: 45%

Medicare Levy:
2% of taxable income

LITO (Low Income Tax Offset):
Income ≤ $37,500: $700 offset
$37,501–$66,667: phases out to $0

HELP/HECS Repayment (marginal system):
Below $67,000: $0
$67,001–$125,000: 15c per $1 over $67,000
$125,001–$179,285: $8,700 + 17c per $1 over $125,000
$179,286+: 10% of total repayment income

PAYG Withheld Per Period:
Tax withheld = (Annual tax − LITO + Medicare + HELP) ÷ number of pay periods
Net pay = Gross pay − Tax withheld
Super = Gross pay × 12%

Worked Example

Employee earning $90,000/year, paid fortnightly

Gross pay $3,461.54 per fortnight (= $90,000/year). Claims tax-free threshold. No HELP debt.

Step 1: Annual income tax

$0–$18,200 at 0%$0
$18,201–$45,000 at 16%$4,288
$45,001–$90,000 at 30%$13,500
Total income tax$17,788

Step 2: Adjustments

LITO (income > $66,667)$0
Medicare levy (2%)$1,800
Total annual withholding$19,588

Step 3: Per fortnight

Tax per fortnight ($17,788 ÷ 26)$684.15
Medicare per fortnight ($1,800 ÷ 26)$69.23
Total withheld per fortnight$753.38
Net pay per fortnight$2,708.16
Super (12% of $3,461.54)$415.38

Verdict: On a $90K salary paid fortnightly, you take home approximately $2,708 after $753 in tax and Medicare. Your employer pays an additional $415 in super on top, making the total employer cost about $3,877 per fortnight.

FY 2025-26 Tax Rates at a Glance

Income tax brackets (Stage 3)
Taxable Income Rate Tax on Bracket
$0 – $18,200 0% $0
$18,201 – $45,000 16% $4,288
$45,001 – $135,000 30% $27,000
$135,001 – $190,000 37% $20,350
$190,001+ 45% 45c per $1

Stage 3 tax cuts effective 1 July 2024. 16% rate replaces previous 19%. $135K threshold raised from $120K.

HELP/HECS repayment thresholds
Repayment Income Rate
Below $67,000 No repayment
$67,001 – $125,000 15c per $1 over $67,000
$125,001 – $179,285 $8,700 + 17c per $1 over $125,000
$179,286+ 10% of total repayment income

New marginal repayment system. Applies to HELP, VET Student Loan, and other study/training debts.

Key rates summary
Item Rate/Amount
Tax-free threshold $18,200
Medicare levy 2%
LITO (max) $700
Super guarantee 12%

FAQ

You should only claim the tax-free threshold from one employer — typically the one that pays you the most. Your second employer will withhold tax at higher rates (no tax-free threshold). At the end of the financial year, when you lodge your tax return, the ATO reconciles the total tax withheld across both jobs against your actual liability on combined income. You may get a refund or owe additional tax depending on the total.
This calculator uses bracket math plus Medicare and LITO to approximate PAYG withholding. Actual payroll systems use ATO coefficient tables (Schedule 1) which apply rounding and weekly-equivalent formulas that may produce slightly different results — typically within a few dollars. Other factors like salary sacrifice, novated leases, extra withholding requests, or Medicare levy surcharge can also cause differences.
Yes. You can apply to the ATO for a PAYG withholding variation if you expect deductions (investment property losses, work-related expenses, etc.) to significantly reduce your taxable income. This means less tax withheld per pay and more money in your pocket during the year, rather than waiting for a tax refund. Lodge a PAYG income tax withholding variation application through myGov/myTax.
Salary sacrifice (e.g., extra super contributions, novated lease payments) reduces your gross taxable income before PAYG is calculated. This means less tax is withheld per pay. For example, if you sacrifice $5,000 into super, your PAYG is calculated on your salary minus $5,000. However, concessional super contributions are taxed at 15% inside the fund. Use our salary sacrifice calculator to compare scenarios.
The Medicare levy surcharge (MLS) of 1–1.5% applies if your income exceeds certain thresholds and you don't hold an appropriate level of private hospital cover. For singles, the MLS applies above $93,000 (FY 2025-26). This is separate from the standard 2% Medicare levy. The MLS is not withheld through PAYG — it's assessed when you lodge your tax return. Getting private health insurance may be cheaper than paying the surcharge.

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