HECS-HELP Debt Repayment Thresholds Guide (2026–27)

Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debts — commonly called HECS — are indexed annually and repaid through the Australian tax system once your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.

Repayment Income (RI) Calculation

Your compulsory HELP repayment rate is determined by your Repayment Income (RI), which includes:

• Taxable income
• Reportable fringe benefits
• Net investment losses (including rental property losses)
• Reportable superannuation contributions

Compulsory Repayment Rates (2026–27)

Compulsory repayments start at 1.0% once repayment income reaches the minimum threshold (~,435) and rise progressively up to 10.0% for high earners.

Because HELP repayments are calculated on total income, exceeding a threshold tier slightly increases withholding across your entire salary.

Calculate Your HECS Deduction

To calculate your exact HECS-HELP withholding per pay period and estimate how long it will take to pay off your balance, use our free HECS-HELP Calculator.