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Your estimated compulsory repayment can be limited by the debt still owing. Money withheld from wages is credited through the tax assessment, so a payslip total does not establish that the loan is already cleared. Once the loan is paid in full, update your withholding declaration with each employer.
Start with the balance on your loan account
Check your ATO loan account, then enter that remaining balance in the calculator. Leave the field empty to see the income-based repayment without a balance cap. A balance of zero is different from an empty field.
This tool treats the entered balance as the amount available to repay. It does not project indexation, new study debts or repayments that have not been processed. Update the figure when the account changes.
A $1,500 balance on a $100,000 salary
On our 2026-27 salary-only settings, repayment income is $99,000 after the standard work deduction. The income-based HELP amount is $4,420.80. With only $1,500 still owing, the model limits the annual repayment to $1,500.
The smaller debt limit leaves $2,920.80 more annual cash than the uncapped estimate. Your contractual salary and income tax have not changed: less cash is needed to finish the loan. This is an annual liability comparison, not a prediction of when payroll will change a payslip.
| Balance setting | Annual HELP estimate | Monthly take-home equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Empty field: sufficient debt | $4,420.80 | $6,115 |
| $1,500 still owing | $1,500 | $6,358 |
| No study loan | $0 | $6,483 |
Why withholding can exceed the last repayment
Payroll withholds extra tax using your pay and declaration. Those amounts do not reduce the loan account on each payday. The ATO works out the compulsory repayment when your return is assessed and applies the relevant tax credits.
A refund depends on the whole assessment. Other income, underpaid tax or other government debts can change the result, so the difference between a payslip estimate and a small loan balance is not a guaranteed refund.
When the account shows the loan is paid in full
The ATO says to complete a new Withholding declaration, NAT 3093, once the loan is paid off. Give it to each employer so payroll can update the extra study-loan withholding.
Do not treat year-to-date payslip withholding as a confirmed loan payment. Check the loan account first. If an employer offers an online tax details process, follow its instructions for submitting the declaration.
A voluntary payment needs a separate check
A voluntary payment reduces the loan when the ATO processes it. If debt remains and repayment income is high enough, a compulsory repayment can still apply. Do not automatically subtract a voluntary payment from the income-based annual amount.
Before making a final payment, check the current balance and allow for pending account changes. Compare the remaining annual repayment with the balance you expect to be outstanding. This calculator does not forecast the timing or amount of future indexation.
Common questions
Can I stop HELP withholding when my payslip deductions reach the debt balance?
Payslip withholding is not credited to the loan account each payday. The ATO instruction is to submit a new withholding declaration once the loan has been paid in full. Check the actual loan account before changing your declaration.
Will paying part of the loan voluntarily remove the compulsory repayment?
If you still have debt and your repayment income is above the threshold, a compulsory repayment can remain. A voluntary payment is not simply a credit against that year's income-based calculation.
Does the calculator predict my last repayment date?
No. It compares annual tax estimates using the balance entered. It does not predict assessment timing, payroll changes, indexation or new debts.
Sources you can check
Sources checked for this page on 3 October 2026. Statistics keep their own measurement dates.
- Study Assist: how voluntary payments and employer withholding reach the loan
- ATO declaration instructions: notify your employer when a study loan is paid in full
- ATO: Withholding declaration, NAT 3093
- ASIC Moneysmart: Australian resident income tax rates
- Medicare Levy Act: ordinary levy rules, in force 1 July 2026
- Tax Reform Act 2026: standard work deduction, Schedule 4
- 2026-27 indexed HELP repayment thresholds
- Higher Education Support Act: compulsory repayment and debt limits
- ATO: Australian resident income tax rates
- ATO: Medicare levy reduction for low-income earners
- ATO: Medicare levy surcharge thresholds and rates