HECS / HELP Repayment Calculator
Calculate your compulsory HECS/HELP repayment for 2024–25, years to pay off (including indexation), and how student debt affects your mortgage borrowing power.
Used by 50,000+ users monthly · No sign-up required · Instant results
Your HECS details
Check your balance at myGov → ATO → Loan accounts
Your gross annual salary before tax
Long-term average ~3.5%. Was 7.1% in 2023.
See your compulsory annual repayment, years to be HECS-free (accounting for indexation), and how student debt reduces your home loan borrowing power.
How HECS/HELP repayments work
Unlike a standard loan, HECS/HELP has no interest — but the outstanding balance is indexed to CPI (inflation) each 1 June. Repayments are compulsory once your income exceeds the threshold, and are automatically deducted through the PAYG withholding system — you never receive a bill.
The repayment rate applies to your entire repayment income — not just the portion above the threshold. This means crossing a threshold increases your total repayment significantly.
Example: On $54,434 income — nil repayment. On $54,435 income — 1% = $544/year. The entire income is subject to the rate once the threshold is crossed.
2024–25 repayment rate table
| Income range | Rate |
|---|---|
| $54,435 – $62,849 | 1.0% |
| $62,850 – $66,620 | 2.0% |
| $66,621 – $70,618 | 2.5% |
| $70,619 – $74,855 | 3.0% |
| $74,856 – $79,346 | 3.5% |
| $79,347 – $84,107 | 4.0% |
| $84,108 – $89,154 | 4.5% |
| $89,155 – $94,503 | 5.0% |
| $94,504 – $100,174 | 5.5% |
| $100,175 – $106,185 | 6.0% |
| $106,186 – $112,556 | 6.5% |
| $112,557 – $119,309 | 7.0% |
| $119,310 – $126,467 | 7.5% |
| $126,468 – $134,056 | 8.0% |
| $134,057 – $142,100 | 8.5% |
| $142,101 – $150,626 | 9.0% |
| $150,627 – $159,663 | 9.5% |
| $159,664+ | 10.0% |
Source: ATO 2024–25 study and training support loan thresholds.
HECS indexation — the hidden cost
HECS/HELP debt doesn't accrue interest, but it's indexed to CPI each year on 1 June. In high-inflation years this can be significant. In 2023, HECS debts increased by 7.1% — meaning a $30,000 balance grew by $2,130 before a single repayment was counted. Over a 10-year payoff period at average indexation, a borrower effectively pays back considerably more than they borrowed in real terms.
From 2025, legislation caps HECS indexation at the lower of CPI or the Wage Price Index (WPI). This protects borrowers when wages are growing more slowly than prices. The indexation rate in the calculator defaults to 3.5% — a reasonable long-term average — but you can adjust it.