01HECS Debt Calculator
Know yournumbers.Own yourfuture.
See when your HELP debt could be gone, what you may repay, and how income growth, career breaks and extra repayments can change the path.
- 2026–27 settings
- Free to use
- No sign-up
Loan paid off in
20 years
Clear by 2045 at about age 41. Change an assumption or life event to see how the path moves.
Total repaid
$73,011
Total indexation
$23,011
Estimate only. Actual repayment income and future government settings may differ.
Repayment timeline
- Selected year
- 2045
- Age
- 41
- Repaid this year
- $4,893
- Balance remaining
- $0
Go deeper
Understand what is behind the numbers
Common questions
HELP debt, without the jargon
What's the difference between HECS and HELP?
HELP is the Australian Government's overall student-loan system. HECS-HELP is the most common loan within it, used for student contributions in Commonwealth Supported Places.
Other types include FEE-HELP for eligible full-fee study, SA-HELP for student services and amenities fees, and OS-HELP for eligible overseas study expenses. These balances form part of your accumulated HELP debt and use the same compulsory-repayment system.
See how student loans work on Study AssistWhen do I start repaying my HELP debt?
You start making compulsory repayments when your repayment income exceeds $69,528 in 2026-27. Repayment income can include taxable income, reportable fringe benefits, net investment losses, reportable super contributions and exempt foreign-employment income. The ATO works out the final amount after you lodge your tax return.
Does HECS-HELP charge interest?
No interest is charged, but eligible debt is indexed each year to maintain its real value. The 1 June 2026 indexation rate was 2.8%. The rate can change each year, so this calculator lets you change the long-term assumption. Learn how indexation works.
How much will my compulsory repayment be?
It depends on your repayment income. Under the 2026-27 marginal system, you pay nothing up to $69,528, then 15 cents for each dollar over that threshold, with a further 17-cent band and a 10% total-income cap. At $85,000, the estimate is $2,321 for the year. See the full thresholds.
Can HELP debt affect my home-loan borrowing power?
Yes. Lenders generally include compulsory HELP repayments when assessing your expenses and borrowing capacity, although lender policies can differ and may change. Read the detailed home-loan guide.
Can I make voluntary repayments?
Yes. You can make voluntary repayments to the ATO at any time. They reduce your debt but do not replace a compulsory repayment that may be assessed on your income. Use What could change? above to test how the timing could change your projection.
How do I check my HELP balance?
Sign in to myGov, open the linked ATO service and find your loan accounts. Your account may not immediately show very recent study charges or repayments.
What happens if I don't finish my degree?
Any valid HELP charges already added to your account generally remain even if you leave the course. They can continue to be indexed and become repayable when your income reaches the threshold. Explore the cost of starting before you are ready.
What if I move overseas?
You may still need to report your worldwide income and make repayments when it exceeds the relevant threshold. Check the ATO overseas-repayment guidance for your reporting obligations.
What happens to HELP debt when someone dies?
A compulsory repayment for the period before death may still be included in the final tax assessment. After that, the remaining accumulated HELP debt is cancelled and is not recovered from the estate.
Transparent by design
How this estimate works
- 1
Start with your inputs
The projection begins with your current HELP balance, repayment income, first working year and age.
- 2
Project each year
Income grows by your chosen 3.1% assumption. Extra repayments and life events are applied, then 2.8% indexation and the estimated compulsory repayment.
- 3
Stop when the balance reaches zero
The table and timeline show the resulting annual path for up to 50 years. Calculations retain cents internally; the interface rounds to whole dollars.
Current calculation rules
2026-27 repayment bands
To the extent permitted by law, Mitch Bryant accepts no responsibility for loss arising from reliance on this estimate. Actual compulsory repayments are determined by the ATO after your tax return is lodged.