ATO HECS Income Threshold And Rates In Australia

HELP, or HECS, is a loan program to help cover tuition expenses for tertiary education. The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) has been instrumental in assisting countless eligible students to manage their educational expenses by providing financial aid through Commonwealth-supported places. Formerly known as the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), this government-funded initiative ensures that students can pursue their academic dreams without being burdened by upfront tuition fees.

One crucial aspect of the HELP system is the HECS Income threshold and rates. Upon graduation or once your income surpasses a specific threshold, the repayment of your HECS-HELP debt becomes mandatory. This threshold is adjusted annually to accommodate economic changes and ensure fair repayment obligations. For the upcoming 2023-24 income year, the compulsory repayment HECS-HELP threshold stands at $51,550.

HECS Income Threshold and Rates From 2012 to 2024

Below is a line chart showing the income threshold over the last 10 years, we utilize the Year column as the x-axis and the Income Threshold column as the y-axis. The line chart represents the trend of the income threshold as it changes over time.

2023–2024 HELP repayment income thresholds and rates

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2023-24 income year was $51,549.

2023-2024 Repayment Income	Repayment % rate
Below $51,550	Nil
$51,550 – $59,518	1.00%
$59,519 – $63,089	2.00%
$63,090 – $66,875	2.50%
$66,876 – $70,888	3.00%
$70,889 – $75,140	3.50%
$75,141 – $79,649	4.00%
$79,650 – $84,429	4.50%
$84,430 – $89,494	5.00%
$89,495 – $94,865	5.50%
$94,866 – $100,557	6.00%
$100,558 – $106,590	6.50%
$106,591 – $112,985	7.00%
$112,986 – $119,764	7.50%
$119,765 – $126,950	8.00%
$126,951 – $134,568	8.50%
$134,569 – $142,642	9.00%
$142,643 – $151,200	9.50%
$151,201 and above	10.00%

2022-2023 HELP repayment thresholds and rates

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2022-23 income year was $48,360.

2022-2023 Repayment Income	Repayment % rate
Below $48,361	Nil
$48,361 to $55,836	1.00%
$55,837 to $59,186	2.00%
$59,187 to $62,738	2.50%
$62,739 to $66,502	3.00%
$66,503 to $70,492	3.50%
$70,493 to $74,722	4.00%
$74,723 to $79,206	4.50%
$79,207 to $83,958	5.00%
$83,959 to $88,996	5.50%
$88,997 to $94,336	6.00%
$94,337 to $99,996	6.50%
$99,997 to $105,996	7.00%
$105,997 to $112,355	7.50%
$112,356 to $119,097	8.00%
$119,098 to $126,243	8.50%
$126,244 to $133,818	9.00%
$133,819 to $141,847	9.50%
$141,848 and above	10.00%

2021-2022 HELP repayment thresholds and rates

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2021-22 income year was $47,013.

2021-2022 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $47,014	Nil
$47,014 – $54,282	1.0%
$54,283 – $57,538	2.0%
$57,539 – $60,991	2.5%
$60,992 – $64,651	3.0%
$64,652 – $68,529	3.5%
$68,530 – $72,641	4.0%
$72,642 – $77,001	4.5%
$77,002 – $81,620	5.0%
$81,621 – $86,518	5.5%
$86,519 – $91,709	6.0%
$91,710 – $97,212	6.5%
$97,213 – $103,045	7.0%
$103,046 – $109,227	7.5%
$109,228 – $115,781	8.0%
$115,782 – $122,728	8.5%
$122,729 – $130,092	9.0%
$130,093 – $137,897	9.5%
$137,898 and above	10.0%

2020-2021 HELP repayment thresholds and rates

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2020-21 income year was $46,619.

2020-2021 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $46,620	Nil
$46,620 – $53,826	1.0%
$53,827 – $57,055	2.0%
$57,056 – $60,479	2.5%
$60,480 – $64,108	3.0%
$64,109 – $67,954	3.5%
$67,955 – $72,031	4.0%
$72,032 – $76,354	4.5%
$76,355 – $80,935	5.0%
$80,936 – $85,792	5.5%
$85,793 – $90,939	6.0%
$90,940 – $96,396	6.5%
$96,397 – $102,179	7.0%
$102,180 – $108,309	7.5%
$108,310 – $114,707	8.0%
$114,708 – $121,698	8.5%
$121,699 – $128,999	9.0%
$129,000 – $136,739	9.5%
$136,740 and above	10.0%

2019-2020 HELP repayment thresholds and rates

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2019-20 income year was $45,880.

2019-2020 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $45,881	Nil
$45,881 – $52,973	1.0%
$52,974 – $56,151	2.0%
$56,152 – $59,521	2.5%
$59,522 – $63,092	3.0%
$63,093 – $66,877	3.5%
$66,878 – $70,890	4.0%
$70,891 – $75,144	4.5%
$75,145 – $79,652	5.0%
$79,653 – $84,432	5.5%
$84,433 – $89,498	6.0%
$89,499 – $94,868	6.5%
$94,869 – $100,560	7.0%
$100,561 – $106,593	7.5%
$106,594 – $112,989	8.0%
$112,990 – $119,769	8.5%
$119,770 – $126,955	9.0%
$126,956 – $134,572	9.5%
$134,573 and above	10.0%

2018-2019 HELP repayment thresholds and rates:

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2018-19 income year was $51,956.

2018-2019 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $51,957	Nil
$51,957 – $57,729	2.0%
$57,730 – $64,306	4.0%
$64,307 – $70,881	4.5%
$70,882 – $74,607	5.0%
$74,608 – $80,197	5.5%
$80,198 – $86,855	6.0%
$86,856 – $91,425	6.5%
$91,426 – $100,613	7.0%
$100,614 – $107,213	7.5%
$107,214 and above	8.0%

2017-2018 HELP repayment thresholds and rates:

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2017-18 income year was $55,873.

2017-2018 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $55,874	Nil
$55,874 – $62,238	4.0%
$62,239 – $68,602	4.5%
$68,603 – $72,207	5.0%
$72,208 – $77,618	5.5%
$77,619 – $84,062	6.0%
$84,063 – $88,486	6.5%
$88,487 – $97,377	7.0%
$97,378 – $103,765	7.5%
$103,766 and above	8.0%

2016-2017 HELP repayment thresholds and rates:

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2016-17 income year was $54,868.

2016-2017 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $54,869	Nil
$54,869 – $61,119	4.0%
$61,120 – $67,368	4.5%
$67,369 – $70,909	5.0%
$70,910 – $76,222	5.5%
$76,223 – $82,550	6.0%
$82,551 – $86,894	6.5%
$86,895 – $95,626	7.0%
$95,627 – $101,899	7.5%
$101,900 and above	8.0%

2015-2016 HELP repayment thresholds and rates:

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2015-16 income year was $54,125.

2015-2016 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $54,126	Nil
$54,126 – $60,292	4.0%
$60,293 – $66,456	4.5%
$66,457 – $69,949	5.0%
$69,950 – $75,190	5.5%
$75,191 – $81,432	6.0%
$81,433 – $85,718	6.5%
$85,719 – $94,331	7.0%
$94,332 – $100,519	7.5%
$100,520 and above	8.0%

2014-2015 HELP repayment thresholds and rates:

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2014-15 income year was $53,344.

2014-2015 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $53,345	Nil
$53,345 – $59,421	4.0%
$59,422 – $65,497	4.5%
$65,498 – $68,939	5.0%
$68,940 – $74,105	5.5%
$74,106 – $80,257	6.0%
$80,258 – $84,481	6.5%
$84,482 – $92,970	7.0%
$92,971 – $99,069	7.5%
$99,070 and above	8.0%

2013-2014 HECS-HELP repayment rates:

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2013-14 income year was $51,308.

2012-2013 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $51,309	Nil
$51,309 – $57,153	4.0%
$57,154 – $62,997	4.5%
$62,998 – $66,308	5.0%
$66,309 – $71,277	5.5%
$71,278 – $77,194	6.0%
$77,195 – $81,256	6.5%
$81,257 – $89,421	7.0%
$89,422 – $95,287	7.5%
$95,288 and above	8.0%

2012-2013 HECS-HELP repayment rates:

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2012-13 income year was $49,095.

2012-2013 Repayment income	Repayment % rate
Below $49,096	Nil
$49,096 – $54,688	4.0%
$54,689 – $60,279	4.5%
$60,280 – $63,448	5.0%
$63,449 – $68,202	5.5%
$68,203 – $73,864	6.0%
$73,865 – $77,751	6.5%
$77,752 – $85,564	7.0%
$85,565 – $91,177	7.5%
$91,178 and above	8.0%

Note: It’s important to mention that the details presented in this article are derived from data available until 2023. To ensure you have the most accurate and current information regarding the HECS loan income threshold rate and associated policies, it is strongly recommended to refer to official sources or consult the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). They will provide you with the most up-to-date information on these matters. Or to calculate your repayment visit HECS Pay Calculator.