2025-26 AU Tax Refund Calculator
Quickly estimate your refund — for PAYG employees
Your income
Your visa / tax status
Deduction guide
Pick your occupation to see commonly-missed deductions. Deductions reduce taxable income and refund tax at your marginal rate.
How is an Australian tax refund calculated?
A refund isn't free money from the government — it's the PAYG tax your employer withheld across the year, minus the tax you actually owe, with the overpaid difference returned. Tax owed = progressive income tax + 2% Medicare Levy − Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) + HECS repayment for the year.
2025-26 Australian income tax rates (residents)
| Taxable income | Marginal rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $18,200 | 0% (tax-free threshold) |
| $18,201 – $45,000 | 16% |
| $45,001 – $135,000 | 30% |
| $135,001 – $190,000 | 37% |
| $190,001+ | 45% |
Plus 2% Medicare Levy (reduced at low incomes). Working holiday makers (417/462) pay 15% from $0; non-residents pay 30% from $0 with no tax-free threshold. Examples (resident, no HECS, incl. LITO): on $60,000 you pay about $9,888 for a take-home of ~$50,112; on $80,000 about $16,388, take-home ~$63,612; on $100,000 about $22,788, take-home ~$77,212.
Deductions people in Australia most often miss
- Self-education fees for study related to your current job — many don't know it's deductible
- Working from home: FY2025-26 fixed rate of 70c/hour, with a record of hours
- Phone and internet apportioned by work-use percentage
- Work-related gear, tools, professional memberships and industry certifications
- The fee you paid a tax agent last year is deductible this year
- Donations of $2 or more to DGR-registered charities
When to lodge, and how fast is the refund?
The financial year ends 30 June; if you lodge yourself the deadline is 31 October, while a registered tax agent can extend it. Lodging online with myTax, most refunds arrive within 2 weeks (paper returns take about 50 days).
Rates and rules are from the ATO's official public guidance and have been cross-checked; some FY2026-27 thresholds are subject to the ATO's final release.
Last updated: June 2026 · FY2025-26 rates/thresholds cross-checked line-by-line against the ATO · Maintained by the JR Academy editorial team, refreshed each financial year.
Tax refund FAQ
When can I lodge my Australian tax return, and what's the deadline?
You can lodge once the financial year ends on 30 June. If you lodge yourself (myGov / myTax) the deadline is 31 October; lodging through a registered tax agent usually extends it into the following year. Lodging late may incur penalties.
How long does a refund take to arrive?
Lodging online with myTax, the ATO processes most refunds within 2 weeks and pays into your bank account; paper returns take about 50 days — provided your bank details are correct and you're not flagged for review.
Are international students residents for tax purposes? Is the refund the same?
It depends on your circumstances, not your visa type. Most full-time students staying more than half the year are generally treated as residents for tax purposes, getting the $18,200 tax-free threshold and resident rates, and lodge the same way as locals. The ATO residency tests (the resides / 183-day test) are the final word.
How are working holiday makers (417/462) taxed? Can they get a refund?
Backpackers are taxed at working holiday maker rates: no tax-free threshold, 15% from the first dollar (up to $45,000), no Medicare and no LITO. If the tax withheld across the year exceeds what's owed, they can still get a refund.
Are course / tuition fees tax deductible?
Self-education fees for study directly related to your current job are deductible and return part of the cost at your marginal rate. But if the course is to switch to a brand-new field or start a new career from scratch, it isn't deductible.
Does a HECS / HELP debt affect my refund?
Yes. From FY2025-26 HECS moved to a marginal system: the compulsory repayment is calculated on the portion of income above $67,000, and that amount comes out of your refund. Many people overlook it and end up with a smaller refund than expected.
How do I claim working-from-home deductions?
You can use the fixed-rate method: 70c/hour for FY2024-25 / FY2025-26, covering electricity, internet, phone, stationery and more, with a record of hours (a log or timesheet). The actual-cost method itemises everything but has heavier record-keeping requirements.
How much tax do I pay on $80,000 in Australia? What's the take-home?
FY2025-26 resident, no HECS: on $80,000 taxable income you pay $14,788 income tax plus $1,600 Medicare Levy (2%) — about $16,388 total, for a take-home of ~$63,612. On $60,000 take-home is ~$50,112 (incl. LITO); on $100,000 it's ~$77,212. Deductions (self-education, WFH, gear) lower your taxable income and increase your refund — run your actual numbers in the calculator above.
Do I need to lodge if I earn under the $18,200 tax-free threshold?
Under $18,200 you owe no income tax, but if your employer withheld any PAYG tax during the year, lodging is the only way to get it all back — the most common way part-time workers and students leave money with the ATO. If you had no income or nothing withheld, submit a non-lodgment advice via myGov so the ATO doesn't chase you.
Can I claim deductions without receipts?
Yes, within limits: up to $300 of total work-related expenses can be claimed without receipts (you still need to be able to explain how you calculated it); laundry of work uniforms is capped at $150. Above $300 you must have records — start saving receipts in the ATO myDeductions app or photo archive now and your next return benefits directly.
Is this an Australian income tax calculator too? What are the 2025-26 tax rates?
Yes — it runs the full FY2025-26 income tax calculation: tax-free up to $18,200 for residents, then 16% / 30% / 37% / 45% brackets, plus 2% Medicare Levy, minus LITO, plus your HECS repayment — giving tax payable, take-home pay and your refund estimate. Working holiday maker (from 15%) and non-resident (from 30%) rates are supported too.
Is this calculator accurate? Can I lodge with it directly?
This tool estimates using the ATO's public rate rules to help you know roughly where you stand and spot missed deductions, but it's an estimate and not tax advice. Lodge officially through ATO myTax or a registered tax agent.