Australia Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026-27 | Tax Atlas
Calculate your 2026-27 take-home pay after income tax, Medicare Levy, and MLS if applicable — monthly and annual. No signup required.
Enter your gross income above to see your 2026-27 Australia tax breakdown instantly.
What is take-home pay in Australia?
Take-home pay — also called net pay or in-hand salary — is the amount deposited into your bank account after all mandatory deductions have been made from your gross salary. In Australia, these deductions include income tax and other statutory contributions.
This calculator computes your 2026-27 take-home pay from the engine that powers the Australia income tax calculator — the same verified tax math, presented with monthly and annual take-home as the primary figures.
What's deducted from your paycheck in Australia
Income tax
0% on first $18,200; 16% on $18,201–$45,000; 30% on $45,001–$135,000; 37% on $135,001–$190,000; 45% above $190,000. Tax-free threshold built into the 0% first bracket.
Low Income Tax Offset (LITO)
A tax credit of up to $700 for incomes up to $37,500. Phases out between $37,500 and $66,667. Reduces income tax — not a cash payment.
Medicare Levy
2% flat levy on gross income. Shade-in applies: incomes between $26,000 and $32,500 pay 10¢ per dollar above $26,000 instead of the full 2%.
Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)
1%–1.5% for singles with income above $93,000 who lack private hospital cover. Applies to full income at the relevant tier rate — real cliff effects at each threshold.
HELP/HECS repayments
1%–10% income-contingent repayments on student debt, starting at $54,435. Select "HELP debt" in the filing status to include. Rate applies to total income — not marginal.
Superannuation — not deducted from take-home
12% employer super guarantee is paid on top of your salary by your employer — it does not reduce your take-home. It goes directly into your super fund.
Take-home pay at common salary levels (2026-27)
Calculated from the Tax Atlas engine using the default filing status. Your actual take-home may differ based on filing status and deductions.
| Gross salary | Annual take-home | Monthly | Weekly | Eff. rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $36,287 | $3,024 | $698 | 9.3% |
| $60,000 | $50,112 | $4,176 | $964 | 16.5% |
| $90,000 | $70,412 | $5,868 | $1,354 | 21.8% |
| $120,000 | $89,312 | $7,443 | $1,718 | 25.6% |
| $150,000 | $107,912 | $8,993 | $2,075 | 28.1% |
| $200,000 | $136,862 | $11,405 | $2,632 | 31.6% |
| $300,000 | $188,362 | $15,697 | $3,622 | 37.2% |
How to increase your take-home pay legally in Australia
Salary sacrifice into superannuation
Super contributions via salary sacrifice are taxed at 15% in the fund (vs up to 45% income tax on salary). For a $120,000 earner in the 37% bracket, sacrificing $10,000 saves approximately $2,200 per year in income tax and Medicare Levy combined. The 2026 concessional contributions cap is $30,000.
Get private hospital cover to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge
If your income exceeds $93,000, the cheapest basic hospital cover ($1,000–$1,500/year) eliminates the MLS (1%–1.5% of your full income). At $100,000, the MLS is $1,000 — break-even with the cheapest cover. Above $108,000, private hospital cover costs less than the surcharge by a wide margin.
Claim work-related deductions
Uniforms, tools, union fees, home internet (if you work from home), and professional subscriptions reduce your taxable income. Keep receipts. The ATO's myDeductions app helps track these throughout the year.
Use the ATO's fixed rate for home office
The 70¢/hour fixed rate method allows you to claim a deduction for working from home without tracking actual expenses — just keep a record of hours worked. At 30 hours/week for 48 weeks, that's a $1,008 deduction.
Spouse super contributions for a tax offset
If your spouse earns under $40,000, contributing up to $3,000 to their super earns you an 18% tax offset (up to $540). At $37,000 spouse income, you receive the full $540 offset — a free tax saving.
Frequently asked questions
- What is take-home pay in Australia?
- Take-home pay is your gross salary minus income tax, Medicare Levy, and any other mandatory deductions (MLS, HELP). Your superannuation guarantee is paid by your employer on top of your salary — it is not deducted from take-home. At $90,000 gross (no HELP, no private hospital cover), take-home is approximately $68,700 per year.
- Is superannuation included in take-home pay calculations?
- No. The employer super guarantee (12% in 2026) is paid on top of your salary directly to your super fund. It is not deducted from your take-home. A $90,000 base salary also comes with $10,800 in super — but that money never passes through your bank account.
- What is the Medicare Levy and how does it work?
- The Medicare Levy is a 2% charge on your gross income that funds Australia's universal health system (Medicare). Below $26,000, no levy applies. Between $26,000 and $32,500 a shade-in applies: you pay 10¢ per dollar above $26,000. Above $32,500, the full 2% applies to your total income.
- How do I calculate my annual take-home from a fortnightly payslip?
- Multiply your fortnightly net pay by 26 for an approximate annual take-home. Note that the ATO calculates withholding based on annualised income, so your payslip tax withholding should closely match actual tax due at year end. Small discrepancies arise from the LITO phase-out and Medicare shade-in calculations.
- Does this calculator include HELP/HECS repayments?
- Select "Resident with HELP/HECS debt" in the filing status dropdown to include student loan repayments. HELP repayments are 1%–10% of your total income above $54,435 — applied to your full income at the applicable rate, not just the income above the threshold.
- Is this professional tax advice?
- No. This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only. For salary packaging, negative gearing, super contribution strategies, and other personal tax planning, consult a registered tax agent or Chartered Accountant.