PAYG tax withheld calculator for 2026–27
On weekly earnings of $1,500, an employee who claims the tax-free threshold has $299 withheld (scale 2), leaving $1,201.00.
This calculator applies the ATO's Schedule 1 formulas and rounding for every scale, adds the Schedule 8 study loan component and handles working holiday makers under Schedule 15.
How it's worked out
Convert the pay to a weekly equivalent: weekly pay as it is, fortnightly divided by 2, monthly times 3 divided by 13 (add a cent first if it ends in 33 cents), quarterly divided by 13. Drop the cents and add 99 cents to get x. The tax is y = a × x − b using the row for x, rounded to the nearest dollar, then converted back to the pay period.
Declared tax offsets reduce withholding by 1.9% (weekly), 3.8% (fortnightly), 8.3% (monthly) or 25% (quarterly) of the yearly amount. A study loan adds its own component, worked out the same way.
| x less than | a | b |
|---|---|---|
| $188 | 0.1500 | 0.1500 |
| $371 | 0.2084 | 11.0185 |
| $515 | 0.1790 | 0.1066 |
| $932 | 0.3227 | 74.1674 |
| $2,246 | 0.3200 | 71.6508 |
| $3,303 | 0.3900 | 228.8816 |
| and over | 0.4700 | 493.1893 |
Worked example: $1,500 a week, scale 2
An employee paid $1,500 a week who claims the tax-free threshold and has no study loan:
| Result | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total to withhold | $299 |
| Tax (scale 2) | $299 |
| Net pay | $1,201.00 |
| Withheld over a year at this rate | $15,548 |
How to use the Tax Withheld Calculator (PAYG)
- Enter the gross earnings for one pay, including taxable allowances.
- Pick the pay period and the scale that matches the payee's TFN and Medicare declarations.
- Tick the study loan box or enter tax offsets if the payee declared them.
Key figures 2026–27
The statutory rates and thresholds this calculator uses, where each comes from, and when we last checked it.
| Figure | Value | Source and date checked |
|---|---|---|
| PAYG withholding | ATO Schedule 1 (NAT 1004) formulas y = ax − b, from 1 July 2026 | Schedule 1 – Statement of formulas for calculating amounts to be withheld (NAT 1004, from 1 July 2026)Checked 2026-11-05 |
| Study loan withholding | ATO Schedule 8: no component below $1,337 a week (tax-free threshold claimed) or $987 (not claimed) | Schedule 8 – Statement of formulas for study and training support loans componentsChecked 2026-11-05 |
| Working holiday maker rates 2026–27 | 15% to $45,000; 30% to $135,000; 37% to $190,000; 45% above | Schedule 15 – Tax table for working holiday makers (from 1 July 2026)Checked 2026-11-05 |
Frequently asked questions
Which scale should I use?
Scale 2 if the payee claims the tax-free threshold, scale 1 if not, scale 3 for foreign residents, scale 4 if no TFN was given, and scales 5 or 6 for a full or half Medicare levy exemption. Working holiday makers use Schedule 15 instead.
How is the result rounded?
To the nearest dollar, with 50 cents rounded up, straight from the formula result. Fortnightly amounts are the rounded weekly amount doubled; monthly amounts are the rounded weekly amount times 13 divided by 3, rounded again.
What happens with 53 weekly pays in a year?
The formulas assume 52 pays. If a year has 53, the ATO lets employees ask for a little extra to be withheld each week ($3, $7 or $12 depending on earnings) so they don't end up owing tax.
Does this match the ATO's tax tables?
Yes for the ATO's sample data: our tests check 144 published weekly, fortnightly and monthly points across scales 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 to the dollar. Above $3,400 a week the tables' footnote method can differ slightly; the ATO accepts either.
Is this tax advice?
No. Results are estimates from the published ATO and Fair Work rules for the cases the calculator covers. Your own circumstances can change the result; check with the ATO, Fair Work or a registered tax agent before you rely on a figure.
Sources
- Schedule 1 – Statement of formulas for calculating amounts to be withheld (NAT 1004, from 1 July 2026) (Australian Taxation Office)
- Schedule 1 – Coefficients for withholding from weekly payments (Australian Taxation Office)
- Schedule 1 – Withholding amounts sample data (Australian Taxation Office)
- Schedule 1 – Working out the weekly earnings (Australian Taxation Office)
- Schedule 8 – Statement of formulas for study and training support loans components (Australian Taxation Office)
- Schedule 15 – Tax table for working holiday makers (from 1 July 2026) (Australian Taxation Office)
Estimates, not tax or legal advice. Results come from the published rules for the cases this calculator covers in 2026–27; your own circumstances can change them. Check with the official source: ATO Tax withheld calculator.
Last checked 2026-11-05 by the TakeHomeWorld editors · How we calculate and check rates · Runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is stored.