Australian payroll estimate · 2026–27
PAYG Withholding Calculator
Estimate the PAYG amount withheld from your wages and see your take-home pay using current ATO formulas.
Estimated result
Your pay summary
How this result was calculated
Estimate only. Confirm payroll obligations with the ATO, your payroll software or a registered tax professional.
Clear calculation methodology
How the PAYG withholding estimate works
The calculator follows the ATO’s 2026–27 Schedule 1 method for regular salary and wage payments. If you select a study or training support loan, it uses the combined Schedule 8 coefficients instead.
Convert pay to a weekly equivalent
Fortnightly pay is divided by 2, monthly pay is multiplied by 3 and divided by 13, and quarterly pay is divided by 13. Cents are ignored before adding 99 cents.
Select the ATO scale
The coefficients depend on residency and whether the tax-free threshold is claimed. A different combined table applies when a study or training loan is selected.
Apply the linear formula
Weekly withholding is calculated as y = (a × x) − b, where x is weekly equivalent earnings and a and b are the applicable ATO coefficients.
Round and return to the pay period
The weekly result is rounded to the nearest dollar, with exactly 50 cents rounded up. It is then converted back to the selected pay frequency.
Worked example
Example: $3,000 paid fortnightly
Assume an Australian resident claims the tax-free threshold, has no study loan selected and receives $3,000 gross for the fortnight.
At this income, Schedule 1 Scale 2 uses a = 0.3200 and b = 181.7319.
(0.3200 × 1,500.99) − 181.7319 = 298.5849
Rounded weekly withholding is $299. Multiplied by 2, estimated fortnightly withholding is $598, leaving estimated take-home pay of $2,402.
Know the boundaries
What this calculator covers
Included
- Regular weekly, fortnightly, monthly and quarterly pay
- Resident Scale 1 and Scale 2 calculations
- Foreign resident Scale 3 with a valid TFN
- Optional 2026–27 study and training loan withholding
- Optional extra withholding per pay
Not included
- Tax offsets or Medicare levy family adjustments
- No-TFN, working holiday maker or seasonal worker rates
- Bonuses, commissions, back pay or irregular payments
- Employment termination or unused leave payments
- Your final income tax assessment, deductions or refund
Official sources
The calculator is based on the Australian Taxation Office schedules applying to payments made from 1 July 2026.
Common questions
PAYG withholding calculator FAQ
What is PAYG withholding?
PAYG withholding is an amount a payer withholds from salary or wages and sends to the ATO on the worker’s behalf. It is generally credited when the worker’s final tax position is assessed.
Should I enter gross pay or net pay?
Enter gross taxable pay before PAYG withholding. Include taxable salary, wages and allowances that belong in the regular pay calculation.
Does the calculator include HELP or other study loans?
Yes. Select the study or training support loan option to use Schedule 8 combined coefficients. This covers the PAYG component for debts such as HELP, VSL, SFSS, SSL and AASL/TSL where the schedule applies.
Why can my payslip show a different amount?
Differences can result from tax offsets, Medicare levy variations, special payment types, payroll settings, rounding, declarations, salary sacrifice, allowances or a newer ATO schedule.
Is this my final tax bill?
No. PAYG withholding is a prepayment. Your final tax outcome can also depend on other income, deductions, offsets, levies and personal circumstances for the full financial year.
Can I use this for bonuses or termination payments?
No. The ATO publishes separate schedules for bonuses, commissions, back payments, employment termination payments and unused leave. Use the relevant table or payroll process for those amounts.