How can I reduce the amount of tax I pay?

You can reduce your taxable income, and therefore reduce the amount of tax you need to pay, by claiming deductions.

Do I need to declare interest on my savings account if it’s a small amount?

Yes, you’ll need to declare any interest earned in a savings account.

When do I need to lodge my tax return?

If you're doing your tax return yourself online, you need to lodge your tax returns by 31 October. Keep in mind that the financial year ends on the 30 June.

Is prize money taxable?

Winnings from lotteries, game shows and raffles aren’t taxable, but if you regularly receive winnings from game shows it might be.

Is child support taxable?

You usually don’t have to declare child support payments, as someone has already paid tax on this.

Are cash birthday presents taxable?

These are not taxable, although if the amount received was a large amount or was earned in a business-style transaction they might be.

Are overseas pensions taxable?

If you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes, you’ll be taxed on your foreign pensions, annuities, capital gains from overseas properties and more. Australia has a system to avoid double taxation in the event that you get taxed in the country where your income comes from. If you’re not an Australian resident, you usually won’t need to declare earnings from overseas sources.

Tax calculator 2025-26: How much tax do I have to pay?

Estimate your 2025-26 tax liability and potential return using gross income only.
Income is taxed incrementally meaning only the portion above a threshold incurs the higher rate.
Claim eligible deductions to reduce your taxable income and maximise your potential tax return.

How to use the income tax calculator

Add up your total annual income for the year (your gross annual income will be on your income statement or latest payslip for the financial year).
Don't forget about any additional money you've made from freelance, contract work or a side hustle.
Enter this figure into the income tax calculator below to see how much tax you will need to pay for the 2025-26 financial year.
This will give you an estimate of how much tax you should have paid for the year.

Outcomes provided are based only on the information you give, and you should only use it as general advice. It doesn't take into account your personal or financial situation, any Medicare levy, HECS-HELP debt or any capital gains tax you need to pay, and is just for your standard, annual income. The calculator doesn't take into account any deductions you're eligible to claim. If you have tax deductions to claim, a tax agent can help you claim these correctly to help increase the amount of tax you get back (and you can claim the tax agent fee as a deduction, too).

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this calculator, the results should only be used as an indication. They are neither a recommendation nor an eligibility test for any product and should not be construed as financial advice, investment advice or any other sort of advice.

Calculating your tax return: How much tax will I get back?

The calculator will give you an estimate of how much tax you'll need to pay based on your annual income. If you've paid more tax than you need to, you should get the difference back as a tax return. Alternatively, if you have not paid the correct amount of tax you will need to make up the difference and pay this to the ATO.

This calculator is just an estimate. It doesn't take into account the Medicare levy or any HECS-HELP debt you might have, which will also come out of your return.

Expert insight

"Australian income tax is ever-changing, complex and not always black and white. A tax misconception we often come across is [that] earning more income will result in being worse off from a tax perspective. That is simply not the case; the Australian tax system is based on incremental tax thresholds, which means when your income moves into another tax threshold, only the income greater than the threshold is taxed at the higher rate."

Sean Urquhart

Partner, Taxation Consulting, Nexia Australia

How much tax have you paid?

If you earn a salary from your job (meaning you're not a business owner or sole trader) the amount of income tax you've paid should be on your group certificate, payment summary or income statement from your employer.

If that's your only source of income, then the tax you've paid should be very close to what you actually owe. But don't forget to factor in other income sources like dividends from shares, and deductions you can claim.

What are the tax thresholds for the 2026-27 financial year?

To better understand how your tax is calculated, refer to the tax threshold table below.

Taxable income	Tax on this income
0 – $18,200	Nil
$18,201 – $45,000	16c for each $1 over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000	$4,288 plus 30c for each $1 over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000	$31,288 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000
$190,001 and over	$51,638 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

Income tax rates also depend on your income and your residency status. Non-residents are taxed at a high rate and are not entitled to a tax-free threshold.

So if you're a non-resident, you'll need to pay tax on all income earned from an Australian source.

Your general tax questions answered

If you’re an Australian resident for tax purposes, you’ll be taxed on your foreign pensions, annuities, capital gains from overseas properties and more. Australia has a system to avoid double taxation in the event that you get taxed in the country where your income comes from. If you’re not an Australian resident, you usually won’t need to declare earnings from overseas sources.

Want more tips on tax?

Use our comprehensive tax guides to stay on top of your finances this tax season.

How to complete a tax return

Whether it’s your first time or you're a seasoned veteran, lodging a tax return can be tricky. Let finder.com.au walk you through the process step-by-step.

The ultimate guide to tax deductions

Deductions are purchases that you can deduct from your total taxable income, meaning you could pay less tax. Find out the general legislation surrounding tax deductions, as well as some specific examples.

Top tips for maximising your tax returns

Our five top tips for using tax deductions to your advantage and boosting this year’s tax return.

Finder writers are subject matter experts and use primary sources, in-depth research and interviews with other experts to ensure you're getting accurate, up-to-date information. Articles are fact checked in line with our editorial guidelines.
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Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

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Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards. See full bio

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156 Responses

vardhanJuly 10, 2016

Hi my total gross payment is 40901, and my total tax withheld is 7329 ca you please tell me how much tax return i can get ?

Finder

ClarizzaJuly 11, 2016Finder

Hi Vardhan,

Thanks for your question.

According to our tax calculator here, your gross salary means you are liable to pay a $4,839.83, so you may receive the difference between this and the tax withheld. The amounts shown on our calculator do not include the medicare levy, HECs, and SFSS. Please do consult the advice of an accountant if needed.

If you would like to discuss your personal situation, we recommend you speak to an online tax agent.

Hope this helps.

Clarizza

andrewJuly 8, 2016

Hi, I have been told by a few people that 1st timers were entitled to all there taxes? Is this true? Help. Thanks.

Finder

ClarizzaJuly 11, 2016Finder

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your question.

It will depend on how much you earned for the last financial year. The Tax Threshold table on this page shows how tax is calculated based on your taxable income. For example, if you earn $18,201 – $37,000, your tax is calculated at 19c per $1 > $18,200. You can also use our calculator to see how much tax you’re liable to pay based on your gross annual income over the last financial year.

If you would like to discuss your personal situation, we recommend you speak to an online tax agent.

Hope this helps.

Clarizza

andrewJuly 8, 2016

Hi, I made exactly $61916k this year and paid $12818 in tax. How much will I be getting back please? Thanks.

Finder

ClarizzaJuly 12, 2016Finder

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for your question.

Assuming $61,916 is your gross salary, you are liable to pay $11,669.70 in tax (based on our calculator on this page). If you have $12,818 withheld, you will receive the difference of $1148.30 in a tax refund. However, this does not include Medicare levy, HECS, and any work expenses, so the total could be different. It’s best to check with your accountant if you are unsure.

Please note, we are a comparison website and as such provide general advice only.

If you would like to discuss your personal situation, we recommend you speak to an online tax agent.

Hope this helps.

Clarizza

TishothJuly 8, 2016

I working in a furniture company from this January. I got $11,500 paid until July 3. I paid $1108 for tax. This is my first year tax claim, how much I can claim ?

Finder

ClarizzaJuly 11, 2016Finder

Hi Tishoth,

Thanks for your question.

Based on your annual gross salary of $11,500, our calculator and threshold table shows you are not liable to pay tax. If you have paid $1108, you may receive this amount back when you lodge your tax return. We recommend checking with an accountant first if you are unsure.

If you would like to discuss your personal situation, we recommend you speak to an online tax agent.

Hope this helps.

Clarizza

PoojaJuly 7, 2016

My annual income is 53000 how much money I will get back?

Finder

MayJuly 8, 2016Finder

Hi Pooja,

Thanks for your question.

With a gross annual income of $53,000, using our calculator above, you will get a net annual income of $44,228 and you have to pay a tax of $8,772 and this does not take into account your deductions. Also, please keep in mind that our calculator is an indicator only and is used as general advice.

If you would like to discuss your personal situation, we recommend you speak to an online tax agent.

Cheers,
May

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Income tax calculator

Use our simple tax calculator to see how much tax you'll pay for the 2024-25 financial year, and what your tax return may look like.