Tax Guides
Plain-English explanations of how the Australian tax system works — so you understand your pay slip, your tax return, and how to keep more of what you earn.
Australian tax guide
How Income Tax Works in Australia
Tax brackets, marginal vs effective rates, LITO, Medicare levy, and HECS — everything in one place.
Medicare Levy Surcharge Calculator
Check whether you owe the surcharge, find your tier and rate, and weigh private hospital cover against the cost.
Why Your Bonus Looks Over-Taxed
Why bonus withholding looks high on a payslip, what the actual tax is, and how HECS and MLS can change the result.
HECS/HELP Repayment Guide
How HECS repayments are calculated, the minimum threshold, indexation, and whether to pay it off early.
Complete Salary Sacrifice Guide
What salary sacrifice is, how it saves tax, and which types (super, cars, healthcare) are available.
Superannuation Contributions Guide
Concessional caps, non-concessional caps, Division 293, voluntary contributions, and carry-forward.
Capital Gains Tax Guide
How CGT works, the 50% discount for assets held over 12 months, and how gains interact with income tax.
2027 CGT Reform Guide
Cost-base indexation, the 30% minimum tax, the new-build election, and transitional rules for the 1 July 2027 CGT reform.
2027 Negative Gearing Reform Guide
1 July 2027 NG reform: losses confined to property income, three transitional bands, and the new-build exception explained.
Contractor vs Employee Tax Differences
Tax, super, GST, and leave entitlements — the key differences between being a contractor and an employee.
Australian Tax Return Checklist
What to gather before lodging your tax return — deductions, payment summaries, investment income, and more.
How Much Tax Will I Get Back?
What actually creates a tax refund, why some people still owe, and how to estimate the result before lodging.
Fortnightly Take-Home Pay Explained
How fortnightly pay is calculated, why it isn't half your monthly pay, and how to read the fortnightly line on your payslip.
Novated Lease Tax Savings Explained
How novated leasing reduces your tax, the EV FBT exemption, and whether it makes sense for you.
How Australian Payslips Work
What must be on a Fair Work payslip, how earnings, tax, super and HECS are shown, and how to generate one yourself.
Genuine Redundancy Tax Explained
How redundancy payouts are taxed: the tax-free limit formula, ETP rates and caps, and the leave, super and HECS side rules.
Tools
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Put the concepts from these guides into practice with our free tools.
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