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NT Long Service Leave Calculator

Estimate long service leave in Northern Territory — weeks accrued at 1.30 weeks per year of service, when the entitlement vests, what's paid out when you leave, and the tax withheld, under the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT).

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Before you start

Count continuous service with one employer

Long service leave builds on continuous service with the same employer (a business sale usually carries it over). Pay is your ordinary rate — overtime and most penalty loadings don't count. Portable industry schemes (construction, cleaning, community services) and public-sector employers have their own rules.
$

Your base rate for normal hours — leave out overtime and one-off allowances

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Long Service Leave Summary

Northern Territory — Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT)

Leave accrued

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NT long service leave milestones

Accrual under the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT): 1.30 weeks per year of continuous service, vesting as a full entitlement at 10 years, with a conditional pro-rata window from 7 years.

Years of serviceLeave accruedStatus
1 year1.30 weeksAccruing — not yet payable
5 years6.50 weeksAccruing — not yet payable
7 years9.10 weeksPro-rata window (from 7 yrs)
10 years13 weeksFull entitlement
15 years19.50 weeksFull entitlement
20 years26 weeksFull entitlement

Source: NT Government. General private-sector rules — portable industry schemes and public-sector employers differ.

NT Long Service Leave FAQs

Have a question we didn’t answer? Contact us →

How much long service leave do I get in NT?

Under the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT), leave accrues at 1.30 weeks per year of continuous service with one employer — 13 weeks when the entitlement vests at 10 years, and it keeps accruing at the same rate after that.

When am I entitled to take long service leave in NT?

After 10 years of continuous service with the same employer. Continuous service usually survives a sale of the business, and approved unpaid leave typically pauses rather than breaks it — check NT Government's guidance for your situation.

What happens to my long service leave if I resign in NT?

NT's pro-rata window opens at 7 years. Between 7 and 10 years, a payout depends on how employment ends. Between 7 and 10 years, the NT pays pro-rata leave on resignation only when you resign because of illness, incapacity or another pressing necessity, or at or after retirement age. Employer-initiated terminations such as redundancy generally qualify. From 10 years the leave is a full entitlement and is paid out on any termination.

How much is a NT long service leave payout worth?

Weeks of untaken leave × your ordinary weekly pay. At 10 years on $2,000 a week of ordinary pay, that's 13 weeks — $26,000 before tax. Ordinary pay excludes overtime and most penalty loadings.

How is a long service leave payout taxed?

Unused leave paid out on termination is taxed under ATO Schedule 7, not as ordinary salary. For a genuine redundancy, invalidity or approved early-retirement scheme, withholding is a flat 32%. For any other departure, it's withheld at your marginal rate — the calculator estimates this by comparing tax with and without the payout on top of your annual income. No superannuation is payable on the payout.

Why does the NT payout only count completed years?

The NT Long Service Leave Act pays out on completed years of service only — at 9 years and 6 months, the payout is based on 9 years (11.70 weeks), not 9.5. Like South Australia, the NT accrues 1.30 weeks per year, reaching 13 weeks at 10 years.

Long service leave in other states

Every state legislates its own accrual rate, vesting point and pro-rata rules — compare them all on the long service leave calculator hub.

This is an estimate, not a ruling

Awards, agreements and portable schemes can override the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT), and continuous-service questions (breaks, business sales, casual patterns) turn on your circumstances. Confirm your entitlement with NT Government.

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