Laptop Salary Sacrifice Calculator
Calculate tax savings from salary packaging a work laptop. See how much you can save on MacBooks, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and other laptops.
Example: MacBook Pro ($3,000)
See how salary packaging a $3,000 work laptop on a $90,000 salary saves you money:
❌Paying with After-Tax Cash
- Laptop Price:$3,000
- GST (included):$272.73
- Net Cost to You:$3,000
- *You pay the full retail price from your take-home pay.
✓Salary Packaging
- Laptop Price (ex GST):$2,727.27
- GST Savings:-$272.73
- Income Tax Savings:-$941.18
- Net Cost to You:$1,786.09
💰 Result: You save $1,213.91 on a $3,000 laptop! That's a 40% discount by paying with pre-tax salary and claiming the GST input tax credit (if your employer passes it on).
Salary Sacrifice Calculator
Calculate the tax benefits of salary packaging work equipment like laptops, phones, and tools.
Enter the total cost of equipment (e.g., laptop, phone). The calculator shows the annual tax impact.
💡 Work Equipment Packaging
You can salary package work-related equipment like laptops, phones, tablets, and tools. The cost is spread over the item's useful life, but you get the tax benefit immediately!
"Salary sacrificing into super is taxed at 15%, which is often much lower than your marginal tax rate."
Tax Saved
$640
per year
Impact on Take-Home Pay
💰 The Magic of Salary Packaging
You get $640 worth of equipment while only reducing your take-home pay by $1,360!
| Component | Current | With Sacrifice |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $90,000 | $88,000 |
| Taxable Income | $90,000 | $88,000 |
| Estimated Tax | -$19,588 | -$18,948 |
| Net Pay | $70,412 | $69,052 |
| Superannuation | ||
| Employer SG | $10,350 | $10,350 |
| Salary Sacrifice (Gross) | $0 | $2,000 |
| Contributions Tax (15%) | $0 | -$0 |
| Total Super | $10,350 | $10,350 |
Complete Guide to Laptop Salary Packaging
What is Laptop Salary Packaging?
Laptop salary packaging is an ATO-approved arrangement that allows you to pay for a work laptop using your pre-tax salary. Because the cost is deducted before tax is calculated, you significantly reduce your taxable income and pay less tax overall.
Under FBT rules, portable electronic devices primarily used for work are FBT exempt, making this one of the most effective ways to save on tech.
How It Works
- Purchase: You buy the laptop upfront (or enter a lease/payment plan).
- Agreement: You provide the receipt to your employer or salary packaging provider.
- Reimbursement: Your employer reimburses you for the cost from your pre-tax salary.
- Savings: You save on Income Tax (up to 47%) and potentially GST (10%).
Why Package Your Laptop?
- 📉 Massive DiscountsEffectively get a 30% to 45% discount on the retail price depending on your tax bracket.
- 💰 GST SavingsSave the 10% GST if your employer claims the Input Tax Credit and passes it on.
- 💻 Own the DeviceUnlike a company laptop, you own the device. It's yours to keep even if you change jobs.
- ⚡ Immediate BenefitGet the tax benefit straight away in your pay cycle, not at the end of the financial year.
Eligibility Rules
- Work Use Test: The laptop must be primarily for use in your employment (generally interpreted as >50% work use).
- One Laptop Rule: You can generally only package one laptop per FBT year (1 April - 31 March), unless it is a replacement for a lost/broken device.
- No Double Dipping: You cannot claim depreciation on your tax return for the same laptop if you have salary packaged it.
Popular Laptop Options
MacBook Air M3
Perfect for general work tasks
~$1,899
MacBook Pro 14"
For demanding professional work
~$2,899
Dell XPS 13
Premium Windows ultrabook
~$1,799
Lenovo ThinkPad
Reliable business laptop
~$1,499
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I salary package any laptop?
You can salary package laptops that are primarily used for work purposes. This includes MacBooks, Windows laptops, gaming laptops (if used for work), and Chromebooks. The laptop must be used more than 50% for work to qualify.
How much does a typical laptop cost to package?
Work laptops typically range from $1,000 to $3,500. Entry-level business laptops cost around $1,000-$1,500, mid-range laptops $1,500-$2,500, and high-end MacBook Pros or workstations $2,500-$3,500+.
Do I get the laptop immediately?
Yes! You receive the laptop immediately, but the cost is deducted from your pre-tax salary over time (typically over the laptop's useful life of 3-4 years). You get the tax benefit immediately while spreading the cost.
Can I package accessories with the laptop?
Yes, you can package work-related accessories like laptop bags, external monitors, keyboards, mice, docking stations, and software. All items must be primarily used for work purposes.