PAYG withholding — Updated for 2026–2027
PAYG Tax Withheld Calculator: Weekly, Fortnightly & Monthly Pay
Work out how much PAYG tax comes out of a weekly, fortnightly or monthly payslip — a PAYG withholding calculator built on the ATO's own Schedule 1 formula, plus the Schedule 8 STSL component if there's a HELP/HECS debt. Works whether you're checking your own pay or withholding for an employee, and shows the payslip amount, not your final tax bill for the year.
Tax Withheld
Pay details
Pay frequency
This calculator uses the full Medicare levy withholding scales (Scale 1 — threshold not claimed, Scale 2 — threshold claimed). It does not model the Medicare levy exemption, half-levy, foreign-resident or no-TFN scales (ATO Scales 3–6).
Withholding Breakdown
Net pay
$1,201
out of $1,500 gross per week
Tax-free threshold claimed
- Total withheld
- $299
- Schedule 1 withholding
- $299
- Withheld over a year
- $15,548
- Net over a year
- $62,452
- % of gross withheld
- 19.9%
Per-Pay Breakdown
- Gross pay per week
- $1,500
- Schedule 1 withholding
- $299
- Total PAYG withheld
- $299
- Net pay
- $1,201
What's next
This is the amount an employer withholds from a payslip under the ATO Schedule 1 statement of formulas — it is a per-pay-period estimate, not your final tax liability. Your actual tax owing is worked out at lodgment using the annual income tax brackets, and any difference between withholding and tax owed is reconciled with a refund or a bill. This is not financial advice. Sources: ATO Schedule 1 — PAYG withholding.
Reviewed by Ashma Ghimire, ASA, CPA AustraliaLast reviewed 21 July 2026
Weekly tax calculator: PAYG withheld from weekly pay
How much tax is deducted from weekly pay depends on the gross amount, whether the tax-free threshold is claimed, and whether a study loan applies. Claiming the threshold in 2026–2027, a $600 weekly gross has $42 withheld, leaving $558 in the bank; a $1,200 gross has $202 withheld, leaving $998. The table below covers common weekly amounts — set the calculator above to weekly (the default) for any other figure.
| Weekly Gross | Tax Withheld | Net Pay |
|---|---|---|
| $600 | $42 | $558 |
| $800 | $83 | $717 |
| $1,000 | $138 | $862 |
| $1,200 | $202 | $998 |
| $1,500 | $299 | $1,201 |
| $2,000 | $459 | $1,541 |
| $2,500 | $619 | $1,881 |
| $3,000 | $807 | $2,193 |
How this maps to the ATO weekly tax table
The ATO weekly tax table (NAT 1005) is the printed lookup version of the same Schedule 1 formula this calculator runs. Payroll systems don't scan the PDF — they apply the formula, which is why this page returns the same amount-to-withhold you'd find against your earnings row in the published table, for any gross amount rather than the table's stepped ranges. Prefer scanning rows to typing amounts? The weekly tax table page lists the withheld amounts for common weekly grosses across both scales, with and without a study loan.
Fortnightly tax calculator: PAYG withheld from fortnightly pay
Fortnightly withholding uses the same Schedule 1 formula on a weekly-equivalent amount: the ATO halves the fortnightly gross, applies the weekly formula, then doubles the rounded result. On a $3,000 fortnightly gross claiming the tax-free threshold, $598 is withheld in 2026–2027, leaving $2,402. Switch the calculator above to fortnightly for your own payslip, or scan the common amounts below. For the budgeting side of fortnightly pay — including why a fortnight isn't half a month — see the fortnightly take-home pay guide.
| Fortnightly Gross | Tax Withheld | Net Pay |
|---|---|---|
| $1,200 | $84 | $1,116 |
| $1,600 | $166 | $1,434 |
| $2,000 | $276 | $1,724 |
| $2,400 | $404 | $1,996 |
| $3,000 | $598 | $2,402 |
| $4,000 | $918 | $3,082 |
| $5,000 | $1,238 | $3,762 |
| $6,000 | $1,614 | $4,386 |
How this maps to the ATO fortnightly tax table
The ATO fortnightly tax table (NAT 1006) publishes the same halve-apply-double calculation as a printed lookup. Because the weekly result is rounded to the dollar before it's doubled, fortnightly withholding is always an even number of dollars — a quick way to sanity-check a payslip against the table. For a row-by-row view — including the second-job Scale 1 and study-loan columns — see the fortnightly tax table page.
Monthly tax calculator: PAYG withheld from monthly pay
Monthly payslips convert the gross to its weekly equivalent (roughly ×3÷13) before the Schedule 1 formula runs, then scale the rounded weekly result back up — the method behind the ATO monthly tax table (NAT 1007). A $6,500 monthly gross claiming the tax-free threshold has $1,296 withheld in 2026–2027, leaving $5,204. Set the calculator above to monthly for your own amount, or scan the monthly tax table page for common amounts across both scales.
| Monthly Gross | Tax Withheld | Net Pay |
|---|---|---|
| $4,000 | $490 | $3,510 |
| $5,000 | $810 | $4,190 |
| $6,500 | $1,296 | $5,204 |
| $8,000 | $1,772 | $6,228 |
| $10,000 | $2,414 | $7,586 |
How PAYG withholding is calculated
This is a PAYG calculator in the withholding sense — it works out the Pay As You Go tax taken from wages each pay period, not the quarterly PAYG instalments the ATO charges on business income. Employers work out how much tax to take from each payslip using ATO Schedule 1, a published set of formulas keyed to the pay period's gross amount and whether the tax-free threshold is claimed. This calculator implements that formula directly — including the ATO's own truncation and rounding rules — rather than approximating it from the annual tax brackets, so it should match a compliant payroll system to the dollar.
The same formula works from either side of the payslip. If you're an employer or bookkeeper working out how much to withhold from an employee's pay, enter their gross pay, pay frequency, and the tax-free threshold and study-loan answers from their Tax File Number declaration — the result is the Schedule 1 amount to withhold, with any STSL component itemised separately.
If you carry a HELP, VSL, SSL, TSL or AASL study loan, your employer adds a separate STSL component from ATO Schedule 8 on top of the income-tax withholding — it's calculated on the same gross amount using its own coefficient table, then added to the total withheld.
Withholding is not your final tax bill. It's an estimate taken out progressively so you don't owe a large lump sum at the end of the year. Your actual liability is worked out at lodgment on your total annual income — the tax return calculator estimates that figure, the tax refund guide explains how the reconciliation works, and the income tax guide covers the annual brackets behind it.
This calculator covers the two scales that apply to the large majority of employees: Scale 1 (tax-free threshold not claimed) and Scale 2 (tax-free threshold claimed), both using the full Medicare levy. It does not model the Medicare levy exemption or half-levy scales, foreign-resident withholding, or the no-TFN rate.
For your complete annual position — including the Medicare Levy Surcharge, Low Income Tax Offset, and superannuation — see the take-home pay calculator. If you have a study loan, the HECS calculator projects how your repayments change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does tax withheld mean?
Tax withheld is the amount your employer takes out of each pay and sends to the ATO on your behalf — in Australia this system is called PAYG (Pay As You Go) withholding, and it exists so you don't face one large tax bill at the end of the year. It's calculated using the ATO Schedule 1 statement of formulas (NAT 1004) applied to that pay period's gross amount, not your full annual income. For a $1,500 weekly payslip claiming the tax-free threshold, Schedule 1 withholds $299 in 2026–2027, leaving $1,201 net. The "total tax withheld" on your income statement is simply the year-to-date sum of these per-pay amounts. Enter your own gross pay above to see the figure for your pay cycle.
How much tax is deducted from weekly pay?
It depends on your gross pay for the week, whether you claim the tax-free threshold, and whether you have a study loan — your employer applies the ATO Schedule 1 formula to each week's gross in isolation. Claiming the threshold in 2026–2027, a $600 weekly gross has $42 withheld (leaving $558), a $1,200 gross has $202 withheld (leaving $998), and a $1,500 gross has $299 withheld (leaving $1,201). Without the threshold — typically a second job — the same grosses are withheld at the higher Scale 1 rates. Enter your own weekly gross above, or scan the weekly table on this page, for the figure that matches your payslip.
Is this calculator the same as the ATO weekly and fortnightly tax tables?
It produces the same figures. The ATO's weekly tax table (NAT 1005) and fortnightly tax table (NAT 1006) are printed lookup versions of the Schedule 1 statement of formulas — payroll software, and this calculator, run the formula itself rather than scanning the printed table. For the covered scales (tax-free threshold claimed or not, full Medicare levy), entering a gross amount here returns the same amount-to-withhold you would find against that earnings row of the published table, plus the Schedule 8 STSL component if a study loan applies. The advantage over the PDF tables is that you get the exact figure for any gross amount — the printed tables step through earnings ranges — together with net pay and the STSL breakdown on one screen.
Is this the same as a PAYG calculator?
Yes. A PAYG calculator, PAYG tax calculator, PAYG withholding calculator and tax withheld calculator all describe the same tool — one that works out the Pay As You Go (PAYG) tax an employer withholds from wages each pay period. The ATO's official name for the figure is "tax withheld", which is why this page carries that name, but the calculation is PAYG withholding under Schedule 1 either way. Enter a gross pay amount and frequency above and you get the PAYG amount withheld for that payslip, the STSL component if a study loan applies, and the net pay that lands in the bank. If you're after your total tax for the whole year rather than one payslip's withholding, that's an income tax calculation — use the take-home pay calculator on this site instead.
What's the difference between PAYG withholding and PAYG instalments?
They're two separate ATO systems that share the PAYG name. PAYG withholding is what this calculator covers: an employer takes tax out of wages each payslip under the Schedule 1 formulas and sends it to the ATO on the employee's behalf. PAYG instalments apply to business and investment income — sole traders, contractors outside employee-like arrangements, and investors prepay their expected tax in quarterly instalments the ATO works out from a prior tax return. If you searched for a PAYG calculator to check tax coming out of a wage or salary payslip, you're in the right place. If you need to estimate quarterly prepayments on business income, use the ATO's PAYG instalments calculator — or start with the contractor calculator on this site for an ABN-income tax estimate.
What's the difference between Scale 1 and Scale 2 withholding?
Scale 2 is the withholding scale used when you claim the tax-free threshold on a payer's Tax File Number declaration — the usual choice for your main job. Scale 1 is used when you don't claim it, and it withholds more from the same gross pay because none of it is treated as tax-free — the typical setting for a second job. On the same $1,500 weekly gross, Scale 2 withholds $299 while Scale 1 withholds $409 — a difference that gets reconciled at lodgment either way, since you only get one tax-free threshold across all your income for the year.
What is the STSL component on my payslip?
STSL stands for Study and Training Support Loans — HELP (HECS), VSL, SSL, TSL and the Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan (AASL) are all covered. If you've told your employer you have one of these debts, they add a separate Schedule 8 (NAT 3539) component on top of your income tax withholding, calculated on the same pay-period gross. On a $1,500 weekly payslip with the threshold claimed, that adds $25 to the $299 income tax withholding, for $324 total withheld. Toggle the study loan option above to see your own STSL component.
Should I use this or the ATO's tax withheld calculator?
Both implement the same published formulas, so for everyday employee payslips they produce the same figure. This calculator applies the current Schedule 1 (NAT 1004) and Schedule 8 (NAT 3539) coefficients directly — including the ATO's truncation and rounding rules — and unlike the ATO's tool it shows the full breakdown on one screen: income tax withholding, the STSL component, and net pay side by side, with worked examples for common pay amounts. The ATO's own calculator covers extra situations this one doesn't model, such as foreign-resident withholding, the no-TFN rate, and Medicare levy exemptions or reductions. If one of those applies to you, use the ATO tool; otherwise this page gives the same answer with more context.
Why doesn't my payslip withholding match my tax return?
Withholding and your final tax liability are two different calculations. Withholding uses the Schedule 1 per-pay-period formula on that single payslip in isolation; your actual tax is worked out at lodgment on your whole year's income using the annual tax brackets, after offsets like LITO and any deductions. The two rarely land on the same number — if you were withheld more than you owed across the year you get a refund, and if you were withheld less you get a bill. The $1,500-a-week Scale 2 example above works out to $15,548 withheld over a full year on a stable income, which is designed to sit close to (but rarely exactly at) the actual annual tax owed for 2026–2027 — the tax return calculator on this site estimates that final figure.
How is monthly withholding different from weekly and fortnightly?
The ATO formula is defined on a weekly-equivalent earnings figure. For a fortnightly payslip, the gross is halved before the formula is applied, then the rounded weekly result is doubled. For a monthly payslip, the gross is converted to its weekly equivalent (roughly ×3÷13) before the formula runs, then the rounded weekly result is scaled back up. Because of the rounding at each step, monthly withholding isn't simply weekly withholding × 4.33 — it's the ATO's own conversion method. A $6,500 monthly payslip claiming the threshold withholds $1,296 under Schedule 1 in 2026–2027, compared with $598 on a $3,000 fortnightly payslip covering roughly the same annual income.
Does this calculator handle the Medicare levy exemption or foreign residents?
Not in this version. This calculator uses the full Medicare levy Schedule 1 scales — Scale 1 (threshold not claimed) and Scale 2 (threshold claimed) — which cover the large majority of employees. It does not model the Medicare levy exemption or half-levy scales, foreign-resident withholding, or the no-TFN rate (the ATO's Scales 3 to 6). If any of those apply to you, use the ATO's own withholding lookup tool for an exact figure, or the take-home pay calculator on this site for your full annual position including the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
Is PAYG withholding the same as my marginal tax rate?
No — withholding is designed to approximate your average annual tax rate across the year, not tax each dollar at your top marginal rate. The Schedule 1 coefficients build in the effect of the tax-free threshold and the progressive brackets so that, for a stable income paid every period, total withholding across the year lands close to (though rarely exactly at) the actual tax owed. A one-off change to your pay for a single period — like a bonus — can distort this, which is a separate calculation covered by the bonus tax calculator on this site.
How do I work out how much tax to withhold from an employee's pay?
The same Schedule 1 formula applies from the employer's side of the payslip. Enter the employee's gross pay for the period, their pay frequency, and the tax-free threshold and study-loan answers from their Tax File Number declaration — the result is the amount to withhold, with any STSL component itemised separately. It's also a quick way to check payroll software: this engine implements the published Schedule 1 and Schedule 8 formulas (including the ATO's exact truncation and rounding rules) rather than an approximation, so it should match compliant payroll software to the dollar for the covered scales. If a payslip differs, check whether extra factors apply — a Medicare levy variation, a HELP debt not yet reported, or salary sacrifice reducing the taxable gross.