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MrSands77(Newbie)Newbie
6 Apr 2022

Hi all,


I was recently going through my payslips and found the addition of a A-STSL Tax that was being included as part of the tax I paid. Some googling later, I found that was the amount I paid for my HECS debt repayment. Looking at the income tax statement for the previous financial year, there is also a line that says Compulsory Higher Education Loan repayment.


My question was is the A-STSL Tax basically adding up to the final figure of the Compulsory Higher Education Loan repayment (weekly payments to a yearly sum), or are the two figures not related at all?

9,070 views
1 replies
9,070 views
1 replies

Most helpful response

Most helpful replyATO Certified Response

BlakeATO(Community Support)Community Support
ATO Certified Response7 Apr 2022

Hi @Nick_Yong77


Yep, they're the same thing. As of last year, HECS/HELP/STSL/SSL/TST are all referred to as either income contingent loans (ICL), or study and training support loans (STSL). Most payroll software uses STSL.


How it works is that your employer withholds extra tax from your pay each payrun. Then when you lodge your tax return and we can work out the exact amount you need to repay, it's charged on your income tax return. Check your notice of assessment - you'll see it listed. Then we apply that payment to your study loan.


You can read about compulsory repayments on our website.


If you dont meet the minimum repayment threshold, the tax credits withheld by your employer will be refunded to you, so long as you have no other Govt' debts.

All replies

Most helpful replyATO Certified Response

BlakeATO(Community Support)Community Support
ATO Certified Response7 Apr 2022

Hi @Nick_Yong77


Yep, they're the same thing. As of last year, HECS/HELP/STSL/SSL/TST are all referred to as either income contingent loans (ICL), or study and training support loans (STSL). Most payroll software uses STSL.


How it works is that your employer withholds extra tax from your pay each payrun. Then when you lodge your tax return and we can work out the exact amount you need to repay, it's charged on your income tax return. Check your notice of assessment - you'll see it listed. Then we apply that payment to your study loan.


You can read about compulsory repayments on our website.


If you dont meet the minimum repayment threshold, the tax credits withheld by your employer will be refunded to you, so long as you have no other Govt' debts.

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Difference between compulsory HECS repayment each year and A-STSL Tax on payslip | ATO Community