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TheVoid(Newbie)Newbie
10 Jan 2025

Hey guys,


I have been working since February 2024, with all my paychecks have a deduction for "TAX STUDY REPAY". At first I thought it would go down but was informed it only goes down in a lump sum after you lodge your tax return. I have only checked my balance recently to see if I got the indexation refund only to notice my balance still hasn't gone down. I checked with my payroll department and they have said nothing is wrong on their end.


I was wondering if there is something I'm missing on my end as my colleagues have had their HELP debts reduced.


Thanks any help is appreciated.

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381 views
1 replies

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EthanATO(Community Support)Community Support
10 Jan 2025

Hi @TheVoid,


Great idea posting, the way HELP repayments work can definitely be a little confusing sometimes.


Firstly, it sounds like everything is working as it should. Your deducted amounts in your pay are sent to us to hold with your regular employment tax. We then work out if you need to make a compulsory repayment for the year when you lodge your tax return. We have to wait for your lodgment because we can't just assume you'll have a repayment before getting your final income figures. You can read a bit more about repayment thresholds on our website. That link also includes an explanation of how we work out your repayment income to calculate if you have to make a payment or not.


By the sounds of it you may not have earnt enough in the year to need a compulsory repayment. If your loan balance did not change after your tax return was finalised, you won't have been required to make a payment. In this case, your extra amounts withheld would be refunded to you in your tax return.


Let us know if you have any questions!

All replies

Most helpful reply

EthanATO(Community Support)Community Support
10 Jan 2025

Hi @TheVoid,


Great idea posting, the way HELP repayments work can definitely be a little confusing sometimes.


Firstly, it sounds like everything is working as it should. Your deducted amounts in your pay are sent to us to hold with your regular employment tax. We then work out if you need to make a compulsory repayment for the year when you lodge your tax return. We have to wait for your lodgment because we can't just assume you'll have a repayment before getting your final income figures. You can read a bit more about repayment thresholds on our website. That link also includes an explanation of how we work out your repayment income to calculate if you have to make a payment or not.


By the sounds of it you may not have earnt enough in the year to need a compulsory repayment. If your loan balance did not change after your tax return was finalised, you won't have been required to make a payment. In this case, your extra amounts withheld would be refunded to you in your tax return.


Let us know if you have any questions!

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