Tax time.
Tax time is when the year catches up with you, whether that is a bill you did not expect, a HELP repayment or the new standard deduction.
These guides explain where the numbers come from, with the 2026-27 rates and a worked example for each.
Why you might owe tax
- Why do I owe tax when I have two jobs?
You only get one $18,200 tax-free threshold. See why two jobs often means a tax bill, even when you tick the right boxes, and how to avoid it.
7 min read
- Why is my first tax bill as a sole trader so big?
Why your first ABN tax bill lands in one hit, why PAYG instalments can start straight after, and what to do if you can't pay it all at once.
6 min read
Deductions and HELP repayments
- The new $1,000 standard deduction, explained
From 2026-27 employees get up to $1,000 off taxable income without receipts. See how it works with your own claims, and why ABN income misses out.
7 min read
- How much will my HECS repayment be under the new system?
See exactly how your 2026-27 HECS-HELP repayment is worked out with ATO figures, and why the amount taken from your pay can differ from the final bill.
8 min read
Tax time with an ABN
- How much tax should I put aside from my ABN income?
Why one flat percentage is only a rough guide, and how to work out your own ABN tax set-aside for 2026-27 using tax rates and the Medicare levy.
7 min read
- I have a job and an ABN. How is my side hustle taxed?
There is no special ABN tax rate. See how side hustle profit is taxed on top of your wages, why HELP can rise, and what to put aside.
7 min read
- What is a PAYG instalment notice and why did I get one?
What a PAYG instalment notice is, why the ATO sent it, the amount and rate options in plain words, and how instalments come off your tax bill.
6 min read
Start with the free pay check.
Type in one fortnight's pay and bills and see where it all goes. Works in Excel and Google Sheets.