How this works
Most Australians are paid fortnightly but get billed weekly, monthly or yearly, so it's hard to know what a pay actually has to cover. This calculator turns everything into a per-fortnight figure using the 26-pay year: a weekly bill × 52 ÷ 26, a monthly bill × 12 ÷ 26, and a yearly bill ÷ 26. That's why a $1,000 monthly bill works out to about $462 a fortnight, not $500.
If you enter your gross pay, we annualise it and estimate income tax using the ATO's resident tax rates for the year you pick. In 2026–27 the second bracket ($18,201–$45,000) dropped to 15%, down from 16% in 2025–26. We then add the 2% Medicare levy, with the low-income shade-in using the published single thresholds, and, if you tick it, a compulsory HELP repayment using the ATO's marginal repayment rates. Real payslips use PAYG withholding tables and will differ a little, especially if you claim offsets or have more than one job.
The needs/wants/savings split starts at 50/30/20, a common rule of thumb, but you can set your own. Results update as you type, and you can print them or share the link.
FAQ
How do I convert a monthly bill to fortnightly?
Multiply the monthly amount by 12 and divide by 26. For example, $1,000 a month is about $461.54 a fortnight.
Which tax rates does this use?
The ATO resident individual rates for 2026-27 by default (15% on $18,201 to $45,000), with 2025-26 (16%) available. Medicare levy at 2% with the single low-income reduction.
Is this my exact take-home pay?
No. It is an estimate. Your employer uses ATO withholding tables, and other offsets, deductions and salary sacrifice change the result. We include the low income tax offset (LITO) but no other offsets.