Australian Tax Guides — Income Tax, CGT, HECS, Deductions and More

Plain-English guides to the Australian tax system — from your annual tax return to capital gains, HECS debt, and what you can and can’t claim.

Income Tax

• Australian Tax Brackets 2025–26 — ATO Income Tax Rates — The four income tax brackets, marginal and effective rates, Medicare levy, and how PAYG withholding works
• How Australian Income Tax Works — A plain-English walkthrough of the system from gross income to tax payable
• Medicare Levy Explained Australia — Who pays the 2% Medicare levy, the low-income threshold, and exemptions
• Medicare Levy Surcharge — Who Pays It — The extra 1–1.5% for high earners without adequate private health cover
• PAYG Withholding Explained — How tax is deducted from your pay before you receive it

Salary After Tax

• Australian Salary After Tax — Calculator Guide — Calculate your exact take-home pay for any salary, including income tax, Medicare levy, and HECS
• $60,000 Salary After Tax Australia
• $80,000 Salary After Tax Australia
• $100,000 Salary After Tax Australia
• $120,000 Salary After Tax Australia
• $150,000 Salary After Tax Australia

Lodging Your Tax Return

• How to Lodge a Tax Return in Australia — myTax step-by-step, what you need, and when to use a tax agent
• Tax Return Deadline Australia 2025–26 — Key dates, the 31 October deadline, and what happens if you lodge late
• Tax Return Checklist — What You Need — Payment summaries, receipts, bank interest, dividends, rental income
• Tax Agent vs myTax — Which Should You Use? — When DIY is fine and when a tax agent pays for itself

Tax Deductions

• Tax Deductions Australia — What Can I Claim? — The three rules every deduction must satisfy under ATO guidelines
• Work-From-Home Tax Deductions Australia — Fixed rate method (67c/hour) vs actual cost method
• Car and Vehicle Tax Deductions — Logbook method vs cents per kilometre (88c/km for 2025–26)
• Nurse Tax Deductions Australia
• Teacher Tax Deductions Australia
• Tradie Tax Deductions Australia

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

• Capital Gains Tax Australia — Complete Guide — How CGT works, the 50% discount, and when it applies
• CGT on Shares in Australia — When you trigger CGT on ASX shares, ETFs, and US stocks
• CGT on Investment Property — The main residence exemption, partial exemption, and the six-year rule
• CGT on Cryptocurrency — ATO Rules — How the ATO treats crypto as an asset, not currency
• The 50% CGT Discount for Individuals — Who qualifies and how to calculate it

HECS-HELP

• HECS-HELP Explained — How the Loan Works — No interest, CPI indexation, income-contingent repayments
• HECS Repayment Thresholds 2025–26 — The income threshold and repayment rates table
• HECS Indexation Explained — Why your debt grows with CPI and what the recent reforms changed
• Should You Pay Off HECS Early? — The maths on voluntary repayments vs investing the same money

Tax Offsets

• Tax Offsets Australia — Complete Guide — How offsets differ from deductions, and which ones apply to you
• Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) — Up to $700 for incomes below $66,667
• Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset (SAPTO) — How retirees can reduce tax to zero on modest incomes

GST and Business Tax

• GST Australia Explained — Complete Guide — How the 10% goods and services tax works
• When Do You Need to Register for GST? — The $75,000 threshold and voluntary registration
• BAS Explained — Business Activity Statement — Quarterly reporting, lodging online, and what to include
• Tax for Sole Traders Australia — ABN, GST, PAYG instalments, and deductions for the self-employed

Investment Tax

• Franking Credits and Dividend Imputation Explained — How the imputation system prevents double taxation on Australian dividends
• Tax on Shares in Australia — Income tax on dividends, CGT on sales, and franking credits
• Crypto Tax Australia — ATO Rules — CGT events, record-keeping obligations, and staking

State and Territory Tax

• State and Territory Tax in Australia — Overview — Land tax, payroll tax, stamp duty, and what each state charges
• Land Tax Australia — State by State Guide — Investment property owners’ guide to land tax thresholds in each state

This section provides general tax information only. For advice tailored to your situation, speak with a registered tax agent or accountant. You can find a registered tax practitioner through the Tax Practitioners Board register.