Part Time Tax Calculator Australia: What You Take Home in FY 2025-26

Working part time in Australia? Good news — the tax system doesn't treat you any differently from a full-time worker. You use the same income tax brackets, you still get the full $18,200 tax-free threshold, and your employer still pays super on your behalf. This guide walks you through how part-time tax works, what you'll actually take home, and some simple tips to make sure you're not paying more tax than you need to.

Do Part-Time Workers Pay Less Tax?

Yes — but not because of special rules. Part-time workers earn less annually, so they fall into lower tax brackets and often pay a lower effective tax rate than full-time earners. Australia's income tax system is progressive, meaning the more you earn, the higher the rate that kicks in on the extra dollars. Work fewer hours, earn less, pay less tax.

The key advantage for part-timers is the tax-free threshold. Every Australian resident can earn up to $18,200 per year completely tax-free. For someone working 10–15 hours per week, this can cover a substantial chunk of their annual income. A full-time worker earning $100,000 also gets the same $18,200 tax-free — but it represents a much smaller proportion of their earnings.

The FY 2025-26 tax brackets (Stage 3 Tax Cuts) for Australian residents are:

Most part-time workers earn between $18,201 and $45,000 per year, which puts them in the 16% bracket — the lowest marginal rate above the tax-free threshold. That's significantly lower than the 30% rate that applies once you earn above $45,000.

You can see a full breakdown of your income tax at any salary using our Income Tax Calculator.

Part-Time Take-Home Pay Examples (FY 2025-26)

The tables below show estimated take-home pay for part-time workers at different hours per week. The first table uses a $35/hour rate (close to the Australian median), the second shows how hourly rate affects weekly net pay at 20 hours per week.

At $35/hr — different hours per week

Assumes Australian resident, tax-free threshold claimed, LITO applied, no HECS debt. Income tax includes LITO offset. Medicare at 15 hrs uses shade-in formula. Figures are estimates for FY 2025-26.

At 20 hours/week — different hourly rates

FY 2025-26 estimates. Resident, tax-free threshold claimed, no HECS debt. Medicare at $25/hr is exempt (under $27,222 threshold); at $30/hr uses shade-in formula. For personalised figures, use our Take-Home Pay Calculator.

Medicare Levy for Part-Time Workers

The Medicare Levy is 2% of your taxable income — but part-time workers on lower incomes may pay less, or nothing at all, thanks to the low-income exemption.

For FY 2025-26:

• Under $27,222/year: No Medicare Levy at all. If you work 15 hours a week at $35/hr, your $27,300 annual income sits just above this — but only just.
• $27,222 to $34,027/year ("shade-in" zone): You pay a reduced Medicare Levy. The formula is 10% of the amount above $27,222 — so it gradually increases rather than jumping to the full 2% all at once.
• Above $34,027/year: The full 2% Medicare Levy applies to your entire taxable income.

This means many part-time workers — especially those under 20 hours per week — pay very little Medicare Levy, and some pay none at all. Use our Medicare Levy Calculator to check your exact position.

Superannuation for Part-Time Workers

Part-time workers are entitled to superannuation just like full-timers. As of FY 2025-26, your employer must contribute 12% of your ordinary time earnings into your super fund — regardless of how many hours you work. There is no minimum hours or minimum earnings threshold for super eligibility.

Super is paid on top of your wage — it doesn't come out of your take-home pay. So if you earn $600 in a week, your employer also deposits $72 into your super fund that same week.

Over time, even modest part-time super contributions add up significantly thanks to compound growth. You can model your projected retirement balance with our Superannuation Calculator.

Important: Claim the Tax-Free Threshold

One of the most common mistakes part-time workers make is failing to claim the tax-free threshold when they start a job. If you don't tick the box on your Tax File Number (TFN) declaration form, your employer will withhold tax as if you have no tax-free threshold — which means you'll be over-taxed throughout the year and will only get that money back when you lodge your tax return.

If you work two part-time jobs, only claim the threshold from one. Even if neither job alone reaches the $18,200 threshold, the ATO adds your combined income together at tax time — so claiming the threshold from both would create a tax debt.

Tax Return Tips for Part-Time Workers

Many part-time workers receive a tax refund at the end of the financial year. Here's why — and how to make the most of your return:

• Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): If your annual income is under $66,667, you're entitled to a tax offset of up to $700. This is automatically applied when you lodge your tax return — it reduces your tax bill (or increases your refund) without any extra paperwork.
• Work-related deductions: If you buy tools, uniforms, or use your car for work, these costs may be deductible. Keep receipts throughout the year. The ATO allows a standard $300 deduction without receipts for work-related expenses.
• Study costs: If you're studying while working part time, some course fees and textbooks may be deductible — as long as the course is directly related to your current job (not for a career change).
• Working from home: If you work part of your part-time hours from home, you can claim a deduction using the ATO's fixed-rate method (currently 70 cents per hour worked from home). Keep a log of your home-office hours.
• Lodge your tax return: Even if you think you don't earn enough to owe tax, it's worth lodging — you may be entitled to a refund of tax that was withheld during the year. The deadline is 31 October each year.

HECS-HELP Debt and Part-Time Work

If you have a student loan (HECS or HELP debt), repayments only kick in once your income exceeds $67,000 per year in FY 2025-26. This is great news for most part-time workers — if your annual income is under this threshold (which it likely is at 20–25 hours per week), you make no repayments at all during that financial year.

If you're currently studying part time while working, you may be accumulating HECS debt at the same time you're earning. But repayments won't start until your income crosses $67,000 — so there's no pressure while you're in lower-income years. Use our HECS-HELP Calculator to see when repayments will kick in based on your projected income.

Calculate Your Exact Part-Time Take-Home Pay

The tables above give you solid ballpark figures, but everyone's situation is different. Use our Take-Home Pay Calculator for a personalised result. Just enter:

• Your hourly rate or annual income
• Whether you're claiming the tax-free threshold
• Whether you have a HECS-HELP debt
• Any salary sacrifice arrangements

The calculator outputs your weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and annual net pay — all calculated using the ATO's FY 2025-26 tax rates in seconds.