# Savings Mate

> Independent Australian personal-finance calculators, rate comparisons, and guides — covering tax, property, superannuation, government payments, savings, debt, and health insurance — updated for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years.

- Publisher: Savings Mate (savingsmate.com.au), part of the Mate Network
- Founder and author: Sam Williams (Australia)
- Area served: Australia
- Primary sources: Australian Taxation Office (ATO), ASIC MoneySmart, Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), APRA, Services Australia, ABS, state and territory revenue offices
- Last verified: May 2026
- Full quotable dataset: https://savingsmate.com.au/llms-full.txt
- License: Content freely citable with attribution to "Savings Mate (savingsmate.com.au)"

## Money Mirror — peer-comparison spine

- [Money Mirror](https://savingsmate.com.au/money-mirror): Single-page entry where Australians drop their salary, super, savings and city in 30 seconds and see exactly where they sit against ABS/APRA/ATO percentile distributions for their age cohort. Profile persists in the browser and pre-fills every calculator on the site. Sourced from ABS Personal Income (Cat 6524.0.55.002), ABS Household Income and Wealth (Cat 6523.0), APRA Quarterly Superannuation Performance, and ATO published rates — CPI-adjusted to 2026 Q1.

## About

Savings Mate (savingsmate.com.au) is a free Australian personal finance website with 70+ calculators, rate comparison tables, in-depth guides, and a glossary. All calculations run client-side in the browser — no sign-up, no data stored. Rates and thresholds are sourced from the ATO, RBA, ASIC MoneySmart, APRA, and state revenue offices. The site covers property (stamp duty, mortgages, LMI, borrowing power), tax (income tax, HECS, Medicare levy, GST, CGT, FBT), superannuation (SG contributions, salary sacrifice, Division 293, Division 296, FIRE, FHSS), government payments (Age Pension, JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Child Care Subsidy, Family Tax Benefit, Carer Payment, DSP, parental leave, child support, rent assistance), savings and budgeting, and debt management. Part of the Mate Network alongside FairWork Mate (fairworkmate.com.au), Benefits Mate (benefitsmate.com.au), and MiniMode (minimode.com.au).

## Calculators

### Property
- [Stamp Duty Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/stamp-duty-calculator): Calculate stamp duty for every Australian state and territory, including first home buyer concessions.
- [Mortgage Repayment Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/mortgage-calculator): Calculate repayments for any loan amount, interest rate, and term. See how extra repayments save years and thousands.
- [Extra Repayment Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/extra-repayment-calculator): See how extra mortgage repayments of $100, $200, or $500/month reduce your loan term and total interest.
- [Borrowing Power Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/borrowing-power-calculator): Find out how much you can borrow based on income, expenses, and debts.
- [First Home Buyer Grant Checker](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/first-home-buyer-grant): Check FHOG amounts and stamp duty exemptions by state. See total savings.
- [LMI Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/lmi-calculator): Estimate Lenders Mortgage Insurance cost based on property value and deposit size.
- [Buying vs Renting Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/buying-vs-renting): Compare total costs, equity growth, and breakeven point over any time period.
- [Offset Account Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/offset-calculator): Calculate how much interest your offset account saves on your home loan.
- [Rental Yield Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/rental-yield-calculator): Calculate gross and net rental yield including expenses and vacancy.
- [Negative Gearing Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/negative-gearing-calculator): Calculate negative gearing tax benefits at your marginal tax rate.
- [Capital Gains Tax Calculator — Property](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/cgt-calculator-property): Calculate CGT on investment property sales including the 50% discount for 12+ month holdings.
- [Rent Affordability Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/rent-affordability-calculator): Find out how much rent you can afford using the 30% rule.
- [Debt Recycling Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/debt-recycling-calculator): Calculate wealth gain from debt recycling including tax deductions and portfolio growth.
- [Can I Afford a House?](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/can-i-afford-a-house): Enter salary, savings, and city to see deposit scenarios, repayments, and first home buyer grants.

### Tax
- [Income Tax Calculator 2025-26](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/tax-calculator): Calculate Australian income tax including Medicare levy and HECS repayments.
- [Tax Calculator 2026-27](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/tax-calculator-2026-27): Calculate 2026-27 income tax with the new 15% bracket and $1,000 standard deduction.
- [Take Home Pay Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/take-home-pay): Calculate after-tax take home pay including Medicare levy and HECS.
- [Standard Deduction Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/standard-deduction-calculator): Calculate tax savings from Australia's new $1,000 standard deduction for 2026-27.
- [HECS/HELP Repayment Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/hecs-calculator): Calculate HECS-HELP repayment amount based on income. See repayment rates and thresholds.
- [Medicare Levy Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/medicare-levy-calculator): Calculate Medicare levy and surcharge based on income, dependents, and private health status.
- [Salary to Hourly Rate Converter](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/salary-converter): Convert between annual, monthly, fortnightly, weekly, and hourly pay.
- [GST Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/gst-calculator): Add or remove 10% GST. Calculate inclusive and exclusive amounts.
- [Redundancy Pay Tax Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/redundancy-tax): Calculate redundancy payout after tax including the tax-free component and ETP treatment.
- [Novated Lease Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/novated-lease-calculator): Calculate novated lease savings including FBT, GST, and income tax benefits. Compare EV vs petrol.
- [FBT Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/fbt-calculator): Calculate Fringe Benefits Tax on company cars, EVs, and other benefits.
- [Franking Credits Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/franking-credits-calculator): Calculate franking credits on Australian dividends. See tax offset and effective rate.
- [CGT Calculator — Shares and ETFs](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/cgt-calculator-shares): Calculate capital gains tax on shares and ETFs including brokerage and capital loss offsets.
- [Crypto Tax Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/crypto-tax-calculator): Calculate CGT on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and crypto sales.
- [Pay Rise Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/pay-rise-calculator): See how much of your pay rise you keep after tax.
- [Pay Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/pay-calculator): Take-home pay after tax, Medicare, HECS, and super for any salary.
- [Salary After Tax Breakdown](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/salary): Full 2025-26 bracket breakdown for salaries from $40K to $200K.
- [After Tax Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/after-tax): See take-home pay for any salary from $30K to $200K.
- [Am I Rich or Poor? Income Percentile](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/am-i-rich-or-poor): See where your salary ranks among Australians by income percentile.

### Superannuation
- [Superannuation Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/superannuation): Calculate employer super contributions based on current 12% SG rate and maximum contribution base.
- [Retirement Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/retirement-calculator): Calculate how much super you will have at retirement and if it is enough.
- [Salary Sacrifice Super Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/salary-sacrifice): Calculate tax savings from salary sacrificing into super.
- [Division 293 Tax Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/division-293-calculator): Calculate the extra 15% super tax for income plus contributions above $250,000.
- [Super Co-Contribution Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/super-co-contribution): Calculate the government co-contribution — up to $500 free for incomes under $60,400.
- [Division 296 Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/division-296-calculator): Calculate the new 15% tax on super earnings for balances above $3 million (from 1 July 2026).
- [FIRE Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/fire-calculator): Calculate your FIRE number, years to financial independence, super preservation age bridging, Coast FIRE, and Barista FIRE.
- [FHSS Calculator — First Home Super Saver](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/fhss-calculator): Calculate FHSS tax savings vs normal savings for your home deposit.

### Savings and Budgeting
- [Budget Planner](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/budget-planner): Plan your budget using the 50/30/20 rule based on take-home pay.
- [Compound Interest Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/compound-interest-calculator): See how money grows over time with regular contributions and different compounding frequencies.
- [Savings Goal Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/savings-goal-calculator): How much to save monthly to reach your goal, or how long a fixed amount will take.
- [Emergency Fund Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/emergency-fund-calculator): Calculate your ideal emergency fund, current shortfall, and a savings plan.
- [Cost of Living Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/cost-of-living-calculator): Compare cost of living across Australian cities against your salary.
- [Dollar Cost Averaging Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/dca-calculator): Compare DCA vs lump sum investing over any time period.
- [Term Deposit Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/term-deposit-calculator): Calculate interest, maturity value, and after-tax returns on term deposits.
- [Inflation Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/inflation-calculator): Calculate how inflation affects your money using historical Australian CPI data.
- [Fuel Savings Calculator — Excise Cut 2026](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/fuel-savings-calculator): Calculate savings from the halved fuel excise (26.3c/L, April-June 2026).
- [Am I Saving Enough?](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/am-i-saving-enough): Compare your savings by age to the average Australian with milestone targets and catch-up plan.

### Debt
- [Will I Ever Pay Off My Debt?](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/will-i-ever-pay-off-debt): See when you will be debt free and compare extra payment scenarios.
- [Personal Loan Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/personal-loan-calculator): Calculate repayments and compare interest rate impacts.
- [Credit Card Payoff Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/credit-card-payoff-calculator): Compare minimum vs fixed payments and see how extra payments save thousands.
- [Debt Consolidation Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/debt-consolidation-calculator): Compare current debts against a single consolidated loan.
- [Car Loan Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/car-loan-calculator): Calculate car loan repayments with trade-in, balloon payment, and fees.

### Government Payments
- [Age Pension Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/age-pension-calculator): Calculate Age Pension using income test and assets test. See deeming rates and supplements.
- [JobSeeker Payment Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/jobseeker-payment): Calculate Centrelink JobSeeker Payment based on age, relationship status, and income.
- [Youth Allowance Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/youth-allowance): Calculate Youth Allowance based on age, living situation, and income.
- [Child Care Subsidy Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/childcare-subsidy-calculator): Calculate CCS based on family income and care type.
- [Family Tax Benefit Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/family-tax-benefit-calculator): Calculate FTB Part A and Part B based on income and number of children.
- [Rent Assistance Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/rent-assistance-calculator): Calculate Centrelink Rent Assistance based on rent and living situation.
- [Carer Payment Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/carer-payment-calculator): Calculate Carer Payment based on income and assets.
- [Disability Support Pension Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/disability-pension-calculator): Calculate DSP based on income and assets including supplements.
- [Child Support Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/child-support-calculator): Estimate child support based on both parents' incomes, children, and care percentage.
- [Parental Leave Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/parental-leave-calculator): Calculate total parental leave pay — 26 weeks government PPL from July 2026 plus employer and annual leave.

### Health Insurance
- [Health Insurance Rebate Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/health-insurance-rebate): Calculate private health insurance rebate based on income and age.
- [Private Health Insurance: Worth It?](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/private-health-decision): Compare Medicare Levy Surcharge vs premium costs at your income level.
- [Lifetime Health Cover Loading Calculator](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/lifetime-health-cover): Calculate LHC loading penalty based on age and time without cover.

### Financial Health Check
- [Money Check — Full Financial Health Check](https://savingsmate.com.au/tools/money-check): Tax, property, super, savings, and debt assessment in one place.

## Compare Rates
- [Best Savings Accounts](https://savingsmate.com.au/compare/best-savings-accounts): Compare savings account rates from Australian banks and online lenders.
- [Best Home Loan Rates](https://savingsmate.com.au/compare/best-home-loan-rates): Compare home loan interest rates from major banks and lenders.
- [Best Term Deposits](https://savingsmate.com.au/compare/best-term-deposits): Compare term deposit rates across Australian financial institutions.

## Guides
- [How Australian Tax Brackets Work](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/how-tax-brackets-work): Understand marginal vs effective tax rates and how to estimate your tax bill.
- [Super Guarantee Explained](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/super-guarantee-explained): What the 12% SG rate means, when your employer must pay it, and how to check.
- [First Home Buyer Checklist](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/first-home-buyer-checklist): Step-by-step guide covering grants, stamp duty exemptions, and deposit requirements.
- [Understanding HECS-HELP Repayments](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/understanding-hecs-repayments): How repayment thresholds work, when you start paying, and strategies to manage debt.
- [Salary Sacrifice Into Super](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/salary-sacrifice-into-super): How salary sacrificing works, the concessional cap, and when it makes sense.
- [Buying Your First Home in Australia](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/buying-your-first-home): Complete step-by-step guide from saving a deposit to settlement day.
- [Reducing Your Tax](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/reducing-your-tax): Legitimate strategies to reduce your Australian income tax.
- [Building an Emergency Fund](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/building-an-emergency-fund): How much to save, where to keep it, and how to build it up.
- [Paying Off Debt Fast](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/paying-off-debt-fast): Debt avalanche vs snowball methods and strategies to become debt free.
- [Understanding Your Super](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/understanding-your-super): How superannuation works in Australia, investment options, and consolidation.
- [Saving for a House Deposit](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/saving-for-a-house-deposit): How much you need, strategies to save faster, and FHSS explained.
- [Managing a Mortgage](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/managing-a-mortgage): Offset accounts, extra repayments, refinancing, and interest rate tips.
- [Budgeting on a Low Income](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/budgeting-on-a-low-income): Practical strategies for making every dollar count.
- [Investing for Beginners Australia](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/investing-for-beginners-australia): Shares, ETFs, super, and property — a beginner's guide for Australians.
- [Planning for Retirement](https://savingsmate.com.au/wiki/planning-for-retirement): Super strategies, Age Pension eligibility, and retirement income planning.

## Glossary
- [Glossary](https://savingsmate.com.au/resources): Definitions of key Australian finance terms including LVR, negative gearing, franking credits, LMI, offset accounts, salary sacrifice, CGT, HECS-HELP, FBT, super guarantee, Division 293, stamp duty, GST, Medicare levy, and compound interest.

## Key Australian Financial Facts (2025-26)

### Income Tax Brackets (2025-26 Residents)
- $0 - $18,200: Nil
- $18,201 - $45,000: 16%
- $45,001 - $135,000: 30%
- $135,001 - $190,000: 37%
- $190,001+: 45%
- Medicare Levy: 2% of taxable income (reduced for low incomes under $27,222 single / $45,907 family + $4,216 per dependent)
- Medicare Levy Surcharge: 1% - 1.5% for high earners without private health insurance (singles earning over $101,000)
- Source: ATO

### Income Tax Changes for 2026-27
- New 15% bracket for $18,201 - $45,000 (reduced from 16%)
- New $1,000 standard deduction (no receipts needed)
- All other brackets unchanged

### Superannuation (2025-26)
- Super Guarantee (SG) rate: 12% of ordinary time earnings
- Maximum super contribution base: $65,070 per quarter ($260,280 per year)
- Concessional contributions cap: $30,000 per year
- Non-concessional contributions cap: $120,000 per year
- Super preservation age: 60 (for those born after 1 July 1964)
- Super contributions tax: 15% (Division 293 adds an extra 15% for incomes + contributions above $250,000)
- Division 296: Additional 15% tax on earnings for super balances above $3 million (commencing 1 July 2026)
- Government co-contribution: Up to $500 for incomes under $60,400
- Source: ATO

### HECS-HELP (2025-26)
- Minimum repayment threshold: $54,435
- Repayment rates: 1% to 10% of repayment income depending on income level
- Indexation: Applied annually on 1 June, based on the lower of CPI or the Wage Price Index
- Source: ATO

### First Home Buyer Grants and Concessions (by State)
- NSW: $10,000 FHOG (new homes up to $600,000); stamp duty exempt under $800,000, concession $800,001-$1,000,000
- VIC: $10,000 FHOG (new homes up to $750,000 in metro, $750,000 in regional); stamp duty exempt under $600,000, concession $600,001-$750,000
- QLD: $30,000 FHOG (new homes up to $750,000); stamp duty concession for homes under $700,000
- WA: $10,000 FHOG (new homes up to $750,000); stamp duty exempt under $430,000
- SA: $15,000 FHOG (new homes up to $650,000); no stamp duty on homes under $650,000
- TAS: $30,000 FHOG (new homes); 50% stamp duty discount for first home buyers
- ACT: No FHOG; stamp duty exempt on properties under $1,000,000 (income-tested)
- NT: $10,000 FHOG (new homes); stamp duty concession up to $23,928.60
- First Home Guarantee Scheme: Purchase with as little as 5% deposit with no LMI (income cap $125,000 single / $200,000 couple)
- First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSS): Withdraw up to $50,000 of voluntary super contributions for a deposit (taxed at marginal rate minus 30% offset)
- Source: State revenue offices, ATO

### Stamp Duty Rates (General — Non-First Home Buyer)
- Stamp duty varies by state, property value, and buyer type (owner-occupier, investor, foreign buyer)
- Example: NSW stamp duty on an $800,000 home is approximately $31,335 for a non-first-home buyer
- Foreign buyer surcharges: 8% (NSW), 8% (VIC), 7% (QLD), 7% (WA), 7% (SA)
- Source: State revenue offices

### RBA Cash Rate
- Current cash rate target: 4.10% (as at February 2025; check RBA for latest)
- Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

### GST
- GST rate: 10%
- GST-free items include most basic food, health services, education, and childcare
- Source: ATO

### Government Payments (Selected Rates, March 2025)
- Age Pension (single, max): approximately $1,144.40 per fortnight
- Age Pension (couple combined, max): approximately $1,725.20 per fortnight
- JobSeeker (single, no children, 22+): approximately $762.70 per fortnight
- Youth Allowance (single, away from home): approximately $639.30 per fortnight
- Child Care Subsidy: 0% to 90% of fees depending on family income (higher subsidy for lower incomes)
- Paid Parental Leave: 22 weeks at the national minimum wage (increasing to 26 weeks from 1 July 2026)
- Commonwealth Rent Assistance (single, max): approximately $188.20 per fortnight
- Source: Services Australia

### Capital Gains Tax
- CGT discount: 50% for assets held over 12 months (individuals)
- CGT discount: 33.33% for super funds
- No CGT discount for companies
- Main residence exemption: No CGT on your primary home
- Source: ATO

### Key Thresholds
- Tax-free threshold: $18,200
- Division 293 threshold: $250,000 (income + super contributions)
- Division 296 threshold: $3,000,000 (total super balance, from 1 July 2026)
- Medicare Levy Surcharge threshold: $93,000 (singles), $186,000 (families)
- Private health insurance rebate income tiers: Base tier under $93,000 (singles)
- Lifetime Health Cover base age: 31 (2% loading per year over 30 without hospital cover)

## Disclaimer

This site provides general information and estimates only based on publicly available data from the ATO, ASIC, and state government sources. It does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Results may not reflect your specific circumstances. Always verify with a licensed financial adviser or the ATO before making financial decisions.

## Contact

- Website: https://savingsmate.com.au
- Email: hello@savingsmate.com.au

## Data Sources

- Australian Taxation Office (ATO): https://www.ato.gov.au
- ASIC MoneySmart: https://moneysmart.gov.au
- Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA): https://www.rba.gov.au
- Services Australia: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
- State and territory revenue offices