Australia – New STSL (HELP) withholding schedule starts 24 Sept 2025
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The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) confirmed that updated Schedule 8 formulas and weekly/fortnightly/monthly Study & Training Support Loans (STSL/HELP) withholding tables will apply from 24 September 2025. ATO guidance also clarifies there’s no back-calculation for payments already made from 1 July to 23 September 2025; employers switch to the new tables on/after 24 Sept only. Most other 2025–26 PAYG withholding schedules remain unchanged.
Effective Date
- 24 September 2025 (prospective use only; do not recalc prior-period withholdings).
Published
- 1 September 2025.
Impact
- STSL/HELP withholding method and thresholds change from 24 Sept 2025.
- If payroll continues old STSL rates after 24 Sept, over/under-withholding may occur.
- Other PAYG tables largely unchanged for 2025–26.
Payroll action
- Update payroll software and load the new STSL tables to begin using them on/after 24 Sept 2025; do not recalc 1 Jul–23 Sept pay runs. If you also rely on ATO instruments for PAYG schedules, review the current legislative instrument notes for any schedule-specific changes that may affect you.