Minimum repayment income threshold for 2025-26: **$67,000**.

Working / reasoning:
- For the 2025-26 income year, a new marginal repayment system applies to HELP and other student loan debts (HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, VET Student Loans, Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans, etc.). Under the old system, once your repayment income crossed a threshold, a single rate was applied to your entire repayment income. Under the new marginal system, repayment rates apply only to the portion of repayment income above the threshold.
- The minimum repayment income threshold for 2025-26 is $67,000. If your repayment income is at or below $67,000, no compulsory repayment is required. Once repayment income exceeds $67,000, the marginal repayment rates begin to apply, but only to the income above that threshold (the first $67,000 is not counted).

Controlling authority for the Higher Education Loan Program: the **Australian Taxation Office (ATO)**. The ATO administers and collects compulsory HELP repayments through the income tax system (the loan program itself is established under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and the loan accounts are administered with the Department of Education, but compulsory repayments are calculated and collected by the ATO).