06/08/2026
Most people assume a HECS debt hits their borrowing power the same way a car loan or credit card does - the bigger the balance, the bigger the hit. It doesn’t.
Lenders assess HECS like the ATO does: based on income, not balance. For 2026–27, the threshold is $69,528. Under it, HECS isn’t factored in, balance doesn’t matter. Over it, they factor in your compulsory repayment based on income, not what you owe.
Here’s what that actually looks like: two people can have the exact same HECS balance. One earns $65k, the other $140k. Only the second person’s borrowing capacity takes a hit.
It’s not “how much do I owe.” It’s “does my income trigger a repayment, and how much.”
Log into MyGov today to check your balance, and your income against the threshold.
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