Bonus tax calculator 2026-27
A bonus is taxed as part of your income for the year, at your top marginal rate. This shows what you keep once income tax, the Medicare levy and Division 293 are counted, and whether the bonus adds employer super. It works the same for a Christmas, year-end or sign-on bonus.
- 2026-27 tax year
- Rates verified against the ATO on
- Sources · How we calculate · How we check
Estimated bonus after all tax, 2026‑27
$14,760
You keep 49.2% of a $30,000 bonus on top of a $200,000 salary. It also adds $3,600 of employer super if it counts as qualifying earnings.
| Bonus | $30,000 |
| Extra income tax | −$13,500 |
| Extra Medicare levy | −$600 |
| Extra Division 293 tax (billed after your return) | −$1,140 |
| Bonus after all tax | $14,760 |
Tax is worked out on your whole year's income, so this is what the bonus adds once your return is done. The amount withheld from the bonus pay itself follows ATO withholding schedules and can differ; any difference is settled at tax time.
Examples
Single with hospital cover, 2026-27, bonus counted as qualifying earnings.
| Salary + bonus | You keep | % kept |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 + $20,000 | $12,200 | 61.0% |
| $200,000 + $30,000 | $14,760 | 49.2% |
| $230,000 + $20,000 | $7,240 | 36.2% |
| $250,000 + $50,000 | $26,125 | 52.3% |
| $300,000 + $50,000 | $26,500 | 53.0% |
| $400,000 + $100,000 | $53,000 | 53.0% |
Above $190,000 each extra dollar is taxed at 47% including Medicare. When your salary plus bonus lands between about $223,215 and $270,830, the bonus also adds employer super and pulls more of it into Division 293, so you keep less. Above $270,830 there is no extra employer super.
How we calculate
- We work out the full year twice, with and without the bonus, using 2026-27 resident rates, the 2% Medicare levy, the Medicare levy surcharge if you have no appropriate cover, and Division 293.
- The difference is what the bonus is worth after all tax. Division 293 is billed after your return.
- Extra employer super assumes the bonus counts as qualifying earnings under payday super, up to the $270,830 base.
- Single, resident all year, no HELP debt, no salary sacrifice. A bonus also raises your HELP repayment income: see the HECS-HELP repayment calculator.
Questions
Is a bonus taxed at a higher rate?
No special rate applies. It is added to your income for the year and taxed at your marginal rate. The amount withheld from the bonus payment can look high or low; your tax return settles the difference.
How is a Christmas bonus taxed?
The same as any other bonus: it is income for the 2026-27 year, taxed at your marginal rate along with your salary. The tax withheld from a December bonus can look high or low depending on how your employer's payroll works it out; your tax return settles the difference. A gift card or hamper from your employer is different and may fall under fringe benefits rules.
Does my bonus attract super?
Most bonuses count as qualifying earnings, so your employer pays 12% super on them until your earnings for the year reach $270,830. Check with your employer how your bonus is classified.
Can I salary sacrifice my bonus?
Only if your employer agrees and the arrangement is made before the bonus is earned. The ATO says salary sacrifice must cover future earnings and cannot include amounts already earned. Sacrificed bonuses still count toward the $32,500 concessional cap. See the salary sacrifice calculator.