Second Job Tax Calculator
Enter the pay from both jobs to see the tax each employer withholds, the tax on your combined income for the year, and whether you’re heading for a refund or a bill.
At the end of the year
Likely tax bill
$2,576.00
$10,920.00 withheld over the year against $13,496.00 of tax
- Job 1: withheld a fortnight (tax-free threshold)
- $276.00
- Job 2: withheld a week (no tax-free threshold)
- $72.00
- Income from both jobs a year
- $72,800.00
- Tax for the year on both incomes
- $13,496.00
- Take-home pay for the year
- $59,304.00
Australian resident with salary or wages from both jobs for the whole year and no other income.
Rates checked 12 October 2026 against the ATO · How we calculate · Calculated in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Tax-free threshold choice
| Claim the tax-free threshold from | Withheld a year | At tax time |
|---|---|---|
| Job 1 only | $10,920.00 | $2,576.00 to pay |
| Job 2 only | $13,260.00 | $236.00 to pay |
| Both jobs | $7,488.00 | $6,008.00 to pay |
| Neither job | $16,692.00 | $3,196.00 refund |
Which job should claim the tax-free threshold?
The tax-free threshold means the first $18,200 of your yearly income isn’t taxed. Each employer only sees what it pays you, so if you claim the threshold from both, each withholds as though you’ll use it, and together they withhold too little.
The ATO’s advice: if you have more than one job at the same time, claim the threshold from one only, usually the one that pays you the most, and tell your other employers not to apply it. If you’re certain your total income will be $18,200 or less, you can claim it from each.
The ATO’s example: Sue earns $615.38 a fortnight in retail, claiming the threshold there, and $384.62 a fortnight in a restaurant, which withholds $66.00 a fortnight. Over the year $1,716.00 is withheld against $548.00 of tax on $26,000, so she gets a $1,168.00 refund (2025–26 rates). The calculator gives the same result.
Source: Multiple jobs or change of job, ATO, last updated 5 June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay more tax with a second job?
Not at a special rate. Your income from both jobs is added together and taxed once, at the normal rates. Your second job withholds at the no-tax-free-threshold rate, but each employer still only sees its own pay. If your combined income reaches a higher bracket, the two together can withhold too little; if not, too much. Either way, it’s settled when you lodge your return.
Can I claim the tax-free threshold from both jobs?
Only if you’re sure your total income from all jobs will be $18,200 or less. Otherwise both employers withhold as if you had the threshold, and you’ll probably owe tax. On the default example, claiming it from both would leave a bill of $6,008.00.
Why do I owe tax when I have two jobs?
Usually because each employer withholds as if its job were your only income. Claiming the tax-free threshold twice is the most common cause. Even with the threshold on one job only, the second job’s withholding can fall short if your combined income reaches the 30% bracket or the HECS-HELP repayment threshold. You can ask an employer to withhold more, or apply to the ATO for a withholding variation.