PAYG Withholding 2025–26: Your Complete Guide for Australian Employers
With 30 June fast approaching, now is the time for Australian employers to get their PAYG withholding obligations in order. Whether you run a small business with a handful of staff or manage payroll for a growing team, understanding how Pay As You Go (PAYG) withholding works — and what the ATO expects of you before the end of the financial year — can save you from costly penalties and last-minute stress.
This guide covers everything you need to know about PAYG withholding for the 2025–26 financial year, from registration and calculation through to Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation and key deadlines.
What Is PAYG Withholding?
PAYG withholding is the system the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) uses to collect income tax progressively throughout the year. Rather than employees facing a large tax bill when they lodge their annual return, employers deduct a portion of each payment and remit it directly to the ATO on their behalf.
PAYG withholding applies to:
- Employees — full-time, part-time, and casual workers
- Company directors receiving director fees
- Contractors who have not quoted an Australian Business Number (ABN)
It’s important to note that PAYG withholding is not a tax on your business. You are acting as a collection agent for the ATO, holding and remitting tax that belongs to your workers.
Employer Obligations: What You Must Do
Register Before Your First Payment
If you haven’t already, you must register for PAYG withholding with the ATO before making your first payment to a worker subject to withholding. Registration can be completed when applying for an ABN or added later through the ATO Business Portal or myGov.
Withhold the Correct Amount
The amount you withhold depends on information your employee provides in their Tax File Number (TFN) declaration, including:
- Whether they are claiming the tax-free threshold
- Whether they have a HELP, VSL, or other study loan
- Any Medicare levy variation
No TFN provided? You must withhold at the top marginal rate of 47% (including Medicare levy) for resident employees. Don’t skip this step — it’s a legal obligation.
Report via Single Touch Payroll (STP)
Since the introduction of STP, employers must report payroll information — including gross wages, tax withheld, and superannuation — to the ATO each time payroll is run. This real-time reporting means the ATO has visibility of your withholding obligations as they occur, not just when your BAS is lodged.
Pay Through Your BAS or IAS
Withheld amounts are remitted to the ATO via your Business Activity Statement (BAS) or Instalment Activity Statement (IAS). How often you lodge depends on your annual withholding liability:
- Quarterly — if your annual PAYG withholding is $25,000 or less
- Monthly — if your annual PAYG withholding is between $25,001 and $1 million
- More frequently — for larger businesses with higher withholding obligations
Calculating the Right Amount: Tax Tables and Tools
The ATO provides several resources to help you calculate withholding accurately.
ATO Tax Tables
The ATO publishes tax tables for different pay frequencies — weekly (NAT 1005), fortnightly (NAT 1006), and monthly (NAT 1007) — as well as tables for specific worker types such as daily/casual workers and working holiday makers.
Tax Withheld Calculator
The ATO’s online Tax Withheld Calculator lets you enter an employee’s gross pay, pay frequency, and declaration details to determine the exact amount to withhold. It’s the most reliable tool for complex situations.
Key Update for 2025–26: STSL Changes
From 24 September 2025, revised Study and Training Support Loan (STSL) repayment thresholds apply under the Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025. For most employees with a HELP or VSL debt, this means lower compulsory repayment amounts being withheld. Employers must use the updated Schedule 8 (NAT 3539) tax tables from this date. No retrospective adjustments are required for payments made before 24 September 2025.
PAYG Withholding vs PAYG Instalments: Know the Difference
Many business owners confuse these two components of the PAYG system — and it’s an easy mistake to make, since both can appear on your BAS.
| PAYG Withholding (PAYG-W) | PAYG Instalments (PAYG-I) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Tax collected from employee wages | Pre-payments of your own business/investment tax |
| Who pays | Employer remits on behalf of employees | Business or individual pays for their own income |
| Income type | Salaries, wages, director fees | Business profits, rent, dividends, interest |
| BAS labels | W1 (wages) and W2 (withheld) | T7 or T2 (instalment) and T8 (instalment income) |
Mixing these up is a common error that can cause significant reconciliation headaches at year end.
STP Finalisation: Replacing the Old Payment Summary
Under STP, you no longer issue paper payment summaries (group certificates) to employees. Instead, after your last pay run of the financial year, you complete an STP finalisation declaration through your payroll software. This makes each employee’s income statement available in their myGov account, linked to the ATO.
What Employees See
- “Not tax ready” — You haven’t yet finalised. Employees should wait before lodging their tax return.
- “Tax ready” — Finalisation is complete. Employees can confidently use this data in their return.
Finalisation Deadlines
- Standard deadline: 14 July 2026 — applies to most employees
- Closely held payees: 30 September 2026 — for family members or related-party employees where a mix of arm’s-length and closely held payees exists
If you discover an error after finalisation, lodge an amendment via an STP update event promptly and notify the affected employee.
Key PAYG Withholding Deadlines for 2025–26
Quarterly BAS Due Dates
| Quarter | Period | Due Date (Self-Lodger) |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 1 Jul – 30 Sep 2025 | 28 October 2025 |
| Q2 | 1 Oct – 31 Dec 2025 | 28 February 2026 |
| Q3 | 1 Jan – 31 Mar 2026 | 28 April 2026 |
| Q4 | 1 Apr – 30 Jun 2026 | 28 July 2026 |
Registered BAS agents receive extended deadlines for most quarters — another reason to work with a tax professional.
Monthly BAS Due Dates
Monthly reporters must lodge by the 21st of the following month (e.g., the July 2025 BAS is due 21 August 2025).
Penalties for Getting It Wrong
The ATO takes PAYG withholding compliance seriously. Here’s what’s at stake if you fall behind:
Failure to Lodge (FTL) Penalties
Penalties apply for each 28-day period a BAS is overdue, based on business size:
- Small businesses (under $1M turnover): up to $1,650
- Medium businesses ($1M–$20M): up to $3,300
- Large businesses (over $20M): up to $8,250
General Interest Charge (GIC)
If you lodge but don’t pay on time, the ATO applies the General Interest Charge on the outstanding balance. The annual GIC rate for early 2026 was 10.65%. Critically, from 1 July 2025, GIC is no longer tax-deductible — meaning the full cost of late payment hits your bottom line directly.
Director Penalty Notices
Company directors can be held personally liable for unpaid PAYG withholding through a Director Penalty Notice (DPN). This is a serious risk that underscores the importance of staying current with your obligations.
Get Your PAYG Withholding Right This EOFY
With the end of the 2025–26 financial year just weeks away, there’s no better time to review your PAYG withholding processes, confirm your STP data is accurate, and ensure your Q4 BAS is ready to lodge on time.
At TaxServe Australia, our experienced tax professionals help employers of all sizes stay compliant, avoid penalties, and make the most of every EOFY opportunity. Whether you need help with STP finalisation, BAS lodgement, or a full payroll compliance review, we’re here to help.
Contact TaxServe Australia today to book a consultation with one of our tax experts — and head into the new financial year with confidence.