Thats been helpful. Tks
So - if i'm earning 36K p/a wk would tick the box that says yes - deduct help, i tick the box that says deduct help but really nothing gets paid because i haven't earn't enough? But my take hm pay each wk would be less throughout the rest of the year because wk have been with holding tax for cover the debt? ITMS?

- if we were to apply for a home loan for eg in a few years, does hecs/help affect this?


Argh - think i'm confusing myself trying to get this through to DH!
If you have HELP debt always tick the box. Each pay period when your pay is calculated it will be compared to ATO tax tables, which state the amount to be withheld. So if you are under the threshold for that pay, then HELP will not be deducted, if you are over for that pay (you may have worked a lot of overtime, or had a bonus), then HELP will be calculated.

The ATO site has a calculator that you can use to work out different scenarios of tax deducted with or without a HELP debt.