Australian FTB estimate.
Annual FTB
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Part A
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Part B
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Government help with the cost of raising kids
Family Tax Benefit is a payment from Services Australia, paid through Centrelink rather than the ATO, that helps families with the everyday cost of children. It comes in two parts that do different jobs. Part A is paid per child and is the broad support most families with kids receive, scaled by family income. Part B is a top-up aimed at single-parent families and households where one partner earns most or all of the income, recognising that they cannot spread the load across two full wages. Together they can add up to a meaningful annual amount, but both taper away as income rises.
This calculator gives a quick estimate of both parts based on your family income, number of children, and whether you are a single-income household. It is for parents wanting a ballpark of their entitlement before lodging a claim or doing their end-of-year balancing. Treat the result as a guide, because the official rates are indexed and depend on details like each child's age that a simple tool cannot fully capture.
How the income test eats into the payment
Part A starts at a per-child maximum and reduces once family income passes a threshold, falling by 20 cents for every dollar above it. Part B is tied to the lower earner's income and switches off above its own ceiling. This tool uses an estimated maximum of roughly $5,200 per child for Part A, a taper starting at $65,189 of family income, and a flat Part B of around $4,500 available while income stays under $117,194. These are simplified planning figures, so the real Centrelink rates, which are indexed each year and vary with children's ages, will differ.
Two children on $80,000, single income
Using the defaults, a single-income family earning $80,000 with two children under 18.
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The family receives an estimated $11,938 a year, made up of $7,438 in Part A after the income test bites and the full $4,500 of Part B. The $2,962 reduction shows the taper at work: every dollar of income over the threshold quietly trims the payment. Lift the income toward $100,000 and Part A keeps falling while Part B still holds, until that ceiling is crossed too.
The end-of-year reconciliation that catches families out
Family Tax Benefit is paid during the year based on the income you estimate, then Services Australia reconciles it against your actual income once you and your partner lodge your tax returns. If you underestimated your income, you will have been overpaid and have to give some back, which is the single most common nasty surprise families hit. The safe habit is to update your estimate through myGov the moment your income changes, after a pay rise, a return to work, or a bonus, so the payments track reality rather than building a debt.
Eligibility also leans on things this tool cannot see. You generally need to meet residency rules, have care of the child for at least 35 percent of the time, and keep the children up to date with immunisation and, at certain ages, health checks, or the payment can be reduced. There is also an end-of-year supplement for each part, paid only after reconciliation, which is why your actual yearly total can differ from a straight fortnightly estimate. The takeaway is to use this calculator to set expectations, then confirm the exact figure with Services Australia or your registered tax agent.
Can I get the payment fortnightly or as a lump sum?
Both are options. You can receive Family Tax Benefit as regular fortnightly payments through the year, or choose to claim it as a single lump sum after the financial year ends once your income is confirmed. Some families take the lump sum specifically to avoid the overpayment risk that comes with estimating income in advance, accepting a wait in exchange for certainty.
Does Family Tax Benefit affect my taxable income?
No. Family Tax Benefit is not taxable and you do not declare it as income on your tax return. It does not push you into a higher tax bracket. It is, however, income-tested itself, so your taxable income determines how much you receive, which is the opposite direction to how people often assume it works.