How much redundancy pay am I entitled to in Australia?
For most national-system employees, the National Employment Standards set the minimum at 4 weeks of your base rate of pay for 1 to 2 years of continuous service, rising to 16 weeks at 9 to 10 years, then 12 weeks at 10 years or more (Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s119, verified 2026-10-04). Use the free calculator at the top of this page for your exact bracket. Awards, enterprise agreements, and contracts can give you more, never less.
Is redundancy pay taxed?
Partly. A genuine redundancy payment is tax-free up to the ATO's tax-free amount; anything above it is taxed as an employment termination payment. Payment in lieu of notice and unused annual leave are taxed separately, not under the redundancy tax-free limit. This is general information, not tax advice: confirm the current treatment on the ATO website before you act.
What is the tax-free limit for a redundancy in 2026?
For the 2026-27 income year, the ATO tax-free amount for a genuine redundancy is $13,598 plus $6,801 for each completed year of service (verified 2026-10-05). Example: 5 completed years gives $13,598 + (5 x $6,801) = $47,603 tax-free. The ATO indexes these figures each year. Always confirm the current year's amounts on the ATO website.
How is redundancy pay calculated?
Multiply the NES weeks figure for your service bracket by your base rate of pay for ordinary hours (no overtime or penalty rates). The calculator at the top of this page does this for you and adds the notice minimum. Then compare the total against your offer letter. Awards and agreements can beat the NES minimums.
Do small businesses have to pay redundancy?
Generally no. Employers with fewer than 15 employees are exempt from the NES redundancy pay requirement (Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s121, verified 2026-10-04). Headcount rules are fiddly, so if your employer claims the exemption, confirm it with the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.
What is included in my final pay on redundancy?
Five lines to check before you sign: redundancy pay (s119), notice or pay in lieu of notice (s117), unused annual leave paid out at your base rate (s90(2)), long service leave under your state's rules, and the payment date confirmed in writing. The free final-pay checklist in the calculator output walks through each line.
Is unused annual leave paid out on redundancy?
Yes. Accrued but unused annual leave is paid out at your base rate of pay on termination (Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s90(2), verified 2026-10-04). Leave loading is paid only if you would have received it had you taken the leave during employment.
How do I know if my redundancy is genuine?
A genuine redundancy means the job itself is no longer required, consultation obligations were met, and there was no suitable alternative role (Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s389). Whether yours was genuine is decided by the Fair Work Commission, not by a checklist. If something smells off, call the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 before you sign a deed of release.
Is this legal advice?
No. FairExit provides general information only: not legal or financial advice. It doesn't assess your situation, predict outcomes, or replace a lawyer. For real answers about your circumstances, call the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 or a community legal centre.
Do you guarantee my payout figure?
No, and be wary of anyone who does. The calculator gives you the statutory minimums to compare against your offer letter. Your award, agreement, or contract may change the number, and only the FWO or a lawyer can assess your situation.
What exactly do I get for A$29?
The Redundancy Rights Pack: six items (final-pay checklist, deed-of-release decoder, timeline planner, what-to-say scripts, red-flags list, where-next directory). One-off payment of A$29, AUD GST included. After payment you land on your download page, with the pack in web and PDF formats. No email wait, no subscription, no upsells.
Do I pay now?
Yes. The pay button takes you to a secure Stripe checkout where the A$29 is charged. The link is currently in test mode, so no real payment is taken while testing is under way. You can explore the free calculator and the sample pages before paying anything.
What if it does not work for me?
The free calculator, NES tables, and tax explainer above work for everyone at no cost. If the paid pack's contents do not match what this page describes, the Australian Consumer Law remedies apply on top of the terms refund process. The pack computes statutory minimums from your inputs: it cannot assess whether your redundancy is genuine (Fair Work Act s389) or predict any payout, and awards or enterprise agreements can change your numbers.
What is the refund policy?
No change-of-mind refunds. ACL guarantees apply: if the product fails to be of acceptable quality or is not as described, you are entitled to the remedies the Australian Consumer Law provides. See the
terms page for the full refund process and how to request one.
What if I was dismissed, not made redundant?
Then this pack isn't for you, and the worksheet's first question tells you that before you spend anything. Unfair dismissal has a strict 21-day deadline (verified 2026-10-04): applications must be lodged within 21 days after the dismissal takes effect (Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s 394(2)). Contact the FWO (13 13 94) or a community legal centre promptly.