If you earn under $66,667 and you're an Australian tax resident, you're probably claiming the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) without even knowing it — the ATO applies it automatically. But understanding exactly how much LITO you get, and why it shrinks as your income rises, can save you the surprise of a smaller-than-expected refund. This guide breaks down LITO for FY2025–26 with worked examples at every income tier.
What LITO Actually Is
LITO is a non-refundable tax offset that reduces the tax you owe. It's not a deduction (which reduces your taxable income), and it's not a payment (which would arrive as cash). It's a credit applied directly against your tax bill after the standard rates are calculated.
The maximum LITO for FY2025–26 is $700. To get the full amount, your taxable income must be $37,500 or less. Above that threshold, LITO phases out in two stages until it reaches zero at $66,667.
| Taxable income | Maximum LITO |
|---|---|
| $0 – $37,500 | $700 |
| $37,501 – $45,000 | Phases out (5¢ per $1) |
| $45,001 – $66,667 | Phases out (1.5¢ per $1) |
| $66,668+ | $0 |
AusTax AI tip: LITO is automatic. You don't need to claim it on your tax return — the ATO calculates it from your taxable income figure. If you're checking whether it was applied correctly, look at line "Tax offsets" on your Notice of Assessment.
Who Qualifies for LITO
The eligibility rules are simpler than most ATO offsets:
- You must be an Australian tax resident for the income year (full year or part year)
- Your taxable income must be below $66,667
- There's no minimum age — children with investment income can qualify, though a separate minor-tax rule may apply on unearned income
- You don't need to be working — pension and investment income count too, as long as you're a tax resident
LITO is calculated per tax return. Each spouse claims their own based on their own taxable income; you can't combine or transfer it.
The Two-Stage Phase-Out, Explained
The phase-out exists to taper LITO smoothly as you climb into higher tax brackets, rather than dropping a $700 cliff at $37,501. The math works in two distinct bands.
Band 1: $37,501 – $45,000 (5¢ per $1 reduction)
Above $37,500, LITO reduces by 5 cents for every dollar of income. By the time you hit $45,000, you've passed through $7,500 of phase-out:
- $7,500 × $0.05 = $375 reduction
- LITO at $45,000: $700 − $375 = $325
Band 2: $45,001 – $66,667 (1.5¢ per $1 reduction)
Above $45,000, the rate slows to 1.5 cents per dollar. You start band 2 with $325 of LITO remaining, and it has to phase out fully across $21,667 of additional income:
- $21,667 × $0.015 ≈ $325 reduction
- LITO at $66,667: $325 − $325 ≈ $0
The two-band design is deliberate. It means the heaviest phase-out happens in the $37,501–$45,000 range, where each extra dollar of income costs you 5¢ of LITO on top of the marginal tax rate.
Worked Examples at Every Tier
Example 1: $40,000 taxable income
- Above $37,500 by $2,500
- Phase-out: $2,500 × $0.05 = $125
- LITO: $700 − $125 = $575
Example 2: $50,000 taxable income
- Through band 1 fully: $7,500 × $0.05 = $375 reduction → $325 remaining
- Into band 2 by $5,000: $5,000 × $0.015 = $75 reduction
- LITO: $325 − $75 = $250
Example 3: $60,000 taxable income
- Through band 1 fully: $325 remaining
- Into band 2 by $15,000: $15,000 × $0.015 = $225 reduction
- LITO: $325 − $225 = $100
Example 4: $66,667 taxable income
- Through band 1 fully: $325 remaining
- Through band 2 by $21,667: $21,667 × $0.015 ≈ $325 reduction
- LITO: $325 − $325 ≈ $0
| Taxable income | LITO |
|---|---|
| $30,000 | $700 |
| $37,500 | $700 |
| $40,000 | $575 |
| $45,000 | $325 |
| $50,000 | $250 |
| $55,000 | $175 |
| $60,000 | $100 |
| $66,667 | $0 |
Why LITO Is Non-Refundable
This is the rule that surprises low-income earners most. LITO can only reduce your tax payable to zero — it can't generate a refund on its own.
Picture someone earning $20,000:
- Tax-free threshold: $18,200
- Taxable above threshold: $1,800
- Tax at 16% (FY2025–26 first bracket): $288
- LITO: full $700
Even though their LITO entitlement is $700, only $288 of it actually applies — enough to wipe out the $288 of tax. The remaining $412 of LITO is lost. It doesn't carry forward, doesn't refund, doesn't transfer.
This means LITO is most valuable to people earning between roughly $22,000 and $37,500 — high enough to use the full $700 against tax owed, low enough not to start phasing out.
AusTax AI tip: If your only income is the Age Pension or a low-income disability pension, you may pay no tax even before LITO kicks in. In that case, LITO doesn't help — but pension-specific offsets (SAPTO) might.
LITO vs the Old LMITO
You may remember LMITO, the Low and Middle Income Tax Offset. It was a separate, temporary offset that ran alongside LITO and gave up to $1,500 to middle earners. LMITO was abolished after FY2021–22 and has not returned.
| Offset | Status FY2025–26 | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| LITO | Active | $700 |
| LMITO | Abolished | — |
If you still see references to LMITO in old advice, it's outdated. Going forward, LITO is the only general low-income offset most taxpayers will see, alongside SAPTO for seniors and pensioners.
How to Verify LITO on Your Notice of Assessment
When your tax return is processed, the ATO sends a Notice of Assessment (NoA). To check LITO:
If you think LITO was applied incorrectly, you can lodge an objection within 2 years of the NoA date for individual taxpayers. In practice, ATO's automated calculation rarely gets LITO wrong — the more common issue is your taxable income being different from what you thought.
Summary
LITO is the most quietly valuable tax break in the Australian system for low-income earners. $700 maximum, automatic application, no claim form, no minimum age, and a tapered phase-out that respects every dollar of income up to $66,667. The catch: it's non-refundable, so it only helps if you actually owe tax to begin with.
For FY2025–26, the only thing you need to do is lodge your return — the rest is calculated for you. If you want to estimate your refund including LITO before lodging, AusTax AI's free calculator runs the full FY2025–26 numbers including LITO, Medicare Levy, and HECS in seconds. Try it free.
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*Disclaimer: This is general information only and does not constitute personal tax advice. Consult a registered tax agent for advice tailored to your specific situation. Always verify against the latest ATO guidelines at ato.gov.au.*