How to Update Your Centrelink Income Estimate (Step-by-Step)

How to update your Centrelink income estimate through myGov, showing the steps to sign in, access Centrelink, update the estimate, and submit.

Last updated: September 2026  |  Reading time: 9 min

📋 Quick Summary — Updating Your Centrelink Income Estimate

What it affects Family Tax Benefit (FTB) and Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
How to update myGov → Centrelink → My family → Family assistance → Family income estimate
When to update As soon as your circumstances change and your estimate is no longer accurate
Why it matters Your estimate helps Services Australia work out the right amount of family assistance during the financial year
Annual estimate You can provide an estimate for the next financial year from April to June
Other Centrelink payments Updating the family income estimate does not update income information for income support payments such as JobSeeker or Parenting Payment
Phone Centrelink Families line: 136 150

Your Centrelink family income estimate is important because Services Australia uses it to work out payments such as Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy. If your expected income changes during the financial year, updating your estimate helps keep your payments closer to the amount you are entitled to.

This guide explains where to find the income estimate in myGov, what to consider when estimating your income, and what happens when Services Australia balances your family assistance payments after the end of the financial year.

Why Your Centrelink Income Estimate Matters

Services Australia uses your family income estimate to help work out your Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy payments. The estimate should be kept accurate and up to date throughout the financial year.

At the end of the financial year, Services Australia compares your actual income with the estimate used during the year when balancing your family assistance.

Keep your estimate updated when your circumstances change. An estimate that does not reflect your expected annual income can contribute to an incorrect payment amount and may result in an amount being paid back or an additional amount being paid to you after balancing.

When Should You Update Your Estimate?

You should update your family income estimate when you become aware that your expected annual income has changed significantly.

📈
Your expected income goes UP
  • Pay rise or promotion
  • Started a higher-paying job
  • Increased working hours
  • More overtime or casual work
  • Started earning business income
  • Received a significant bonus
  • Your partner returned to work
📉
Your expected income goes DOWN
  • Lost your job
  • Reduced working hours
  • Unpaid leave
  • Parental leave
  • Business income decreased
  • Your partner stopped or reduced work
Update as soon as your estimate changes. You do not need to wait until the end of the financial year to make another update.

How to Update Your Centrelink Income Estimate Via myGov

If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can update your family income estimate online.

  1. 1
    Sign in to myGov Sign in to your myGov account and open your linked Centrelink service.
  2. 2
    Open Centrelink Select Centrelink from your linked services.
  3. 3
    Go to My family Open the Centrelink menu and select My family.
  4. 4
    Select Family assistance Find the Family assistance section and select Family income estimate.
  5. 5
    Select the income year Confirm which financial year you want to update.
  6. 6
    Enter your updated estimate Enter your expected income amounts for the relevant categories and follow the prompts.
  7. 7
    Review and submit Check the information carefully before submitting the update. Keep the receipt or Receipt ID provided after submission.

What Income Should You Consider?

The family income estimate is based on the income information relevant to family assistance. Your circumstances determine which income categories apply to you.

Income type Examples or considerations
Employment income Wages, salary, casual or temporary work, overtime and bonuses.
Business income Income from a business or self-employment may need to be considered.
Investment income Interest, dividends and other relevant investment income.
Capital gains Relevant net capital gains may form part of adjusted taxable income.
Foreign income Relevant income from overseas sources may need to be considered.
Reportable amounts Certain reportable employer super contributions and reportable fringe benefits can affect adjusted taxable income.
Do not assume that taxable income and adjusted taxable income are always the same. Family assistance uses adjusted taxable income rules, which can include certain amounts that are not simply the taxable income shown on your tax return.

Some payments and amounts are not included

Services Australia specifically identifies a number of payments that are not included in the family income estimate, including Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy, Rent Assistance, child support or spousal maintenance, Energy Supplement and certain other non-taxable payments.

Because individual circumstances can affect the calculation, check the current Services Australia guidance before entering an amount you are unsure about.

What If Your Income Changes During the Year?

You can update your family income estimate again if your circumstances change. There is no need to wait until the end of the financial year.

Example: You originally expected your family income to be $75,000, but one partner receives a substantial pay rise and the expected annual family income is now closer to $85,000. Updating the estimate allows Services Australia to use the newer information when working out family assistance.

Updating Your Estimate for the Next Financial Year

Services Australia allows families to provide their family income estimate for the next financial year during the period from April to June.

This is different from updating an estimate because your circumstances changed during the current financial year. The first sets an expected income figure for the coming financial year; the second keeps the current year's estimate up to date.

Think ahead: If you already know that your income will be different in the next financial year, review the new estimate before the financial year begins.

What Happens at the End of the Financial Year?

Family Tax Benefit is balanced after the financial year ends. The financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June.

Services Australia compares the income information for the financial year with the information used to calculate your family assistance payments. This process helps determine whether you received the correct amount.

Outcome What it means
No change You received the correct amount of family assistance.
Underpaid You were entitled to more than you received, so you may receive a top-up.
Overpaid You received more than you were entitled to, so you may have a debt to repay.

The final outcome depends on your individual circumstances and the actual income information used for balancing.

Updating via the Express Plus Centrelink App

If you prefer to use your phone, you can manage many Centrelink services through the Express Plus Centrelink app.

  1. Open the Express Plus Centrelink app.
  2. Sign in.
  3. Open the relevant family or family assistance menu.
  4. Find Family income estimate.
  5. Follow the prompts to update your estimate.

The exact screen layout may change as Services Australia updates its digital services, so follow the options currently displayed in your account.

Does Updating This Estimate Update JobSeeker or Other Centrelink Payments?

No. Your family income estimate is used for family assistance payments such as Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy.

Updating the family income estimate does not automatically update income information for income support payments such as JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Austudy, Disability Support Pension or Age Pension.

Important: If you receive another income-tested Centrelink payment, check whether you have a separate reporting or income-update requirement for that payment.

Common Questions

My income changes every month. What should I estimate? ▼
Use your best estimate of your expected income for the full financial year. If your circumstances change significantly, update the estimate again rather than continuing to rely on an outdated figure.
Can I update my estimate more than once? ▼
Yes. If your circumstances change and your existing estimate is no longer accurate, you can update it again.
What happens if my actual income is higher than my estimate? ▼
When your family assistance is balanced, you may have been overpaid. If so, Services Australia may determine that you have an amount to repay.
What happens if my actual income is lower than my estimate? ▼
You may have received less family assistance than you were entitled to. Your balancing outcome may therefore include a top-up.
Does my partner's income need to be considered? ▼
Family assistance generally uses family income, so your partner's relevant income needs to be considered where applicable. If your relationship circumstances change, make sure Services Australia has the correct information.
I have a Centrelink debt after balancing. What should I do? ▼
Check the balancing outcome and debt information provided by Services Australia. If you believe the amount is incorrect, contact Services Australia and ask about your review or repayment options. If you are having financial hardship, ask what assistance may be available.

Related Articles

Sources:
Services Australia — Your family income estimate for family assistance payments
Services Australia — How to update your family income estimate
Services Australia — How to balance your Family Tax Benefit

Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and is not financial, legal or personal advice. Family assistance rules and income assessment requirements can change. Always check the latest information with Services Australia and consider your individual circumstances before making decisions about your payments.

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