Long Service Leave Calculator

State and territory rules

Long service leave is state legislation, not a national standard. The broad shape is similar — a long period of continuous service earns a block of paid leave — but the qualifying period, the amount and the pro-rata rules differ.

• New South Wales: 8.667 weeks after 10 years, then 4.333 weeks for each additional 5 years. Pro rata on termination from 5 years.
• Victoria: 1 week for every 60 weeks worked, about 0.8667 weeks a year. Entitlement after 7 years, 8.667 weeks after 10.
• Queensland: 8.667 weeks after 10 years, with pro-rata payment from 7 years on termination.
• Western Australia: 8.667 weeks after 10 years, then 4.333 weeks for each additional 5 years. Pro rata from 7 years.
• South Australia: 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks for each additional year. Pro rata from 7 years.
• Tasmania: 8.667 weeks after 10 years, with pro-rata entitlement from 7 years.
• Northern Territory: 13 weeks after 10 years, then 1.3 weeks a year. Pro rata from 7 years.
• Australian Capital Territory: 6.5 weeks after 7 years, then 0.8667 weeks for each additional year.

Weeks accrued ≈ years of continuous service × accrual rate per year, subject to the state’s qualifying period.

The calculator applies the statutory minimum. Many awards and enterprise agreements provide more generous long service leave, and some industries have portable schemes that follow the worker between employers. Always check the applicable award or agreement.

How the entitlement builds

In most states, long service leave accrues continuously at about 0.8667 weeks for each year of service, which produces 8.667 weeks at 10 years. South Australia and the Northern Territory accrue faster, at 1.3 weeks a year, reaching 13 weeks at 10 years.

Accrual is based on continuous service with the same employer, including paid leave and usually periods of workers compensation. A change of business ownership can preserve service if the business is transferred. Breaks in service, long unpaid leave and casual or contracting arrangements can interrupt accrual, depending on the state rules.

The balance usually becomes available to take at the full entitlement age. Taking leave reduces the balance but does not stop future accrual, so a long-serving employee can build up another block over time. The “next milestone” figure shows the next five-year mark after the full entitlement.

Pro rata and termination

Pro rata means you receive a payment for the leave you have built up, even though you have not reached the full entitlement. Most states require a pro-rata payment when employment ends after 7 years. New South Wales starts at 5 years, and Victoria and the ACT have their own rules from 7 years.

The reason for termination can matter. Resignation, redundancy, dismissal for reasons other than serious misconduct and death are generally treated differently. Serious misconduct can result in the loss of long service leave in some states. If you are close to a threshold, the timing and reason for ending employment can change the outcome significantly.

A payout on termination is not the same as taking leave. Some states calculate it at ordinary pay, and some awards include loadings or allowances. The calculator uses base ordinary pay, which is the common statutory minimum.

Payment and tax

Long service leave taken during employment is paid like normal leave, at your ordinary rate for the ordinary hours. A payout of unused long service leave when employment ends is generally taxed as ordinary income in the year it is paid. It is not usually treated as an employment termination payment, although other termination payments made at the same time can be.

A large payout can increase your taxable income and affect the Medicare levy, HELP repayments, private health insurance rebates and family assistance. If you are planning a payout, ask your employer how it will be reported and check the effect with a tax agent.

For a broader picture of termination entitlements, use the redundancy payout calculator. For annual leave, use the annual leave calculator.