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Redundancy pay after 15 years (2026–27): 12 weeks, tax-free up to $115,613
Estimated final pay after tax
$42,827
Gross $50,674 · tax $7,846 · net $42,827
| Weekly base pay | $1,634.62 |
| Redundancy pay (NES: 12 weeks) | $19,615 |
| Notice in lieu (4 weeks) | $6,538 |
| Unused annual leave (10.0 days) | $3,269 |
| Long service leave NSW (13.00 weeks) | $21,251 |
| Gross final pay | $50,674 |
| Tax-free redundancy (limit $115,613) | $26,154 |
| Tax on leave (32%) | − $7,846 |
| Net final pay (estimate) | $42,827 |
Full entitlement after 10 years: paid on any termination. (Long Service Leave Act 1955 (NSW))
Fifteen years: the entitlement stops growing, the exemption does not
From ten years onwards the NES redundancy scale is flat: 12 weeks at ten years, 12 weeks at fifteen, 12 weeks at thirty. Two things keep growing behind it. The tax-free limit adds $6,801 for every completed year and has reached $115,613 here, which is more exempt room than any NES redundancy on any salary can use. And long service leave keeps accruing at 0.8667 weeks a year — about 13 weeks at this point, 19.5 in South Australia and the Northern Territory. At long service the statutory redundancy is no longer the largest line on the final payslip, and the negotiation that matters is the contractual one, not the statutory one.
Redundancy and notice after fifteen years, by salary
Genuine redundancy, age 40, notice paid in lieu, NSW. Long service leave excluded.
| Salary | Weekly base | Redundancy (12 wks) | Notice (4 wks) | Total | Tax-free | ETP tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $1,154 | $13,846 | $4,615 | $18,462 | $18,462 | $0 |
| $75,000 | $1,442 | $17,308 | $5,769 | $23,077 | $23,077 | $0 |
| $90,000 | $1,731 | $20,769 | $6,923 | $27,692 | $27,692 | $0 |
| $110,000 | $2,115 | $25,385 | $8,462 | $33,846 | $33,846 | $0 |
| $130,000 | $2,500 | $30,000 | $10,000 | $40,000 | $40,000 | $0 |
| $160,000 | $3,077 | $36,923 | $12,308 | $49,231 | $49,231 | $0 |
Every figure in the redundancy column is identical to the one on the ten-year page — that is the point of this page. What differs is the exempt amount, $115,613 here, and the leave that has accrued in the meantime. If your enterprise agreement pays per year of service, this is where the gap with the statutory minimum becomes large enough to be worth a conversation.
Frequently asked questions
Exactly how many weeks after 15 years?
12 weeks. The National Employment Standards work in bands, not on a sliding scale: the applicable band is “at least 15 years but less than 16”, and the next band starts on your 16th anniversary, except that service of 10 years or more stays at 12 weeks rather than rising further. A day short of an anniversary is a full band short, so the exact start date on your contract is worth checking against the date notice is given.
Is there any length of service that pays more than twelve weeks under the NES?
Only the ninth year, which pays 16 weeks — the peak of the National Employment Standards scale. From ten years of service onwards the entitlement falls back to 12 weeks, on the reasoning that long service leave usually becomes payable at that point and is paid out separately. Anything beyond twelve weeks at longer service comes from an award, an enterprise agreement or an individual contract, never from the statute itself.
Does unused sick leave get paid out after fifteen years?
No. Personal and carer’s leave is never paid out on termination, in any state and whatever the reason for leaving, however long the service and however large the accrued balance. It exists to cover absence during employment and simply lapses when the employment ends. Only annual leave and long service leave carry a cash value on termination, which is why a long-serving employee’s final pay can look smaller than expected.
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Written by Mottalib Radif
INSEAD MBA · Mines Saint-Étienne engineer · Personal finance and employment entitlements
Updated on · Editorial policy · Contact
Rates 2026–27, last updated 2026-09-16