Australian Government General Government Sector Monthly Financial Statements for January 2026

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Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher
Minister for Finance
Minister for Women
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Government Services

KG 06/26
Friday, 27 February 2026

KEY POINTS

  • The Monthly Financial Statements for January 2026 report the budget position against the expected monthly profile for the 2025‑26 financial year through to 31 January 2026, based on the 2025‑26 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) estimates published in December 2025.
  • The underlying cash balance for the 2025‑26 financial year to 31 January 2026 was a deficit of $48.6 billion.
  • The fiscal balance for the 2025‑26 financial year to 31 January 2026 was a deficit of $51.4 billion.
AGGREGATES(a) ACTUAL
2025-2026
January
$b
ACTUAL
2025-2026
YTD January
$b
MYEFO Profile
2025-2026
YTD January
$b
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2025-2026
FULL YEAR
$b
Receipts(b) 47.6 410.4 408.4 749.8
Payments(c) 62.4 458.9 462.4 786.6
Underlying cash balance -14.8 -48.6 -54.0 -36.8
Headline cash balance -16.6 -56.1 -63.2 -58.6
Revenue 54.1 425.2 421.3 765.6
Expenses 67.5 472.0 474.2 809.2
Net operating balance -13.5 -46.8 -53.0 -43.6
Net capital investment 0.7 4.6 4.5 11.2
Fiscal balance -14.2 -51.4 -57.5 -54.8
Total assets 925.2 925.8
Total liabilities 1,553.9 1,570.1
Net worth(d) -628.6 -644.3
Net debt(e) 573.4 587.5

*As published in the 2025-26 MYEFO.
(a) Discrepancies in tables between totals and sums of components are due to rounding. 
(b) Cash receipts for operating activities and sales of non-financial assets.
(c) Cash payments for operating activities, purchases of non-financial assets and principal payments of lease liabilities.
(d) Net worth is calculated as total assets minus total liabilities.
(e) Net debt is the sum of interest bearing liabilities less the sum of selected financial assets (cash and deposits, advances paid, and investments, loans and placements).

Monthly results are generally volatile due to timing differences between revenue and receipts, and expenses and payments. Care needs to be taken when comparing monthly or cumulative data across years and to full-year estimates, as revenue and receipts and expenses and payments vary from month to month.

FISCAL OUTCOMES

Underlying Cash Balance

The underlying cash balance for the financial year to 31 January 2026 was a deficit of $48.6 billion.

  • Receipts
    Total receipts were $2.0 billion higher than the 2025‑26 MYEFO profile.
  • Payments
    Total payments were $3.4 billion lower than the 2025‑26 MYEFO profile.

Net Operating Balance

The net operating balance for the financial year to 31 January 2026 was a deficit of $46.8 billion.

Fiscal Balance

The fiscal balance for the financial year to 31 January 2026 was a deficit of $51.4 billion.

Assets and Liabilities

As at 31 January 2026:

  • net worth is negative $628.6 billion
  • net debt is $573.4 billion
  • net financial liabilities are $909.7 billion
Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher
Minister for Finance
Minister for Women
Minister for the Public Service
Minister for Government Services
 
Matt Yannopoulos PSM
Secretary
Department of Finance

 
Media Contact 
Kaarin Dynon0422722215

Australian Government general government sector operating statement

Note ACTUAL
2025-2026
January
$m
ACTUAL
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO Profile
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2025-2026
FULL YEAR
$m
Revenue
Taxation revenue 1,2 48,263 391,360 387,254 709,980
Sales of goods and services 3,890 15,113 15,027 21,987
Interest income 653 4,810 4,704 10,159
Dividend and distribution income 227 3,933 4,344 7,591
Other 1,026 10,004 9,926 15,876
Total revenue 54,059 425,219 421,255 765,593
Expenses
Gross operating expenses
Wages and salaries(a) 2,335 17,902 17,981 31,147
Superannuation 777 5,413 5,385 9,433
Depreciation and amortisation 1,192 8,198 8,165 14,154
Supply of goods and services 14,680 129,326 131,596 230,174
Other operating expenses(a) 1,223 9,834 9,696 14,990
Total gross operating expenses 20,207 170,674 172,823 299,898
Superannuation interest expense 1,232 8,624 8,627 14,803
Interest expenses 2,953 21,952 22,088 39,245
Current transfers
Current grants 26,875 140,323 140,328 227,136
Subsidy expenses 1,276 11,627 11,635 20,003
Personal benefits 13,549 101,203 100,864 170,693
Total current transfers 41,700 253,153 252,827 417,832
Capital transfers
Mutually agreed write-downs 290 12,207 12,137 13,294
Other capital grants 1,133 5,400 5,740 24,161
Total capital transfers 1,423 17,607 17,878 37,455
Total expenses 3 67,515 472,010 474,243 809,232
Net operating balance -13,456 -46,791 -52,988 -43,639
Other economic flows
- included in operating result
Net write-downs of assets 95 -5,949 -7,014 -12,609
Assets recognised for the first time 13 158 180 388
Actuarial revaluations 7 34 36 1,564
Net foreign exchange gains -321 -511 -7 97
Net swap interest received 247 649 326 350
Market valuation of debt 1,788 24,296 8,449 3,096
Other gains/(losses) 1,007 14,059 12,558 12,630
Total other economic flows
- included in operating result
2,836 32,735 14,528 5,516
Operating result(b) -10,620 -14,055 -38,460 -38,124
Non-owner movements in equity
Revaluation of equity investments 1 0 0 -526
Actuarial revaluations 0 0 0 -630
Other economic revaluations 9 -63 -296 118
Total other economic flows
- included in equity
10 -63 -296 -1,038
Comprehensive result
- Total change in net worth
-10,610 -14,118 -38,755 -39,162
Net operating balance -13,456 -46,791 -52,988 -43,639
Net acquisition of non-financial assets
Purchases of non-financial assets 1,816 12,533 12,652 24,701
less Sales of non-financial assets 7 32 57 440
less Depreciation 1,192 8,198 8,165 14,154
plus Change in inventories 93 302 112 1,066
plus Other movements in non-financial assets -1 -2 -1 0
Total net acquisition of non-financial assets 709 4,603 4,542 11,173
Fiscal balance (Net lending/borrowing)(c) -14,165 -51,394 -57,530 -54,812

*As published in the 2025-26 MYEFO.
(a) Consistent with the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Government Finance Statistics (GFS) classification, other employee related expenses are classified separately from wages and salaries under other operating expenses. Total employee expenses equal wages and salaries plus other operating expenses.
(b) Operating result under Australian Accounting Standards.
(c) The term fiscal balance is not used by the ABS.

Australian Government general government sector balance sheet

ACTUAL
as at 31 January 2026
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
as at 30 June 2026
$m
Assets
Financial assets
Cash and deposits 72,088 73,588
Advances paid 69,067 73,794
Investments, loans and placements 258,065 260,862
Other receivables 111,295 93,453
Equity investments
Investments in other public sector entities 49,774 52,886
Equity accounted investments 6,534 6,871
Investments - shares 127,138 126,891
Total financial assets 693,962 688,345
Non-financial assets
Land 15,462 15,436
Buildings 54,725 54,248
Plant, equipment and infrastructure 120,076 124,399
Inventories 13,163 13,691
Intangibles 14,390 16,171
Investment properties 229 222
Biological assets 4 5
Heritage and cultural assets 13,164 13,201
Assets held for sale 48 40
Other non-financial assets 4 6
Total non-financial assets 231,265 237,421
Total assets 925,227 925,766
Liabilities
Interest bearing liabilities
Deposits held 355 416
Government securities 919,461 942,518
Loans 33,332 34,181
Lease liabilities 19,450 18,599
Total interest bearing liabilities 972,598 995,715
Provisions and payables
Superannuation liability(a) 319,169 314,706
Other employee liabilities 95,856 97,146
Suppliers payables 12,725 14,185
Personal benefits payables 4,305 4,845
Subsidies payables 515 635
Grants payables 3,876 6,876
Other payables 14,455 6,757
Provisions 130,367 129,212
Total provisions and payables 581,266 574,362
Total liabilities 1,553,864 1,570,077
Net worth(b) -628,637 -644,311
Net financial worth(c) -859,902 -881,731
Net financial liabilities(d) 909,676 934,618
Net debt(e) 573,378 587,471

*As published in the 2025-26 MYEFO.
(a) For budget reporting purposes, a discount rate of 5.0 per cent determined by actuaries is used to value the superannuation liability. This reflects the average annual rate estimated to apply over the term of the liability and it reduces the volatility in reported liabilities that would occur from year to year if the spot rates on long-term government bonds were used. Consistent with Australian Accounting Standards, the superannuation liability for the 2025-26 Monthly Financial Statements was calculated using the spot rates on long-term government bonds as at 30 June 2025 that best matched each individual scheme’s liability duration. These rates were between 3.8 and 5.0 per cent per annum.
(b) Net worth equals total assets minus total liabilities.
(c) Net financial worth equals total financial assets minus total liabilities. 
(d) Net financial liabilities equals total liabilities less financial assets other than investments in other public sector entities.
(e) Net debt is the sum of interest bearing liabilities less the sum of selected financial assets (cash and deposits, advances paid, and investments, loans and placements).

Australian Government general government sector cash flow statement(a)

ACTUAL
2025-2026
January
$m
ACTUAL
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO Profile
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2025-2026
FULL YEAR
$m
Cash receipts from operating activities
Taxes received 43,106 375,946 373,769 691,142
Receipts from sales of goods and services 2,476 14,624 14,468 21,528
Interest receipts 666 5,547 5,494 9,103
Dividends, distributions and income tax equivalents 237 4,254 4,537 7,558
Other receipts 1,136 9,840 9,950 20,251
Total operating receipts 47,621 410,211 408,218 749,582
Cash payments for operating activities
Payments for employees(b) -3,964 -29,926 -29,779 -50,237
Payments for goods and services -13,385 -131,389 -133,576 -226,686
Grants and subsidies paid -28,742 -159,269 -160,445 -274,740
Interest paid -144 -14,023 -14,198 -27,390
Personal benefit payments -13,686 -102,126 -101,806 -170,745
Other payments(b) -1,241 -8,271 -8,124 -11,500
Total operating payments -61,163 -445,003 -447,928 -761,299
Net cash flows from operating activities -13,542 -34,793 -39,709 -11,716
Cash flows from investments in non-financial assets
Sales of non-financial assets 2 149 178 209
Purchases of non-financial assets -1,023 -12,348 -12,878 -22,453
Net cash flows from investments in non-financial assets -1,021 -12,199 -12,700 -22,244
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes -1,782 -7,519 -9,171 -21,796
Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for liquidity purposes -266 -5,495 -5,497 -4,289
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowing (net) 24,481 54,918 45,948 59,355
Other financing (net) 261 -1,697 -2,092 -4,594
Net cash flows from financing activities 24,742 53,222 43,857 54,761
Net increase/(decrease) in cash held 8,132 -6,784 -23,220 -5,284
GFS cash surplus(+)/deficit(-)(c) -14,562 -46,992 -52,409 -33,960
plus Principal payments of lease liabilities(d) -209 -1,598 -1,582 -2,804
Equals underlying cash balance(e) -14,771 -48,589 -53,991 -36,764
plus Net cash flows from investments in financial assets for policy purposes -1,782 -7,519 -9,171 -21,796
Equals headline cash balance -16,553 -56,109 -63,162 -58,560

*As published in the 2025-26 MYEFO.
(a) A positive number denotes a cash inflow; a negative number denotes a cash outflow.
(b) Consistent with the ABS GFS classification, other employee related payments are classified separately from wages and salaries under other payments.
(c) GFS cash surplus/deficit equals net cash flows from operating activities and investments in non-financial assets. 
(d) Principal payments of lease liabilities, which are financing cash payments, are deducted in the calculation of the underlying cash balance to maintain consistency of measure following the implementation of AASB 16.
(e) The term underlying cash balance is not used by the ABS.

Note 1: Income Tax

ACTUAL
2025-2026
January
$m
ACTUAL
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO Profile
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2025-2026
FULL YEAR
$m
Individuals and other withholding taxes
Gross income tax withholding 21,961 180,087 180,615 315,800
Gross other individuals 3,915 45,721 44,888 91,600
less Refunds 1,711 31,389 31,342 40,600
Total individuals and other withholding taxation 24,165 194,419 194,160 366,800
Fringe benefits tax 930 3,494 3,473 5,560
Company tax 11,177 83,008 79,959 147,800
Superannuation fund taxes 1,951 21,687 21,222 29,880
Petroleum resource rent tax 322 1,043 1,103 1,820
Total income taxation revenue 38,545 303,651 299,917 551,860

*As published in the 2025-26 MYEFO.

Note 2: Indirect Tax

ACTUAL
2025-2026
January
$m
ACTUAL
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO Profile
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2025-2026
FULL YEAR
$m
Goods and services tax 5,500 55,591 55,000 101,030
Wine equalisation tax 174 638 616 1,110
Luxury car tax 88 664 655 1,130
Excise duty 2,286 18,349 18,319 31,760
Customs duty 628 4,334 4,808 8,780
Other indirect tax 1,042 8,133 7,939 14,310
Total indirect taxation revenue 9,718 87,709 87,337 158,120

*As published in the 2025-26 MYEFO.

Note 3: Total expenses by function

ACTUAL
2025-2026
January
$m
ACTUAL
2025-2026
YTD January
$m
MYEFO ESTIMATE*
2025-2026
FULL YEAR
$m
Expenses by function
General public services 3,249 17,706 33,637
Defence 3,217 28,449 51,598
Public order and safety 1,035 5,655 9,432
Education 13,342 50,447 65,259
Health 9,535 72,491 126,637
Social security and welfare 20,625 172,997 295,963
Housing and community amenities 518 3,627 10,365
Recreation and culture 566 3,290 6,039
Fuel and energy 1,221 12,609 21,237
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 241 2,000 4,828
Mining, manufacturing and construction 420 3,032 5,673
Transport and communication 586 4,149 16,264
Other economic affairs 1,084 7,861 14,814
Other purposes
Public debt interest 2,417 15,643 27,741
Nominal superannuation interest 1,232 8,624 14,803
General purpose inter-government transactions 8,203 63,185 105,187
Natural disaster relief 24 245 1,183
Contingency reserve 0 0 -1,429
Total expenses 67,515 472,010 809,232

*As published in the 2025-26 MYEFO.

NOTES:

AASB 1049 Whole of Government and General Government Sector Financial Reporting (AASB 1049)

The Australian Government monthly financial statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the Budget as required under section 47 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The statements are prepared in accordance with AASB 1049, which require treatment based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Government Finance Statistics (GFS) except where Australian Accounting Standards (AAS) provide a better conceptual treatment for specific items. Departures are limited to complying with either ABS GFS or AAS.

Taxation revenue

While total tax collections are known with certainty at the end of each month, the distribution across the relevant heads of revenue cannot be finalised until all business activity statements are received and processed. The outcomes for some revenue items provided in this statement are therefore estimates, in accordance with the best judgement of the Commissioner of Taxation, and subject to revision. The taxation revenue items not affected are: petroleum resource rent tax, excise duty, customs duty, other taxes and individuals refunds.

Style conventions

Figures in tables and generally in the text have been rounded. Discrepancies in tables between totals and sums of components are due to rounding.

International Monetary Fund Special Data Dissemination Standards

The Government is committed to releasing the monthly financial statements in a timely fashion and will endeavour to do so in accordance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS). Under these standards the timeframe for releasing the monthly financial statements is by the end of the following month. Australia applies a special flexibility option which allows it to publish late the last and first month of a financial year.

In accordance with the IMF SDDS, the approximate date of release of the data on debt guaranteed by the Australian Government (central government), is given on the IMF’s Data Dissemination Advance Release Calendar http://dsbb.imf.org . Monthly and quarterly data on debt guaranteed by the Australian Government (central government) that meet the coverage and timeliness requirements of the SDDS are published on the Australian Office of Financial Management website at https://www.aofm.gov.au/data-hub.

Electronic access to monthly financial statements

The Australian Government general government sector monthly financial statements and the historical series are available in electronic format at:
https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/australian-government-general-government-sector-monthly-financial-statements-tables-and-data


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