Long Service Leave Calculator NT
Work out your long service leave entitlement in Northern Territory: how many weeks you've built up, whether it's payable yet, and what it's worth. The NT gives 1.3 weeks for each completed year, with pro-rata from 7 years in limited cases.
Northern Territory long service leave calculator
Enter your service and pay to see the leave you've accrued, whether it's payable, and what it's worth.
An estimate of your entitlement under the Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT). Your employer or the Northern Territory long service leave authority can confirm your exact balance.
Long service leave in Northern Territory at a glance
| Qualifying period | 10 years of continuous service |
| Leave at the qualifying period | 13 weeks |
| Accrual | 1.3 weeks for each completed year of service (13 weeks at 10 years) |
| Pro-rata on termination from | 7 years |
| Law | Long Service Leave Act 1981 (NT) |
Applies to employees covered by the Northern Territory long service leave laws. Some industries, such as construction, coal mining and contract cleaning, have their own portable long service leave schemes with different rules.
How long service leave works in Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory you accrue 1.3 weeks of long service leave for each completed year of service, which is 13 weeks at 10 years. After 10 years, unused leave is paid out when you resign. Between 7 and 10 years, pro-rata is paid only on reaching retirement age, if your employer ends your employment other than for serious misconduct (such as redundancy), or if you resign because of illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity.
Long service leave is about continuous service with one employer, not hours worked. Part-time employees accrue it the same way as full-time employees, and paid leave such as annual leave counts as service. Unpaid leave and some breaks in service may not count, so check the NT Act if you've had a long break.
Northern Territory long service leave accrual table
How much leave you build up over time, and whether it's payable if your employment ends.
| Years of service | Leave accrued | If your employment ends |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | 6.5 weeks | Nothing payable yet |
| 7 years | 9.1 weeks | Pro-rata for qualifying reasons only |
| 8 years | 10.4 weeks | Pro-rata for qualifying reasons only |
| 10 years | 13 weeks | Paid out when employment ends |
| 12 years | 15.6 weeks | Paid out when employment ends |
| 15 years | 19.5 weeks | Paid out when employment ends |
| 20 years | 26 weeks | Paid out when employment ends |
Northern Territory counts completed years only, so part years do not add to your balance until the year is finished.
Pro-rata long service leave in Northern Territory
Pro-rata means being paid for the leave you've built up before you reach the full qualifying period. In Northern Territory, it can be paid from 7 years of continuous service, but only for certain reasons for leaving.
| Why your employment ends | Pro-rata paid between 7 and 10 years? |
|---|---|
| You resign | No |
| You are made redundant | Yes |
| Your employer ends your employment (not misconduct) | Yes |
| You leave because of illness, incapacity or a pressing necessity | Yes |
| You retire | Yes |
| Death of the employee | Yes |
| You are dismissed for serious misconduct | No |
After 10 years, unused long service leave is paid out when your employment ends. Dismissal for serious misconduct may affect payment, so check if that applies to you.
Taking your leave and getting paid
Once you reach 10 years you can take the leave, at a time agreed with your employer. You're paid your ordinary pay for the period, without overtime or most allowances. If your employment ends and you still have leave owing, it's paid out with your final pay.
Long service leave paid out on termination is taxed differently to your normal wages, and the tax depends on when the leave was accrued and why you left. Use the leave payout tax calculator to estimate the tax, or read our guide on tax on leave payouts.
Long service leave in other states
Long service leave is state law, so the rules change at the border. If you've worked in more than one state, the state where you're based usually applies.
Northern Territory long service leave FAQs
How much long service leave do you get in Northern Territory?
13 weeks after 10 years of continuous service. The NT gives 1.3 weeks for each completed year of service, so 15 years is 19.5 weeks.
How is long service leave calculated in Northern Territory?
Your years of continuous service are multiplied by the Northern Territory accrual rate. The NT counts completed years only, at 1.3 weeks each, so 8 years and 6 months of service is 10.4 weeks. You're paid your ordinary weekly pay for each week of leave.
Can you get long service leave before 10 years in Northern Territory?
Yes, from 7 years, for limited reasons. The NT pays pro-rata on reaching retirement age, if your employer ends your employment other than for serious misconduct (including redundancy), if you resign because of illness, incapacity or a pressing necessity, or on death.
Is long service leave paid out if you resign in Northern Territory?
Only after 10 years, unless you resign for a qualifying reason. After 10 years in the NT, unused long service leave is paid out when you resign. Between 7 and 10 years, resigning only qualifies if it is because of illness, incapacity or a domestic or other pressing necessity.
Does part-time work count towards long service leave in Northern Territory?
Yes. Long service leave is based on continuous service rather than hours, so part-time employees build up the same weeks of leave. How your pay rate is worked out, especially if your hours changed over the years, is set by the NT Act.
How is long service leave taxed when it's paid out?
A long service leave payout on termination is taxed under the ATO's rules for unused leave, not as ordinary wages. The rate depends on when the leave was accrued and why your job ended, with concessional treatment for genuine redundancy. Our leave payout tax calculator gives an estimate.