Counted as income
- Wages, overtime, commissions, tips, bonuses
- Self-employment and net rental income
- Interest, dividends, retirement, pensions
- Unemployment, workers' comp, SSDI, VA disability
- Alimony and spousal maintenance received
Updated for 2026 ยท Texas Family Code ch. 154
Texas Child Support Calculator (2026)
Texas child support is a set percentage of the paying parent's net resources: 20% for one child, rising 5% for each extra child up to 40%. Net resources are gross income minus Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax, union dues and the child's health insurance.
- The guideline stops at $11,700 of monthly net resources, so the most for one child is $2,340 a month.
- On $60,000 a year, one child's support is about $840 a month.
- Only the paying parent's income is used; the other parent's income does not change the guideline.
- Support runs until 18 or high school graduation, whichever comes later.
- Past-due support grows at 6% simple interest a year.
The other parent pays you
$0 a month
Weekly$0
Yearly$0
Of payer income0%
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Income shares estimate
This is an estimate from the Texas guideline and the 2026 tax chart. The judge sets the final amount.
How much is child support in Texas for 1, 2, 3 or 4 kids?
On $60,000 a year, Texas child support is about $840 a month for one child, $1,050 for two, $1,260 for three and $1,470 for four. The chart below applies the 2026 tax chart and the guideline to common weekly and yearly pay for an employed parent with no other children.
| Paying parent earns | Net resources a month | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children | 4 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 a week | $1,918 | $384 | $480 | $576 | $671 |
| $750 a week | $2,793 | $559 | $698 | $838 | $978 |
| $1,000 a week | $3,664 | $733 | $916 | $1,099 | $1,282 |
| $1,500 a week | $5,309 | $1,062 | $1,327 | $1,593 | $1,858 |
| $2,000 a week | $6,833 | $1,367 | $1,708 | $2,050 | $2,391 |
| $30,000 a year | $2,190 | $438 | $548 | $657 | $767 |
| $40,000 a year | $2,860 | $572 | $715 | $858 | $1,001 |
| $50,000 a year | $3,530 | $706 | $882 | $1,059 | $1,235 |
| $60,000 a year | $4,199 | $840 | $1,050 | $1,260 | $1,470 |
| $80,000 a year | $5,426 | $1,085 | $1,356 | $1,628 | $1,899 |
| $100,000 a year | $6,598 | $1,320 | $1,650 | $1,979 | $2,309 |
| $150,000 a year | $9,483 | $1,897 | $2,371 | $2,845 | $3,319 |
| $200,000 a year | $12,411 | $2,340 | $2,925 | $3,510 | $4,095 |
How is child support calculated in Texas?
Texas takes the paying parent's monthly gross income from all sources, subtracts taxes and a few allowed costs to reach net resources, then multiplies by the guideline percentage for the number of children. The Attorney General publishes a tax chart each year, so every court starts from the same tax figures.
- Add up monthly gross income: wages, overtime, tips, bonuses, self-employment and other income.
- Subtract Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%), or 15.3% self-employment tax on 92.35% of income.
- Subtract federal income tax for a single filer with the $16,100 standard deduction. Texas has no state income tax.
- Subtract union dues and the child's health and dental insurance to reach net resources.
- Multiply net resources, up to $11,700, by the percentage for the number of children.
- The judge orders that amount or explains in writing why a different amount fits the child better.
Is Texas child support based on gross or net income?
Net. Texas applies the percentage to net resources, which is gross pay after Social Security, Medicare, federal income tax, union dues and the child's insurance. Only the paying parent's income goes into the formula, even when both parents work. The other parent's income matters only if the judge considers going above or below the guideline.
Not counted
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- TANF and other public assistance
- Foster care payments
- Return of principal or capital
- A new spouse's income
Subtracted before the percentage
- Social Security and Medicare taxes
- Federal income tax from the tax chart
- Union dues
- Child's health and dental insurance
- Required retirement pay if no Social Security
What percentage is child support in Texas?
The Texas guideline takes 20% of net resources for one child, then 25%, 30% and 35% for two, three and four children, and 40% for five or more. When net resources are under $1,000 a month, a low-income schedule applies, starting at 15% for one child. The last column shows the most the guideline gives at the cap.
| Children | Net resources $1,000 or more | Net resources under $1,000 | Guideline maximum a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | 20% | 15% | $2,340 |
| 2 children | 25% | 20% | $2,925 |
| 3 children | 30% | 25% | $3,510 |
| 4 children | 35% | 30% | $4,095 |
| 5 or more | 40% | 35% | $4,680 |
What is the maximum child support in Texas?
Since September 1, 2025, the Texas guideline covers monthly net resources up to $11,700, up from $9,200. The guideline maximum is $2,340 a month for one child and $2,925 for two. An employed parent reaches the cap at about $15,714 a month in gross pay, or $188,562 a year.
A judge can order more than the guideline maximum only when the child's proven needs are higher, such as private school or medical costs. The extra amount is shared between the parents by their circumstances, and the paying parent never owes more than 100% of the child's proven needs.
What is the minimum child support in Texas if unemployed?
Texas sets no fixed minimum, but with no proof of income the court presumes full-time minimum wage: $7.25 an hour for 40 hours, or $1,257 a month. That gives net resources of $1,161 and support of about $232 a month for one child. A judge can also count pay a parent gave up on purpose.
Texas child support examples with real numbers
These cases show how the Texas formula works in real situations, from a typical paycheck to self-employment, high income and a second family. Each figure is calculated with the 2026 Texas tax chart and the guideline in the same way as the calculator at the top of this page.
$4,500 a month, two children
Taxes leave $3,797 of net resources. 25% of that is $949 a month, about $219 a week.
$1,000 a week, pays $200 for the child's insurance
Net resources after taxes and the premium are $3,464. 20% for one child is $693 a month, and the parent keeps the child insured.
$250,000 a year, one child
Net resources are $15,265 a month, above the cap. The guideline uses $11,700, so support is $2,340 unless the child's proven needs are higher.
Self-employed, $6,000 a month, three children
Self-employment tax and income tax leave $4,661. 30% is $1,398 a month. Business costs must be real and documented to be subtracted.
$5,000 a month, one child here, two in another home
The multiple-family table lowers the rate to 16%, so support is $672 a month instead of $840 for one child alone.
50/50 schedule, $7,000 and $4,000 a month, two children
Guideline amounts are $1,415 and $849. If the judge offsets them, the higher earner pays the $566 difference.
When does child support end in Texas?
Texas support runs until 18 or until high school graduation, whichever comes later, as long as the child stays enrolled and meets attendance rules. It ends sooner if the child marries, joins the military or is legally emancipated, and it can continue with no end date for a disabled child.
Does it stop on its own?
Most orders name the end date. Payments taken from wages may need a termination notice to the employer, so check that withholding stops on time.
Still in high school at 18
Support continues while the child is enrolled and attending, and can run through the end of the month of graduation.
Past-due support after 18
Arrears stay owed. A money judgment can be requested until the 10th anniversary of the child reaching adulthood or the order ending.
How is child support paid in Texas?
Most Texas child support is withheld from the paying parent's paycheck by the employer and sent to the State Disbursement Unit, which passes it to the other parent. Parents without withholding can pay online through Smart e-Pay, by mail with a check or money order, or in cash at approved locations. Payments can take up to seven days to post.
Paying
- Wage withholding by the employer
- Smart e-Pay: bank draft, debit or credit card
- Check or money order by mail
- Cash at approved payment locations
Receiving
- Direct deposit to a bank account
- Texas Payment Card if there is no bank account
- Deposit changes take about 30 days
When it is due
The due date is set in the order, usually the same day each month. Withheld support follows the payday, weekly or every two weeks.
What happens if you don't pay child support in Texas?
Unpaid Texas child support builds 6% simple interest a year, and the Attorney General can withhold up to 50% of disposable earnings, take tax refunds and suspend licenses once three months are owed. A judge can hold the parent in contempt, which can mean jail time and a warrant if the parent misses the hearing.
| Enforcement step | Texas rule |
|---|---|
| Interest on arrears | 6% simple interest a year (Family Code 157.265) |
| Wage withholding | Up to 50% of disposable earnings (158.009) |
| Driver's, professional and hunting licenses | Can be suspended when three months of support are overdue (232.003) |
| US passport | Denied when past-due support passes $2,500 |
| Liens | Bank and retirement accounts, property, insurance and lawsuit payouts (157.317) |
| Contempt and jail | Motion filed within 2 years after the child becomes an adult (157.005) |
Who pays child support in Texas with 50/50 custody?
Usually the parent with the higher income. Texas has no separate formula for equal custody, but time with the child is a factor a judge may weigh under section 154.123. Many courts use an offset: each parent's guideline amount is calculated and the higher earner pays the difference. Set the calculator slider to 50% to see that offset.
Equal time does not always mean no support. When incomes are close, the offset can be small or zero. When one parent earns much more, that parent usually still pays, and a judge can order a different amount to fit the child's needs in both homes.
How do you lower or increase child support in Texas?
A Texas order can change after a material and substantial change, such as job loss, a big raise or new custody. It can also change after three years when the guideline amount differs from the order by 20% or $100. The new amount starts no earlier than when the other parent is served or appears.
Through the Attorney General
Ask the Child Support Division for a review. If both parents agree, the new order can be set through the Child Support Review Process without a full trial.
Through the court
File a petition to modify in the court that made the order. Agreed orders below the guideline need a material and substantial change.
Check the new amount
Enter the current incomes in the calculator above and compare the result with your order to see whether the 20% or $100 test is met.
How do you file for child support in Texas?
Apply online or by mail with the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division, which can locate the other parent, establish paternity, set the order and collect payments. Parents in a divorce or custody case can ask that court for support instead. A judge can also order retroactive support, presumed reasonable for up to four years before filing.
Can you cancel or waive child support in Texas?
Not without a judge. A support order is a court order, so neither parent can cancel, pause or waive it alone. Parents can file an agreed order to stop or lower it, and the judge checks it serves the child. Support already past due usually stays owed, and the state can still open a case for a family on benefits.
How is child support calculated in Texas with children from different mothers?
When the paying parent has a legal duty to support other children, Texas lowers the percentage for the children in the case. The multiple-family table in section 154.129 sets the new rate, for example 17.5% instead of 20% for one child when there is one other child. Choose the number of other children in the calculator.
| Other children supported | 1 child in the case | 2 children | 3 children | 4 children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 20% | 25% | 30% | 35% |
| 1 | 17.5% | 22.5% | 27.38% | 32.2% |
| 2 | 16% | 20.63% | 25.2% | 30.33% |
| 3 | 14.75% | 19% | 24% | 29% |
What does child support cover in Texas, and does it include health insurance?
Monthly support pays for the child's everyday needs, such as housing, food, clothing and transportation. Health and dental insurance are ordered on top of it as medical and dental support. Insurance counts as reasonable when it costs no more than 9% of the paying parent's yearly resources, and uninsured medical bills are usually split.
Paying parent insures the child
The child's share of the premium is subtracted before the percentage is applied, which lowers the monthly support.
Receiving parent insures the child
The paying parent adds the actual premium for the child to each payment, up to the reasonable cost limit.
No private insurance
The child is enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and the paying parent pays cash medical support, up to 9% of yearly resources.
Texas child support questions
Do overtime and bonuses count for child support in Texas?
Yes. Section 154.062 counts 100% of wages and salary, including overtime, commissions, tips and bonuses. Irregular pay is usually averaged over a year. Interest, rental income, retirement, unemployment and workers' compensation also count, while SSI and TANF benefits do not.
How is child support calculated in Texas for self-employed parents?
The court starts from business income after real, documented business costs, then subtracts self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of the income) and federal income tax using the self-employed tax chart. Personal costs run through the business, such as a family car, can be added back as income.
Can Texas child support take VA disability?
Yes. VA service-connected disability compensation counts as a resource for child support in Texas. Only the VA non-service-connected disability pension is left out. When the child receives benefits because of the paying parent's disability, the court subtracts those benefits from the guideline amount.
Does Texas child support continue through college?
No. A Texas judge cannot order support for college, although parents can agree to it in a written divorce decree. Support can continue with no end date only for a child with a disability that started before 18.
Can child support take your 401k or an inheritance in Texas?
Yes, for past-due support. A Texas child support lien attaches to bank accounts, retirement plans including IRAs, insurance payouts, lawsuit awards and other property that is not exempt, which can include an inheritance. Current monthly support is usually taken from wages instead.
Does Texas report unpaid child support to credit bureaus?
Yes. The Texas Attorney General reports past-due child support to the credit bureaus, so a balance can lower a credit score and appear on loan checks. Paying the arrears or staying on an agreed repayment plan stops new negative reports.
Is child support taxable in Texas?
No. Child support is not income for the parent who receives it and cannot be deducted by the parent who pays it, on the federal return. With no Texas state income tax, there is no state return to think about either.