The online Child Support Calculator gives you quick, accurate estimates of your child support payments. Just enter parent incomes, number of children, and care details.
Instantly see how much you’ll pay or receive. No fuss, just clear numbers. Perfect for parents across Australia, from Sydney to Perth. Get the answers you need to plan your finances with confidence.
Family Law and Child Support
Child support in Australia is managed by Services Australia, also known as the Child Support Agency (CSA). The system operates primarily outside the family law courts. Family law is mainly involved in setting or formalising custody arrangements, which directly affect the care percentage used to calculate child support.
Once custody is established, the resultant care percentage determines child support payments. This approach simplifies the process and reduces the need for court involvement.
How Child Support is Calculated
Child support is calculated using a formula established in the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989. The formula considers each parent’s income, the care percentage, and the number of children. It’s designed to distribute financial responsibility fairly between both parents.
The calculation begins with each parent’s share of the combined income. This is then adjusted by the care percentage to determine the final payment amount.
Related: How Does Child Support Work in Australia?
Care Percentage
The care percentage reflects how much time a child spends with each parent. It directly impacts the child support calculation by influencing the assumed cost percentage.
For example, a parent with 30% care is assumed to cover 24% of the child’s costs. This credit reduces the amount of child support they are required to pay.
Your custody arrangement, or care percentage, impacts payments. The child support calculator uses this percentage to determine how much you’ll pay or receive. More care generally means lower payments.
Child Custody Solutions, Child Support Calculator Australia
The care percentage ensures that the financial responsibility aligns with the level of care provided, making the system fairer for both parents.
Income of Parents
Each parent’s income is a key factor in calculating child support. The formula starts by assessing the taxable income of both parents. After deducting a self-support amount, the remaining income is used to determine their contribution to child support.
Higher-income parents are generally required to contribute more, so child support is proportional to each parent’s financial capacity.
Number of Children
The number of children involved affects the total child support amount. The formula adjusts payments to account for the higher costs of raising multiple children.
More children mean higher overall costs. The child support calculator reflects this, ensuring that payments are sufficient to meet the needs of all children involved.
How Much is Child Support in Australia?
Child support payments vary depending on income, the number of children, and care arrangements. The child support estimator provides quick estimates based on these factors.
For instance, when both parents earn $100,000 and have one young child with full-time care by the primary carer, the child support assessment calculator estimates $10,143 annually. However, if the primary carer has no income, this amount increases to $11,584.
In scenarios where both parents have no income, the payment drops significantly to $1,632. For two children, with no income for the primary carer and full-time care, child support is $16,880. But if the care is shared, the amount decreases—$12,829 with 10 nights of care, and $8,440 with 7 nights.