How Texas Calculates Child Support Payments

Texas uses a formula based on income and custody time

Texas child support is calculated using the Texas Child Support Guidelines, a formula that multiplies a parent's net monthly income by a percentage that depends on how many children need support and how much time each parent spends with them. The formula is not a suggestion — it is what courts use unless both parents agree to something different in writing, or a judge finds the guideline amount would be unjust.

The calculation starts with net monthly income, which is not the same as your paycheck. It includes wages, self-employment income, bonuses, and some benefits, minus taxes, union dues, and court-ordered child support you already pay for other children. Once you know that number, you explore the percentage based on the number of children and custody arrangement.

The result is the basic child support obligation. From there, you may add costs for health insurance, childcare, and medical expenses that are not covered by insurance. The final number is what one parent pays the other each month.

Key Takeaways

• Texas multiplies net monthly income by a set percentage — 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, 40% for five, and 50% for six or more.
• The percentage changes if the parent with custody has the children less than 50% of the time, because the paying parent's obligation drops when they have more parenting time.
• Net income includes wages, self-employment, bonuses, and some benefits, minus taxes and existing child support orders, not gross pay.
• Health insurance premiums, childcare costs, and uncovered medical expenses are added to the basic obligation and split between parents according to their income.
• Either parent can ask a court to deviate from the guideline amount if following it would be unjust, but the judge must explain why in writing.

How to find your net monthly income

Start with your gross monthly income — all money you receive before taxes. For W-2 employees, this is your annual salary divided by 12. For self-employed people, it is your net business income (revenue minus business expenses) divided by 12.

Then subtract the following from gross income: federal income tax withholding, Social Security tax, Medicare tax, state income tax (if your state has it), union dues, and any child support you already pay for other children. Do not subtract credit card payments, car loans, or rent — those are personal expenses, not deductions from income for child support purposes.

Some income counts toward child support even if you do not receive it as a paycheck. This includes bonuses, commissions, overtime, rental income, interest and dividends, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, and military allowances. If you are voluntarily unemployed or underemployed — meaning you could earn more but choose not to — a court may count income you could be earning instead of what you actually earn.

If you have significant assets (real estate, investments, a business), the court may also consider income those assets could generate, though this is less common and requires a judge's decision.

The percentage table and custody time

Once you have net monthly income, multiply it by the percentage that matches your situation. The standard percentages are:

Number of Children	Percentage of Net Income
One child	20%
Two children	25%
Three children	30%
Four children	35%
Five children	40%
Six or more children	50%

These percentages assume the parent paying child support has the children less than 50% of the time. If that parent has the children 50% or more of the time, the calculation changes. In that case, you calculate the obligation for both parents using the percentages above, then subtract the lower amount from the higher amount. The parent with the higher income pays the difference.

For example: Parent A earns $3,000 net monthly and has one child 60% of the time. Parent B earns $2,000 net monthly and has the child 40% of the time. Parent A's obligation would be $3,000 × 20% = $600. Parent B's obligation would be $2,000 × 20% = $400. Parent B pays Parent A the difference: $200 per month.

Adding health insurance, childcare, and medical costs

The basic obligation (income × percentage) is only the starting point. You must also add certain expenses and split them between parents based on their income ratio.

The expenses that get added are: the cost of health insurance premiums for the child, childcare costs needed so a parent can work, and medical, dental, or vision expenses not covered by insurance. These are not optional — if these costs exist, they go into the calculation.

To split these costs, you calculate each parent's share of total net income. If Parent A earns $3,000 and Parent B earns $2,000, their total is $5,000. Parent A's share is 60% ($3,000 ÷ $5,000), and Parent B's share is 40%. Each parent pays their percentage of the added expenses. The parent paying child support then adds their share to the basic obligation.

Example: Basic obligation is $600. Health insurance costs $150 per month. Parent A pays 60% of that ($90) and Parent B pays 40% ($60). Parent B's total child support is $600 + $60 = $660.

When a judge can order a different amount

A judge can deviate from the guideline amount if following it would be unjust or inappropriate. Texas law lists factors a judge can consider, including: the age and needs of the child, the ability of each parent to contribute, the standard of living the child would have had if the marriage had not ended, and any other relevant factor.

Common reasons for deviation include: one parent has much higher income than the guideline assumes, the child has special needs or medical conditions, a parent has other children from different relationships, or the parents have agreed to a different arrangement and the judge finds it is in the child's best interest.

If a judge orders an amount different from the guideline, they must write an explanation of why the guideline amount would be unjust. This written finding is important because it becomes part of the court record and can be reviewed if either parent later asks to change the order.

How to use this information in a court case or negotiation

If you are working out child support with the other parent outside of court, you can use this formula to see what the guideline amount would be and decide whether to agree to that or something else. Both parents must sign any agreement you reach, and a judge must approve it before it becomes an order.

If you are going to court, gather documents that show your net income: recent pay stubs, tax returns for the past two years, and proof of any other income. Bring documentation of childcare costs, health insurance premiums, and uncovered medical expenses. Bring a calendar or custody schedule showing how much time each parent has the child. The judge will use all of this to calculate the amount.

You can also request a child support calculation from the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division, though this is informational only and not binding on a court. Many family law attorneys can also run the calculation for you as part of their services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does child support change if one parent loses their job?

Yes, but only if you file a motion to modify with the court. Child support does not automatically adjust when income changes. You must show the court that the change in income is substantial and material — usually meaning a change of at least 10% of the current obligation. The new amount takes effect from the date you file, not from the date the income changed.

What if the paying parent makes a lot more money than the guideline assumes?

Texas guidelines explore to net income up to a certain cap (this cap changes yearly and is set by the state). If income exceeds that cap, the judge has discretion to order an amount above the guideline percentage or to explore the percentage only to the capped amount. The judge must explain their reasoning in writing.

Can parents agree to pay less than the guideline amount?

Yes, if both parents sign a written agreement and a judge approves it. The judge will review the agreement to make sure it is in the child's best interest. If one parent later wants to change it, they must show the court that circumstances have changed substantially since the agreement was signed.

Are bonuses and overtime included in child support calculations?

Yes, if they are regular or recurring. A one-time bonus may not count, but bonuses or overtime that happen every year or most months are included in net income. If you receive irregular income, bring documentation showing the pattern over the past two to three years so the court can average it.

Who pays for the child's health insurance?

The cost of the premium is added to the basic child support obligation and split between parents by income percentage, as described above. Usually, one parent carries the insurance and the other reimburses their share. The court order will specify who provides the insurance and how the cost is split.