Texas Child Support Calculator (2025)

How Texas Calculates Child Support

Texas uses the Percentage of Income model, one of the simpler child support calculation methods in the United States. Unlike the Income Shares Model used by most other states (which considers both parents' income), Texas focuses primarily on the obligor's income — the non-custodial parent who will be making payments.

The Texas child support calculation process follows a straightforward path governed by Chapter 154 of the Texas Family Code. First, the court determines the obligor's gross monthly income from all sources. Second, the court applies specific deductions to arrive at net resources. Third, the court applies the appropriate guideline percentage based on the number of children. If the obligor has children from other relationships, an adjusted percentage table is used instead.

Texas courts have a strong presumption that the guideline amount is in the best interest of the child. While courts can deviate from the guidelines, they must make specific findings explaining why a deviation is warranted. This makes the Texas calculation relatively predictable compared to states with more discretionary formulas.

Texas Net Resources Defined

Under Texas Family Code Section 154.062, net resources are calculated by starting with all income from every source and subtracting specific allowable deductions. Understanding exactly what counts as income and what deductions are permitted is critical to an accurate calculation.

What Counts as Income (Resources)

Texas defines resources very broadly. The following items are included in gross resources:

• Wages, salary, and tips from all employment sources
• Self-employment income (gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses)
• Overtime pay, unless overtime is not regular or predictable
• Commissions and bonuses
• Interest, dividends, and royalty income
• Rental income (net of expenses)
• Capital gains
• Trust and estate income
• Social Security benefits (except Supplemental Security Income)
• Unemployment benefits
• Disability and workers' compensation benefits
• Pension, retirement, and annuity payments
• Military allowances (BAH, BAS, etc.)
• Gifts and prizes received on a recurring basis
• Alimony or maintenance received

Allowable Deductions

Texas permits the following deductions from gross resources to arrive at net resources:

• Federal income taxes — calculated using the tax rate for a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction
• State income taxes — Texas has no state income tax, so this is typically zero for Texas residents
• Social Security taxes (FICA) — the employee's portion of Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%)
• Union dues — only if mandatory as a condition of employment
• Health insurance for the children — the cost of coverage for the children subject to the support order

Notably, Texas does not allow deductions for the obligor's own health insurance premiums, voluntary retirement contributions, living expenses, or debts. The calculation is intentionally limited to ensure maximum resources are available for child support.

Guideline Percentages and Multiple Families

When the obligor has a legal duty to support children from only one relationship (the case before the court), the standard percentage table applies. However, when the obligor is also legally obligated to support children from other relationships, Texas uses an adjusted percentage table under Family Code Section 154.129.

Multiple-Family Adjusted Percentages

The "other children" column refers to children the obligor has a legal duty to support from other relationships — not the children before the court. This includes children from prior marriages, other court orders, or children living with the obligor. The adjusted percentages ensure a fair allocation of the obligor's resources among all children they are responsible for supporting.

The Net Resources Cap

Texas imposes a statutory cap on net resources for child support calculation purposes. For 2025, the cap is approximately $9,200 per month ($110,400 annually). The guideline percentages are applied only to net resources up to this cap amount.

The cap is set by the Texas legislature and is reviewed every six years. It was most recently updated to reflect current economic conditions. The practical effect of the cap is significant for higher-income obligors:

Above-Guidelines Support in Texas

When the obligor's net resources exceed the statutory cap, the custodial parent can request above-guidelines child support. Under Texas Family Code Section 154.126, the court may order additional support beyond the guideline amount if the custodial parent proves that the child's needs require it.

To obtain above-guidelines support, the requesting parent must present evidence of the child's actual needs that exceed the guideline cap amount. Courts consider:

• Educational expenses including private school tuition, tutoring, and college preparatory programs
• Extracurricular activities such as sports, music lessons, and competitive programs
• Travel expenses for visitation when parents live far apart
• Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
• The child's accustomed standard of living during the parents' relationship
• Special needs of the child requiring additional resources

The burden of proof falls on the parent requesting above-guidelines support. Simply having a high income is not sufficient; the court requires specific evidence that the child's proven needs justify additional support beyond the capped guideline amount.

Medical Support Orders in Texas

In addition to basic child support, Texas courts issue separate medical support orders under Texas Family Code Chapter 154, Subchapter D. Medical support in Texas has three components:

• Health insurance coverage: If the obligor has access to private health insurance through their employer at a reasonable cost, the court will order them to provide coverage for the child. "Reasonable cost" is generally defined as not exceeding 9% of the obligor's gross annual income.
• Cash medical support: If neither parent has access to reasonable private insurance, the court may order a cash medical support payment to help cover the child's health needs. This payment is capped and is in addition to the basic support amount.
• Uninsured medical expenses: The court typically orders both parents to share uninsured medical and dental expenses. The division may be 50/50 or proportional to each parent's income, depending on the court's determination.

Medical support is a separate obligation from the basic child support percentage. The cost of providing health insurance for the child is deducted from the obligor's gross resources before calculating net resources, which means it effectively reduces the basic child support amount.

Possession Schedule and Its Impact

Unlike many Income Shares states, Texas does not have an automatic parenting-time adjustment built into the child support formula. The Standard Possession Order (SPO) under Texas Family Code Section 153.312 provides the baseline custody schedule that the guideline percentages are designed around.

Under the standard possession schedule, the non-custodial parent typically receives:

• First, third, and fifth weekends of each month (Friday evening to Sunday evening)
• Thursday evenings during the school year
• Alternating holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break)
• Extended summer possession (usually 30 days)

This schedule results in approximately 43% of the child's time with the non-custodial parent. The guideline percentages are calibrated with this standard schedule in mind. If the non-custodial parent has expanded or extended possession significantly beyond the SPO, the court may consider this as a factor to deviate from the guideline amount, though it is not automatic.

For parents with a 50/50 or near-equal possession schedule, Texas courts have discretion to adjust the support amount. Some courts will offset the higher earner's obligation by the lower earner's theoretical obligation, resulting in a net payment from the higher earner to the lower earner. However, this approach varies by county and judge.

Modification Grounds in Texas

A child support order in Texas can be modified under two circumstances defined in Texas Family Code Section 156.401:

1. Material and Substantial Change

The most common basis for modification is proving a material and substantial change in circumstances since the date of the last order. Qualifying changes include:

• Significant income change: A substantial increase or decrease in either parent's income (job loss, promotion, new employment, or disability)
• Change in child's needs: New medical needs, educational requirements, or changes in the child's living situation
• Change in custody or possession: If the parenting schedule has changed significantly from what the court originally ordered
• Change in health insurance: If the cost or availability of health insurance for the child has materially changed
• Child reaching age of majority: When one of multiple children turns 18 or graduates high school
• Incarceration or release: A parent being incarcerated or released from incarceration

2. Three-Year Rule

Even without a material change, Texas allows modification if three years have passed since the last order (or modification) and the current order differs from the guideline amount by at least 20% or $100 per month, whichever is greater. This provision recognizes that income changes over time and periodically ensures that support remains consistent with guidelines.

The modification takes effect from the date the petition is filed with the court, not retroactively. Any arrears that accrued under the prior order remain enforceable. It is essential to file for modification promptly when circumstances change rather than simply stopping or reducing payments unilaterally.

Enforcement in Texas

Texas has some of the strongest child support enforcement mechanisms in the country. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Child Support Division is the primary enforcement agency, handling over 1.5 million cases statewide. Enforcement actions available in Texas include:

• Income withholding: The most common enforcement method. The court issues a wage withholding order to the obligor's employer, who must deduct child support from each paycheck and remit it to the State Disbursement Unit.
• License suspension: Texas can suspend driver's licenses, professional licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, and recreational licenses for non-payment of child support.
• Passport denial: Federal law allows denial of passport applications when child support arrears exceed $2,500.
• Tax refund interception: Both federal and state tax refunds can be intercepted and applied to child support arrears.
• Credit bureau reporting: Unpaid child support is reported to consumer credit bureaus, potentially damaging the obligor's credit score.
• Property liens: Liens can be placed on the obligor's real and personal property, including bank accounts, vehicles, and real estate.
• Contempt of court: The obligor can be held in contempt of court, which may result in fines of up to $500 per violation and/or imprisonment of up to 180 days per violation.
• Criminal prosecution: Willful failure to pay child support for more than two years or owing more than $10,000 can result in federal criminal charges.

Texas also participates in the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), which enables enforcement across state lines. If the obligor moves to another state, the Texas order remains enforceable, and the OAG can coordinate with other states' agencies to collect support.

Other State Child Support Calculators

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