Child support FAQ

Short answers to the questions people most often ask about Australian child support. Each one links back to the underlying rules where there's more to it.

Does 50/50 care mean no child support?

No. With equal care, each parent is credited with meeting 50% of the children's costs, but child support is still payable if one parent's share of the combined child support income is more than 50%. Equal care plus equal income is the only genuine zero case.

How many nights do I need before it reduces my child support?

52 nights a year, which is 14% care. Below that threshold, care makes no difference to the assessment at all. At 52 nights you reach regular care and are credited with 24% of the children's costs.

Is child support based on gross or net income?

Neither exactly. It uses adjusted taxable income, which starts with your taxable income and adds back reportable fringe benefits, reportable super contributions, net investment losses, target foreign income and certain tax-free pensions.

Does the self-support amount come off before or after the other parent's income is counted?

Before. The self-support amount of $31,046 is deducted from each parent's adjusted taxable income first, and only the remainder is combined and used to work out the costs of the children.

Does child support stop automatically at 18?

Yes, unless you apply before the child's 18th birthday to extend it to the end of the school year. Applications made after the birthday are generally too late.

Do I still pay child support if I'm unemployed?

Usually yes, at either the minimum annual rate of $551 or the fixed annual rate of $1,825 per child, depending on whether you receive an income support payment. Reductions are possible in cases of hardship but must be applied for.

Can I stop paying if I'm not allowed to see my children?

No. Child support and parenting arrangements are legally separate. Withholding child support because contact isn't happening creates a debt with enforcement consequences and doesn't affect the care arrangements.

Does the other parent's new partner's income count?

No. A new partner's income is not included in a child support assessment. It can be relevant in a change of assessment application in limited ways, but it is never simply added to a parent's income.

What if the other parent is hiding income through a company or trust?

That's the most common basis for a change of assessment under reason 8. Services Australia can look behind the tax return at the parent's actual financial capacity, but you'll need evidence such as company accounts, trust distributions and bank records.

Does paying school fees directly count as child support?

Sometimes. Where both parents agree, direct payments can be fully credited. Where only the paying parent claims it, credit is generally limited to a portion of the liability and only for prescribed expense categories.

How often is child support recalculated?

Assessments are recalculated at the start of each child support period, usually annually after tax returns are lodged, and also whenever care arrangements, income estimates or the number of children change.

Do I have to apply for child support to get Family Tax Benefit?

To receive more than the base rate of FTB Part A, you generally must take reasonable steps to obtain child support. Exemptions apply in cases involving family violence or where the other parent can't be identified or found.

This is general information about how the child support system works, not legal or financial advice. For advice about your own circumstances, speak to Services Australia or a family lawyer.