Calculating child support in Texas comes down to a specific statutory formula governed by the Texas Family Code. Rather than guessing what you might owe or receive, you can determine exact payments by establishing the non-custodial parent's monthly net resources, applying the correct child support percentage, and adjusting for any multi-household children.
How Texas Calculates Net Resources
The state doesn't base support payments on your gross salary alone. Instead, the process starts by tallying your total gross income from every conceivable source, including wages, commissions, tips, overtime, self-employment earnings, rental income, retirement benefits, dividends, and unemployment compensation.
Once total monthly gross income is established, the court subtracts specific statutory items to arrive at net resources:
- Social Security taxes (FICA)
- Federal income tax calculated for a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction
- Union dues
- The cost of health insurance, medical support, and dental support for the children
Unlike some states, Texas does not deduct state income tax because Texas has no state personal income tax.
Texas limits the amount of net resources subject to the standard percentage calculation. The monthly net resources cap stands at $11,700, an update that replaced the older $9,200 limit.
If the paying parent earns more than $11,700 per month, the standard percentage applies only to that $11,700 ceiling, yielding the maximum standard guideline payment. Courts can order additional support above this cap only if the custodial parent proves the child has proven needs that exceed the standard amount.
The standard guideline percentages applied to net resources (up to the $11,700 cap) for children before the court in a single household are:
- 1 child: 20 percent (Maximum standard payment: $2,340/month)
- 2 children: 25 percent (Maximum standard payment: $2,925/month)
- 3 children: 30 percent (Maximum standard payment: $3,510/month)
- 4 children: 35 percent (Maximum standard payment: $4,095/month)
- 5 children: 40 percent (Maximum standard payment: $4,680/month)
- 6 or more children: Not less than the amount for 5 children
Adjustments for Multiple Households
Many parents support children across more than one household. If the obligor (the paying parent) has other children they legally support outside of the current case, Texas Family Code Section 154.129 provides a multi-family adjusted percentage chart.
For example, if a parent has 2 children before the court in the current suit, but also legally supports 2 other children in a separate household, the standard 25% guideline percentage drops down to a lower adjusted percentage (such as 16% or 17%). This multi-child adjustment ensures that paying parents aren't financially crushed when balancing support obligations across multiple families. You can review the complete multi-child adjustment table directly in the Texas Family Code.
Step-by-Step Worksheet Guide
To map out a calculation manually, follow this sequential worksheet process:
- Determine Monthly Gross Income: Add up all income streams received monthly. If income fluctuates (such as hourly wages or seasonal bonuses), average the past 12 months.
- Subtract Allowable Tax Deductions: Deduct federal income tax and FICA taxes based on standard tax charts provided by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas.
- Deduct Health Costs: Subtract the exact monthly cost allocated for the child's health and dental insurance premiums.
- Apply the Cap: If the resulting net resources number exceeds $11,700, cap the figure at $11,700 for standard guideline calculations.
- Multiply by the Percentage: Multiply the capped net resources figure by the statutory percentage corresponding to the number of children you share.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to include bonuses: Many parents mistakenly assume child support calculations only look at base salary. Commissions, performance bonuses, and overtime count toward gross income.
- Assuming high earners pay unlimited percentages: Earning $20,000 a month doesn't mean you pay 20% of $20,000 for one child. Because of the cap, the calculation stops at $11,700 unless proven otherwise.
- Confusing custody with support termination: Even if you share 50/50 custody or have extensive visitation rights, Texas law rarely eliminates child support entirely unless both parents earn near-identical incomes and agree to a specific deviation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the paying parent is unemployed?
If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, the court may impute income to them based on earning capacity, typically calculating support as if they were earning minimum wage for a 40-hour work week.
Can child support be changed after it is ordered?
Yes. You can request a modification if it has been at least three years since the last order, or if there has been a material and substantial change in circumstances, such as a significant increase or decrease in either parent's income.
Does child support cover medical bills?
Standard child support is designed for food, clothing, and shelter. Medical and dental insurance are handled separately, and uninsured medical expenses are typically split between the parents (often 50/50 or proportional to income).
When does child support end in Texas?
Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever occurs later. Support may continue indefinitely if the child is disabled.
