How Much Child Support Will I Pay or Receive?
There is no flat child support amount in Australia. The amount you pay or receive depends on both parents' adjusted taxable incomes, the number and ages of the children, and the care percentage. The examples below show common 2026 salary scenarios, then point you to the calculator for your exact inputs.
Example Assumptions
- 2026 assessment year.
- Formula 1, no non-parent carer and no multi-case children.
- Children are under 13.
- The lower-income parent has primary care and the higher-income parent has no overnight care in these examples.
- No relevant dependent children, no income estimate reconciliation, no Change of Assessment, and no private agreement.
These are examples, not formal assessments. Services Australia can use different income information or apply rules not shown here.
How Much Child Support on $100k or $150k?
| Scenario | Payer income | Other parent income | Children | Annual estimate | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100k income, one child | $100,000 | $60,000 | 1 child under 13 | $10,899 | $908 | $210 |
| $100k income, two children | $100,000 | $60,000 | 2 children under 13 | $16,088 | $1,341 | $309 |
| $150k income, one child | $150,000 | $60,000 | 1 child under 13 | $17,138 | $1,428 | $330 |
| $150k income, two children | $150,000 | $60,000 | 2 children under 13 | $26,280 | $2,190 | $505 |
What If the Other Parent Has No Income?
If the other parent's adjusted taxable income is below the 2026 self-support amount, their child support income can be treated as zero. In the same simple assumptions, the estimates look like this:
| Scenario | Children | Annual estimate | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100k payer, other parent $0 | 1 child under 13 | $11,275 | $940 |
| $100k payer, other parent $0 | 2 children under 13 | $16,326 | $1,360 |
| $150k payer, other parent $0 | 1 child under 13 | $18,000 | $1,500 |
| $150k payer, other parent $0 | 2 children under 13 | $27,051 | $2,254 |
How to Read Pay and Receive Examples
If the formula says Parent A pays Parent B $10,899 per year, Parent B receives that amount before any collection issues, arrears, private payment arrangements, or Services Australia collection offsets. The same number answers both sides of the question: how much one parent pays and how much the other parent receives.
The direction changes when the care or income split changes. A parent with primary care can still pay child support if their income percentage is high enough, and a parent with equal care can still pay if they earn much more than the other parent.
Why Your Result May Differ
- Your child may be 13 or older, which changes the costs of children table.
- You may have shared care, which gives a care cost offset.
- You may have relevant dependent children or other child support cases.
- Services Australia may use ATO-linked income rather than your current salary.
- A Change of Assessment or private agreement may alter the standard formula result.
Run Your Exact Numbers
Use the calculator for your actual income, child age, and care arrangement. Then use the formula and table guides to understand where the number came from.
Start with the child support calculator, then check the 2026 self-support amount and 2026 costs of children table.