Texas Child Support Calculator
Texas sets child support as a percentage of the paying parent's monthly net resources — 20% for one child up to 40% for five or more — using the same gross-to-net methodology as the Attorney General's 2026 tax charts, including the $11,700/month net-resources cap in effect since September 1, 2025.
Obligor's (paying parent's) gross monthly pay, before taxes
Monthly union dues actually withheld, §154.062(d)(3)
Monthly premium cost for the child's coverage, §154.062(d)(5)
Estimated monthly child support
$839.83Obligor (noncustodial parent)
Annual amount
$10,077.96Who pays
Obligor (noncustodial parent)| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross monthly income | $5,000.00 |
| Social Security (OASDI) 6.2% up to $15375.00/mo wage base | −$310.00 |
| Medicare 1.45%, uncapped | −$72.50 |
| Federal income tax 1/12 of annual single-filer tax on gross less $16,100 std deduction (2026 brackets) | −$418.33 |
| Net resources | $4,199.17 |
| Applicable guideline percentage 1 child(ren) before the court; 0 other child(ren) supported (§154.125(b)/§154.129 standard table) | 20 |
| Monthly child support obligation | $839.83 |
This is a guideline estimate under Tex. Fam. Code §154.125 for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for the official worksheet or a family-law attorney. Courts can deviate from guideline amounts based on statutory factors, and inputs like income determination or imputed income are ultimately decided by the court.
Texas child support at a glance
| Model | Percentage of obligor's net resources |
| 1 child / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5+ | 20% / 25% / 30% / 35% / 40% |
| Net resources cap | $11,700/month (since Sep 1, 2025) |
| Low-income rates | 15%–35% below $1,000/month net |
| Statute | Tex. Fam. Code §154.125 |
Net resources, not gross pay
Texas Family Code §154.062 starts from nearly all income (wages, self-employment, overtime, rental income, Social Security) and deducts Social Security/Medicare taxes, federal income tax computed as a single filer with the standard deduction, union dues, and the cost of the child's health and dental insurance. The Attorney General publishes annual tax charts implementing this conversion — this calculator reproduces the 2026 charts' methodology for both employed and self-employed parents.
The $11,700 cap
Guideline percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources (adjusted every six years for inflation; current amount effective September 1, 2025, per 50 Tex. Reg. 5351). Above the cap, a court can order more only based on the child's proven needs (§154.126).
Multiple households
If the paying parent also has a legal duty to support children in other households, §154.129 reduces the percentage on a published grid — for example, one child before the court plus one other supported child lowers 20% to 17.5%. Courts may alternatively use the §154.128 step-down credit method, which can differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of income is child support in Texas?
For net resources between $1,000 and $11,700 per month: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five or more (six or more children can't be less than the five-child amount). If the obligor's net resources are below $1,000/month, reduced percentages apply: 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%. These percentages apply to net resources, not gross pay.
What is the maximum child support in Texas in 2026?
Guideline percentages apply to at most $11,700 of monthly net resources — the cap in force since September 1, 2025 (previously $9,200 from 2019). So presumptive guideline support tops out at $2,340/month for one child (20% × $11,700) up to $4,680/month for five or more children. A court can only order more if the child's proven needs justify it, and the next inflation adjustment is scheduled for September 2031.
How does Texas calculate net resources from my paycheck?
Gross monthly income minus: Social Security (6.2% up to the wage base) and Medicare (1.45%) taxes — or self-employment tax for the self-employed — federal income tax computed as a single filer with one standard deduction, union dues, and what you pay for the child's health and dental insurance. Texas has no state income tax, so nothing is deducted for it. The Attorney General publishes the official conversion in its annual tax charts; this calculator implements the 2026 charts.
Does overtime or a second job count for Texas child support?
Yes. §154.062 counts 100% of wage and salary income including commissions, overtime pay, tips, and bonuses, plus self-employment income, rental income, and most other receipts. Courts can also 'deem' income if a parent is intentionally unemployed or underemployed — this calculator takes the income you enter at face value and doesn't model imputed income.
Is the guideline amount mandatory?
It's a rebuttable presumption, not an absolute rule. §154.123 lists seventeen factors — the child's age and needs, each parent's ability to support, custody time, extraordinary expenses, and more — that let a court set support above or below the guideline when it's in the child's best interest. Income-withholding orders are also capped at 50% of disposable earnings (§158.009).
How does health insurance affect Texas child support?
The premium the paying parent covers for the child's health and dental insurance is deducted from gross resources before applying the percentage (§154.062(d)(5)) — it is not added on top afterwards. Texas orders typically require the obligor to provide medical and dental support in addition to the guideline cash amount. If the same plan covers other dependents, the premium is prorated by headcount.