Finance calculators

Texas Child Support Calculator

Updated Jul 6, 2026 By Jehan Wadia
Rate Formulas
Income (Paying Parent / Obligor)
Controls how OASDI and Medicare taxes are computed.
Include salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, tips, rental income, interest, dividends, and any other recurring income.
All values are converted to a monthly gross income figure.
Monthly Deductions (Optional)
Enter monthly deduction amounts that apply to the paying parent. Leave fields blank or at zero if not applicable.
Enter only the portion of the premium attributable to the children in this order.
Children's dental premium only — kept separate from health.
Required dues or mandatory retirement — not voluntary 401(k).
Texas has no state income tax — leave at 0 unless another state applies.
Support Order
For 7 or more children in this case, the guideline table does not apply — consult an attorney.
Only children with a current legal support obligation (Tex. Fam. Code §154.129).
Estimated Monthly Child Support Obligation
$984.34
Estimated Annual Child Support Obligation: $11,812.13

Monthly Gross Income
$5,000.00
Net Monthly Resources
$3,937.37
after taxes & deductions
Guideline % Applied
25.00%
Standard — §154.125
Effective Rate of Gross
19.69%
obligation ÷ gross income
Calculation Breakdown
Line ItemAmountAuthority
Federal income taxes are estimated using the IRS single-filer standard deduction and marginal tax brackets. This mirrors the methodology Texas courts use when calculating net resources, regardless of the obligor's actual filing status.
Step-by-Step Solution
Where the Monthly Gross Income Goes

Introduction

This free Texas child support calculator estimates how much a paying parent (called the "obligor") may owe each month. It follows the guidelines in the Texas Family Code §154.125 and §154.129, which Texas courts use to set child support amounts. For a broader overview of child support across all states, see our general child support calculator.

The calculator starts with the paying parent's gross income and subtracts taxes and allowed deductions to find net monthly resources. It then applies the correct guideline percentage based on the number of children in the case and any other children the parent supports. Texas caps net resources at $11,700 per month, so income above that limit is not included in the basic calculation.

To use it, enter the paying parent's income, pick a pay frequency, add any deductions that apply, and select the number of children. The tool will show a monthly child support estimate, a full breakdown of every step, and a chart of how the income is split. This calculator gives an estimate only. A Texas family court makes the final decision on any child support order.

How to Use Our Texas Child Support Calculator

Enter details about the paying parent's income, deductions, and children below. The calculator will estimate the monthly and annual child support obligation based on the Texas Family Code guidelines.

Employment Type: Choose "Employee" if the paying parent works for a company. Choose "Self-Employed" if they own their own business or work for themselves. This changes how taxes are calculated — our self employment tax calculator can help you understand the difference in tax rates.

Gross Income: Enter the paying parent's total income before any taxes or deductions. Include wages, salary, bonuses, tips, rental income, and any other money earned. If you need help determining your total gross earnings, try our gross pay calculator.

Income Frequency: Select how often the paying parent gets paid. Options include yearly, monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, or hourly. The calculator will convert the amount to a monthly figure. If you need to convert an hourly wage to an annual salary first, our hourly to salary calculator can help.

Hours Per Week: This field only appears if you select "Hourly" as the income frequency. Enter the number of hours the paying parent works each week.

Monthly Health Insurance Premium: Enter the monthly cost of health insurance for the children in this case only. Do not include the cost for the parent or other family members.

Monthly Dental Insurance Premium: Enter the monthly cost of dental insurance for the children in this case only. This is kept separate from health insurance.

Monthly Union Dues / Mandatory Retirement: Enter any required union dues or mandatory retirement payments. Do not include voluntary 401(k) contributions.

Monthly State Income Tax Withheld: Texas has no state income tax, so leave this at zero unless the paying parent works in or lives in a state that does. You can use our income tax calculator to estimate federal and state tax obligations.

Children in This Case: Use the slider or type a number from 1 to 6. This is the number of children covered by this specific child support order.

Other Children the Obligor Supports: Select the number of other children the paying parent has a legal duty to support outside of this case. This lowers the guideline percentage.

Click "Calculate" to see the estimated monthly child support amount, a full breakdown of taxes and deductions, the guideline percentage used, and a step-by-step explanation of the math. Click "Reset" to clear all fields and start over.

How Texas Child Support Works

In Texas, child support is money one parent pays to help cover the costs of raising their children. The parent who pays is called the obligor. The parent who receives the money is called the obligee. Texas law sets clear rules for how much child support should be, and those rules are found in the Texas Family Code, Chapter 154. If you are also dealing with alimony, our spousal support calculator covers that separately.

How Texas Calculates Child Support

Texas uses a formula based on the paying parent's net monthly resources — not the gross income. To find net resources, the court starts with all income from every source. Then it subtracts taxes and a few allowed deductions. These deductions include federal income tax, Social Security taxes (OASDI), Medicare taxes, the children's health insurance costs, the children's dental insurance costs, union dues, and mandatory retirement contributions. If you want to see exactly how much of your paycheck goes to taxes and deductions in Texas, our Texas paycheck calculator provides a detailed breakdown.

Once net resources are found, the court applies a guideline percentage based on how many children need support. For one child, the guideline is 20% of net resources. For two children, it is 25%. For three, it is 30%. Four children use 35%, and five or more children use 40%. These percentages come from Texas Family Code §154.125.

What If the Paying Parent Supports Other Children?

If the paying parent also supports children from another relationship, the percentage goes down. Texas Family Code §154.129 has an adjusted table that lowers the rate so the parent can fairly split support among all children they are responsible for.

The Net Resource Cap

Texas puts a cap on how much income the guideline percentages apply to. As of now, the cap is $11,700 per month in net resources. If the paying parent earns more than this, the court only applies the percentage to the first $11,700. For income above the cap, the court may order extra support, but only if the other parent can show the children need it. To understand how your gross income translates to net figures, you can also use our net to gross calculator.

Self-Employed Parents

Self-employed parents pay higher Social Security and Medicare taxes because they cover both the employer and employee shares. Instead of 6.2% for OASDI, they pay 12.4%. Instead of 1.45% for Medicare, they pay 2.9%. Texas courts account for this when figuring net resources. Our self employment tax calculator can show you the exact amount of self-employment taxes owed.

Low-Income Guidelines

If the paying parent has very low net resources, Texas applies a reduced guideline percentage. This helps make sure the parent can still meet their own basic needs while contributing to their children's care. Parents in this situation may also benefit from using a budget calculator to manage their finances alongside their support obligation.

Important Things to Know

This calculator gives you an estimate based on the standard Texas guidelines. A judge can order more or less than the guideline amount if there is a good reason. Things like a child's medical needs, school costs, or travel expenses for visitation can all affect the final order. For legal advice about your specific situation, talk to a Texas family law attorney.

Formulas used

Monthly Gross Income (Hourly Conversion)
\text{Monthly Gross} = \text{Hourly Rate} \times \text{Hours/Week} \times \frac{52}{12}
Monthly OASDI Tax
\text{OASDI} = \min\!\left(\text{Monthly Gross},\; \frac{176{,}100}{12}\right) \times r_{\text{OASDI}} \quad \begin{cases} r = 6.2\% & \text{Employee} \\ r = 12.4\% & \text{Self-Employed} \end{cases}
Monthly Medicare Tax
\text{Medicare} = \text{Monthly Gross} \times r_{\text{Med}} \quad \begin{cases} r = 1.45\% & \text{Employee} \\ r = 2.9\% & \text{Self-Employed} \end{cases}
Estimated Monthly Federal Income Tax
\text{Federal}_{\text{mo}} = \frac{1}{12}\sum_{i} r_i \times \left(\min(T, b_{i+1}) - b_i\right), \quad T = \max\!\left(0,\; \text{Annual Gross} - 15{,}000\right)
Net Monthly Resources (Capped)
\text{Net Resources} = \min\!\Big(\text{Monthly Gross} - \text{OASDI} - \text{Medicare} - \text{Federal} - \text{State Tax} - \text{Health Ins.} - \text{Dental Ins.} - \text{Union/Ret.},\;\; 11{,}700\Big)
Monthly Child Support Obligation
\text{Child Support} = \text{Net Resources} \times \text{Guideline } \%
Effective Rate of Gross Income
\text{Effective Rate} = \frac{\text{Child Support}}{\text{Monthly Gross}} \times 100

Frequently asked questions

What income counts as gross income for Texas child support?

Gross income includes all money earned from any source. This means wages, salary, bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime, rental income, interest, dividends, severance pay, trust income, and retirement benefits. If the paying parent gets money on a regular basis, it likely counts. Texas Family Code §154.062 lists the full set of income types courts will look at.

Why does this calculator use the single-filer tax rate?

Texas courts estimate federal income tax using the single-filer standard deduction when they calculate net resources. This is true no matter how the paying parent actually files their taxes. The calculator follows this same court method so the estimate matches what a judge would use.

What is the $11,700 net resource cap?

Texas law caps guideline child support at the first $11,700 of net monthly resources. If the paying parent's net resources are higher than $11,700, the guideline percentage only applies to that capped amount. A court may order extra support above the cap, but only if the other parent proves the children need more. This cap is set by Texas Family Code §154.125(a).

Can a judge order more or less than what this calculator shows?

Yes. This calculator shows the guideline amount, which is a starting point. A judge can order more or less if there is a good reason. Things like a child's special medical needs, educational costs, travel for visitation, or the paying parent's ability to earn more can all change the final order.

What is the difference between Employee and Self-Employed in this calculator?

The difference is in tax rates. An employee pays 6.2% for Social Security (OASDI) and 1.45% for Medicare. A self-employed person pays double — 12.4% for OASDI and 2.9% for Medicare — because they cover both the employer and employee shares. This means self-employed parents have a larger tax deduction, which lowers their net resources and reduces the child support estimate.

Do I include my 401(k) contributions as a deduction?

No. Voluntary 401(k) contributions are not deducted when calculating Texas child support. Only mandatory retirement contributions required by your employer or a government plan count as a deduction. If your retirement savings are optional, they do not reduce your net resources.

How does having other children I support change my child support?

If you have a legal duty to support children outside of this case, Texas uses a lower guideline percentage. This comes from Texas Family Code §154.129. The more other children you support, the lower the percentage applied to this case. This ensures your support is split fairly among all children you are responsible for.

Why is the health insurance premium only for the children?

Texas law only allows a deduction for the portion of the health insurance premium that covers the children in this support order. The cost of coverage for the parent or other family members does not count. You should enter just the children's share, not the total family premium. The same rule applies to dental insurance.

What if I get paid hourly and my hours change each week?

Enter the average number of hours you work per week. The calculator multiplies your hourly rate by your weekly hours, then multiplies by 52 weeks, and divides by 12 months to find your monthly gross income. If your hours vary a lot, a court may look at your earnings over the past year or longer to set an average.

Does Texas have a state income tax that affects child support?

No. Texas has no state income tax. Leave the state income tax field at zero unless the paying parent works in or lives in a state that charges one. If another state's income tax applies, enter the monthly amount withheld in that field.

What happens if I have 7 or more children in this case?

The Texas guideline table only goes up to 6 children. For 7 or more children in a single case, the standard table does not apply. You should talk to a Texas family law attorney, because the court will decide the amount based on the specific facts of your situation.

Is this calculator's result a legal child support order?

No. This calculator gives an estimate only. It is not a legal document and does not create a child support order. Only a Texas family court judge can set, change, or enforce a child support order. Use this tool to get a general idea of what you might owe or receive, and consult a family law attorney for legal advice.

How often is Texas child support paid?

Texas child support is usually paid monthly, but courts can order payments that match the paying parent's pay schedule — such as bi-weekly or semi-monthly. This calculator shows the monthly total and the annual total. Your actual payment schedule will be set by the court order.

What does net monthly resources mean?

Net monthly resources is the paying parent's monthly income after subtracting taxes and allowed deductions. It starts with gross income from all sources. Then it removes Social Security tax, Medicare tax, federal income tax, state income tax, the children's health and dental insurance, union dues, and mandatory retirement contributions. The guideline percentage is applied to this net amount.

What are the low-income guidelines for Texas child support?

If the paying parent's net monthly resources fall below $1,000, Texas applies a reduced guideline percentage. For example, one child drops from 20% to 15%, and two children drop from 25% to 20%. This protects low-income parents so they can still cover their own basic living costs. These reduced rates are found in Texas Family Code §154.125(b).

Can child support be modified after it is set?

Yes. Either parent can ask the court to modify child support if there has been a big change in circumstances. Examples include a major change in income, a job loss, a new child, or a change in the children's needs. A modification can also be requested if the current order has been in place for three years and the new amount would differ by at least 20% or $100 from the existing order.

Does this calculator account for custody or visitation time?

No. This calculator uses the standard Texas guideline formula, which does not adjust for how much time each parent spends with the children. Texas is not a state that uses a shared-parenting time offset in its basic child support formula. However, a judge may consider the parenting schedule when deciding whether to deviate from the guideline amount.

What tax year does this calculator use for federal income tax?

The calculator uses the 2025 federal tax brackets and the $15,000 standard deduction for a single filer. Tax brackets and deductions can change each year, so the estimate may shift slightly as new tax rates take effect. The method of using single-filer rates matches what Texas courts apply.