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Child Support Calculation in Texas: The 2026 Guideline Formula

Child support worksheet beside a calculator

Texas calculates child support as a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources. For one child, the court presumptively starts at 20%. Two children bring 25%, three bring 30%, and the percentage keeps rising up to 40% for five. Net resources means income from all sources minus a short list of required deductions. The percentage applies only up to a monthly cap, currently $11,700.

This guide walks through each step in order, with worked examples you can follow with your own numbers. It also covers the situations that change the result: low income, other children, high income, medical support and equal possession time.

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TL;DR

  • Texas guideline support is a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four and 40% for five.
  • Net resources are gross income from all sources minus statutory deductions such as Social Security tax, federal income tax, state income tax, union dues and the child’s health insurance cost.
  • The guideline percentages apply to net resources up to $11,700 per month. A court may order more above that if the child’s proven needs justify it.
  • Medical and dental support are ordered on top of the guideline amount, and they are enforceable as child support.
  • The guideline is a presumption. A judge can vary it when the evidence shows the guideline amount would not be in the child’s best interest.

Table of Contents

The Texas child support formula in one view

The formula has three parts. First, the court determines the paying parent’s (the obligor’s) monthly net resources. Second, it applies the percentage for the number of children before the court. Third, it adds medical and dental support, which is set separately.

The percentages come from Texas Family Code § 154.125:

Children before the court Standard percentage of net resources Percentage if net resources are under $1,000
1 20% 15%
2 25% 20%
3 30% 25%
4 35% 30%
5 40% 35%
6 or more Not less than the amount for 5 children Not less than the amount for 5 children

The Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) describes the same structure in its guidance for parents: support is a percentage of the noncustodial parent’s net resources, and the percentage depends on the number of children.

Two points surprise many parents. The calculation uses the paying parent’s net resources, not the receiving parent’s income. And the percentage applies to the whole order for all children in the case. It is not a per-child amount that you multiply again.

Step 1: Add up gross resources

Texas defines income broadly. Under Family Code § 154.062(b), net resources start with 100 percent of:

  • Wages, salary and other pay for personal services, including commissions, overtime, tips and bonuses
  • Interest, dividends and royalty income
  • Self-employment income and net rental income
  • Other income actually being received, such as severance pay, retirement benefits, pensions, trust income, annuities and capital gains
  • Social Security benefits other than Supplemental Security Income
  • VA disability benefits other than non-service-connected disability pension benefits
  • Unemployment, disability and workers’ compensation benefits
  • Gifts and prizes, interest on notes, spousal maintenance and alimony

The list is long on purpose. Side income, bonuses and benefits can count, so gather every source before you run any numbers.

Step 2: Subtract the required deductions

The same statute, in § 154.062(d), tells the court to deduct:

  1. Social Security taxes
  2. Federal income tax, based on the rate for a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction
  3. State income tax
  4. Union dues
  5. The cost of health insurance, dental insurance or cash medical support for the child ordered by the court
  6. Nondiscretionary retirement plan contributions, if the parent does not pay Social Security taxes

Notice the federal tax rule. The court uses a single filer with the standard deduction, not whatever the parent actually files. That keeps the math consistent from case to case.

The OAG publishes annual tax charts for this step. They apply to employed and self-employed people and cover monthly gross wages starting at $100. You can look up gross income and read across to net monthly income. The OAG also offers an online Monthly Child Support Calculator for estimates.

Step 3: Apply the percentage

Multiply net resources by the percentage for your number of children. Here are worked examples, using the guideline percentages above. They are illustrations, not predictions for your case.

Monthly support amounts across four guideline examples

Example A: one child. The paying parent has $5,000 in monthly net resources. 20% of $5,000 is $1,000 per month.

Example B: two children. The same parent has two children in the case. 25% of $5,000 is $1,250 per month.

Example C: three children. 30% of $5,000 is $1,500 per month.

Example D: low income. The paying parent has $800 in monthly net resources and one child. Because net resources are under $1,000, the lower schedule applies: 15% of $800 is $120 per month.

The $1,000 line matters. The low-income schedule applies when monthly net resources are less than $1,000. The OAG notes that the low-income percentages apply to actions filed on or after September 1, 2021, and that the guidelines are designed for net resources not greater than $11,700.

The $11,700 monthly cap and what happens above it

The guidelines apply to net resources up to a cap. The OAG’s 2026 tax charts state that the cap, effective September 1, 2025, is $11,700 per month.

At the cap, one child works out to 20% of $11,700, which is $2,340 per month. Two children is 25% of $11,700, or $2,925.

What if the parent earns more? Under § 154.126, the court presumptively applies the percentages to the portion of net resources up to the cap. It may order additional support depending on the parties’ income and the child’s proven needs. Two limits apply:

  • The entire presumptive amount is subtracted from the child’s proven total needs when figuring any add-on.
  • The parent cannot be required to pay more than the greater of the presumptive amount or 100 percent of the child’s proven needs.

In practice, above-cap support turns on evidence. Records of the child’s actual costs for housing, food, schooling, activities and health care carry the argument. If you are on either side of an above-cap request, start documenting expenses early.

When the paying parent supports other children

Many parents have children in more than one household. Texas accounts for that. The OAG explains that the percentages for obligors with children in more than one household are found in Family Code § 154.129, and that the one-household percentages in § 154.125 apply to children in a single household.

In plain terms, a parent with a legal duty to support other children generally owes a lower percentage for the child in your case than a parent with no other children. Which method applies and how it plays out depends on the facts. Bring birth dates, existing orders and proof of any other support obligations to your attorney so the calculation starts accurate.

Medical and dental support come on top

The guideline percentage does not include health coverage. Under § 154.183(a), medical or dental support ordered for the child is in addition to guideline support. It is also a child support obligation and can be enforced by any means available for child support, including withholding from earnings.

There is a built-in limit on the cost of coverage. Section 154.181(e) defines a “reasonable cost” of health insurance for one child as no more than nine percent of the obligor’s annual resources. For a deeper look at how these caps work, read our guide to medical support in Texas.

Because the child’s insurance premium is also a deduction when figuring net resources, the order of operations matters. Ask your attorney to run the calculation both ways so you know what each figure does to the monthly total.

Does 50/50 possession erase child support?

No rule says equal time means no support. The Family Code treats the guideline amount as a presumption, and a court may order a different amount if the evidence rebuts it. Under § 154.123, the factors a judge considers include:

  • The age and needs of the child
  • The parents’ ability to contribute and the financial resources available
  • The amount of time of possession of and access to the child
  • Each parent’s net resources
  • Child care expenses needed to maintain employment
  • Whether either parent supports another child
  • Education expenses beyond secondary school
  • Health insurance and uninsured medical expenses
  • Special or extraordinary educational or health care expenses
  • The cost of travel for possession
  • Debts and cash flow from property or a business
  • Any other reason consistent with the child’s best interest

Possession schedule is one factor among many, and the judge weighs the whole picture. If you are building a schedule, our overview of the standard possession order explains how the default calendar works, and our article on what Texas courts consider in custody covers the related decisions.

How to prepare your numbers

A clean financial picture speeds up a case and reduces disputes. Use this checklist:

  1. Collect recent pay records. Pay stubs, W-2s and 1099s for the past year show wages, overtime and bonuses.
  2. List every other income source. Rental income, interest, benefits, retirement distributions and side work all count.
  3. Document deductions. Union dues, health and dental premiums for the child, and retirement contributions where they apply.
  4. Record the child’s actual costs. Child care, school fees, medical bills and activities matter most in any request above the cap or any request for a variance.
  5. Gather other-support information. Existing orders and other children you must support affect the calculation.
  6. Run an estimate. Use the OAG tax charts or calculator to see a range before you negotiate.
  7. Have an attorney review it. A small error in net resources carries through every month of the order.

Common mistakes in child support math

  • Using gross pay. The percentage applies to net resources, not gross wages.
  • Forgetting non-wage income. Bonuses, benefits and side income can be included.
  • Leaving out medical support. It is ordered in addition to the guideline amount, so budget for it.
  • Assuming the cap is a ceiling for every case. The court may order more above the cap when the child’s proven needs support it.
  • Treating the guideline as fixed. It is a presumption, and evidence can move it either way.
  • Waiting to start withholding. Payments typically run through wage withholding. See our guide to starting child support withholding.

Our perspective

Parents usually arrive with one question: “What will the number be?” The formula gives a clear starting point, but the number depends on getting the inputs right. We see the most avoidable trouble when income is understated, deductions are guessed or the child’s real costs were never written down.

Our approach is preparation and plain communication. We walk you through net resources line by line, show you the range a court is likely to start from, and explain what could move it. You should always know where your case stands and why.

Whether you are the parent receiving support or the parent paying it, a fair order is one that is accurate, enforceable and workable month after month. We help you build that from the first consultation, with strategy suited to your family and to local court practice in The Woodlands and Houston.

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Get your child support numbers reviewed

A calculator gives an estimate. An attorney checks that the estimate reflects your actual income, your deductions and the facts a judge will weigh. The Law Office of Anna Din helps parents in The Woodlands, Houston and surrounding communities with child support orders, modifications and enforcement. See our child custody and support services or read our broader guide, Child Support in Texas.

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If you are also working through custody terms, we can address possession, conservatorship and support together so the pieces fit. For a few misconceptions that often derail negotiations, read common child support myths.

FAQ

What percentage of income goes to child support in Texas?

For one child, the court presumptively applies 20% of the paying parent’s monthly net resources. The figure rises to 25% for two children, 30% for three, 35% for four and 40% for five. If net resources are under $1,000 a month, a lower schedule starts at 15% for one child.

Is child support based on gross or net income in Texas?

It is based on net resources. That means all income from the sources the statute lists, minus deductions such as Social Security tax, federal and state income tax, union dues and the child’s health and dental insurance cost. The OAG’s annual tax charts help convert gross wages to net.

Is there a maximum amount of child support in Texas?

The guideline percentages apply to net resources up to $11,700 per month. Above that, a court may order additional support based on the parents’ income and the child’s proven needs, but it cannot exceed the greater of the presumptive amount or 100 percent of those proven needs.

Is health insurance included in the child support amount?

No. Medical and dental support are ordered in addition to guideline support, and they are enforceable as child support. Reasonable cost for one child is defined as no more than nine percent of the obligor’s annual resources.

Can a judge order a different amount than the guideline?

Yes. The guideline is a presumption. If the evidence shows it would not be in the child’s best interest, the court may order a different amount after weighing factors such as the child’s needs, possession time, child care and extraordinary expenses.

Sources

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