How Child Support Is Calculated in Texas

Child support in Texas is calculated using a structured formula based on net monthly resources, guideline percentages, and the specific facts of your case. While the calculation may appear straightforward, disputes often arise over how income is defined, what deductions apply, whether a parent is intentionally underemployed, and whether circumstances justify a deviation from the standard guidelines. Courts expect clear financial evidence, and the outcome can significantly affect both your immediate stability and your long-term financial position.

If you are going through a divorce or a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (SAPCR) in the Austin area, Thompson Law provides detailed, courtroom-focused representation designed to achieve results consistent with how local courts apply child support rules in practice. We prepare every case with trial readiness in mind, which strengthens our position in negotiation and mediation. Call (512) 543-1973 or contact us online to get started.

The Texas Child Support Formula is a Percentage-Based Model

Texas uses a guideline-based formula to calculate child support, set out in Texas Family Code Chapter 154. The formula applies a fixed percentage of the obligor’s monthly net resources, with the percentage tied to the number of children subject to the order.

Under Texas Family Code § 154.125, the guideline percentages are:

• 1 Child: 20% of Monthly Net Resources.
• 2 Children: 25% of Monthly Net Resources.
• 3 Children: 30% of Monthly Net Resources.
• 4 Children: 35% of Monthly Net Resources.
• 5 or More Children: Not Less Than 40% of Monthly Net Resources.

A court presumes that applying these percentages results in an amount that is in the best interest of the child. That presumption is rebuttable, but overcoming it requires compelling evidence. Courts apply the guidelines strictly and predictably in the majority of cases.

What Are Net Monthly Resources?

Net resources are not the same as take-home pay or gross income. Texas Family Code § 154.062 defines net resources as the figure courts use to apply the guideline percentages, and calculating it correctly requires working through a specific statutory formula.

Income included in net resources can include:

• Wages, salary, overtime pay, commissions, tips, and bonuses
• Self-employment income, including income from gig work
• Rental income (after deducting reasonable and necessary operating expenses, but not depreciation)
• Dividends, interest income, and capital gains
• Retirement and pension income
• Trust income and annuities
• Social Security benefits (other than Supplemental Security Income)
• Unemployment benefits, disability benefits, and workers’ compensation
• Spousal maintenance or alimony actually being received

Items excluded from net resources are:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
• Foster care payments for a child in the conservator’s care
• Return of principal or capital on a note

Allowable deductions from gross resources to reach net resources include:

• Federal income taxes, calculated as if the obligor is a single filer claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction
• Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA)
• Union dues
• Health and dental insurance premiums paid by the obligor for the child

What remains after those deductions is the obligor’s monthly net resources, and that figure is the starting point for applying the guideline percentages. Additionally, the guideline percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources (effective September 1, 2025). Courts may order additional support above the cap under § 154.126, but only upon evidence of the child’s proven needs that exceed the guideline maximum.

Imputed Income: Addressing Voluntary Unemployment or Underemployment

Courts are not required to accept a parent’s reported income at face value. If the party alleging voluntary unemployment or underemployment produces sufficient evidence that the obligor is earning less than their qualifications and work history would support, the court may impute income under Texas Family Code § 154.068. Imputation assigns an income figure based on the parent’s realistic earning capacity, not their current wages, which prevents support obligations from being artificially reduced.

The same analysis can apply to the obligee, the parent receiving support. Under Texas Family Code § 154.123(b)(5), courts may consider the obligee’s earning potential when determining whether a deviation from the guidelines is warranted, including when the obligee’s actual income is significantly lower than what their qualifications would permit.

Adjustments for Children in Other Households

When the obligor has legal obligations to support children from other relationships, Texas Family Code § 154.129 sets out adjusted guideline percentages for obligors with children in multiple households. The adjusted rate will be lower than the standard percentage to account for existing obligations.

When Courts Deviate Above-Guideline or Below-Guideline

Texas Family Code § 154.122 establishes that the guideline amount is presumptively appropriate. To order a different amount, a court must find that applying the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate under the specific facts of the case and must make written findings supporting the deviation.

Texas Family Code § 154.123 identifies the factors courts weigh in that analysis, including but not limited to:

• The age and specific needs of the child, including specific medical needs
• Both parents’ ability to contribute to the child’s support
• The amount of possession and access time held by each conservator
• Child care expenses incurred by either party to maintain employment
• Special or extraordinary educational or extracurricular expenses
• Post-secondary education expenses for a son or daughter
• Travel costs associated with possession and access
• Extreme differences in financial resources between the parents
• Spousal maintenance obligations between the parents

The party seeking to deviate from the guidelines has the burden of producing evidence sufficient to rebut the presumption that the standard amount is appropriate. Courts will not depart from the guidelines based on general assertions; the evidence must be specific and credible.

How Thompson Law Approaches Child Support Cases

At Thompson Law, child support matters are handled directly by the attorney you hire from day one. Cases are never delegated or handed off to a paralegal or associate. That means you have consistent, experienced counsel, whether you are responding to a new support order, contesting an imputed income calculation, or building a record to justify a deviation from the guidelines.

Ours is a boutique practice, and that distinction matters in child support cases. The details that drive fair outcomes require close attention and a working knowledge of how Travis County courts apply the law. Thompson Law brings both.

Child support disputes can also become contentious quickly, particularly in higher-income cases or when one party believes the other is hiding income or underreporting resources. We prepare every case with the expectation that it may proceed to a contested hearing or trial. Every case is prepared as though it will go to trial, and that level of readiness consistently produces better results at the negotiating table as well.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support in Texas

Does Child Support in Texas Cover Medical and Dental Expenses?

Every Texas child support order must address medical and dental coverage under Texas Family Code § 154.182. The court allocates responsibility for maintaining insurance, and any premiums paid by the obligor are factored into the net resources calculation. Out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance are typically allocated between the parties in the order, often proportionate to their respective net resources.

Can a Child Support Order Be Modified After It Is Issued?

Yes. Under Texas Family Code § 156.401, a court may modify an existing child support order if there has been a material and substantial change in the circumstances of the child or a conservator, or if at least three years have passed and the current order differs by 20% or $100 from what the guidelines would produce.

How Is Child Support Collected and Enforced in Texas?

Child support is typically paid through the Texas State Disbursement Unit and may be withheld directly from the obligor’s paycheck through income withholding. Enforcement tools include contempt proceedings, license suspension, credit reporting, seizure of tax refunds, liens, and wage withholding orders.

Contact a Child Support Attorney in Austin

Child support calculations in Texas are often more involved than the guideline percentages suggest. The accuracy of your net monthly resource calculation, how income is characterized, whether deductions are properly applied, and whether a deviation is justified can affect thousands of dollars over the life of an order. Courts expect detailed financial evidence, and small errors at the outset can compound over time. Whether you are addressing support in a divorce or a SAPCR, the strategy you choose matters.

If you are establishing support, pursuing or defending a modification, or dealing with enforcement in the Austin area, Thompson Law provides direct, attorney-led representation from start to finish. Your case will not be handed off. We prepare every matter with trial readiness in mind, which strengthens our position in negotiation and mediation. Call (512) 543-1973 or reach out online to speak directly with the attorney handling your case.