Simple Child Support Calculator
For a simple and easy calculation of child support in Australia, we suggest trying the Child Support Australia calculator. Australia appears to lack an official, government calculator that is easy to use.
The Child Support Australia calculator is quite simple and easy to use. But note that the estimator may not always be accurate and up to date for 2024. For a more reliable assessment, you can try the official version.
In the country of Australia, the result of an online calculation should be interpreted carefully. You should treat the estimate as just a preliminary indication of the child support amount you could receive or be required to pay.
Overnights Calculator for Australia
According to Australia child support guidelines, payment amounts depend on how many overnight stays a child has with each parent annually.
Use this overnights calculator to work out how many nights of care you provide.
Calculate annual overnight stays
Regular nights
Vacation nights each year*
183 overnight stays per year.
50.0% of parenting time.
* Vacation nights are all nights when the regular schedule does not apply.
How Child Support is Calculated in Australia
Child support payments in Australia are calculated using the income shares method. Payments depend on the combined incomes of the parents as well as the number of children. A larger combined income or more children usually means greater payments.
The amount paid or received by an individual parent also depends on income and parenting time percentages.
- If your income percentage (your share of combined income) is higher than your care percentage (share of parenting time), you are probably the payer.
- The receiver is normally the parent with a care percentage above their income percentage.
Australians paying the most child support have high incomes and rarely look after their children. On the flipside, the biggest receivers are parents who (a) work little (b) have their kids nearly all the time and (c) have a high earner as the other parent.
For anyone entering into an arrangement with a government assessment, the Department of Social Services (DSS) will determine the exact amounts payable or receivable. Assessments are based on information supplied by parents and any other relevant information available to DSS, which includes tax return data.
The incomes of parents are an essential part of calculating child support in Australia. The formula uses taxable income, which is the income you report to the ATO when you submit your tax return. It is your gross, before-tax income rather than net income. You’ll have a smaller amount of income left to spend after paying income and other taxes.
Child Support Australia
Australian child support guidelines apply to the whole country, including the states of New South Wales, Victora, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, as well as the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Variations in support payments may be made by the agreement of parents or at the discretion of a judge presiding over your case.
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