Child Support Calculator

A sophisticated mathematical equation designed to calculate child support using income, care arrangements and just enough complexity to make you question your entire romantic history.

Wondering how much you're up for in child support for the little money pits you helped create? Throw in both parents' incomes, work out who gets the kids and how often, and let the 2026 formula deliver the financial bad news. It even factors in shared care, extra kids, multiple child support arrangements and non-parent carers who've somehow ended up involved in the circus. Because raising kids is expensive enough without needing a maths degree to work out who's paying for the chicken nuggets.

Give the Child Support Calculator a go and see what you could be paying or receiving. It's free, it's quick, and unlike your ex, it actually shows you how it arrived at the numbers.

1. The children

Enter each child you and the other parent have together, and how many nights a year each person usually has them. Nights should add up to 365.

Someone other than a parent (such as a grandparent) also cares for the children

2. Parent 1

Adjusted taxable income (a year)Taxable income plus items such as reportable fringe benefits, net investment losses and tax-free pensions. Receives an income support payment (for example JobSeeker or Parenting Payment) Has not lodged tax returns, or their income can't be verified

Other children living with Parent 1 full timeChildren from a new relationship, not part of any child support case. Enter ages.

Children in other child support casesChildren Parent 1 pays or receives child support for with a different person. Enter ages.

Number of other child support cases

3. Parent 2

Parent 2's situation

Adjusted taxable income (a year) Receives an income support payment Has not lodged tax returns, or their income can't be verified

Other children living with Parent 2 full timeEnter ages.

Children in other child support casesEnter ages.

Number of other child support cases

This is an estimate only. It uses the 2026 child support formula and rates under the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) and assumes the same care and income all year. Your actual assessment is made by Services Australia and can differ, for example because of changes of assessment, child support agreements, court orders, income estimates, children turning 13 or 18 during the year, or more than one non-parent carer. It is not legal advice. For an official figure, use the Services Australia estimator, or talk to us.

Child Support Calculator

1. The children

2. Parent 1

3. Parent 2

Ready to talk it through?