Military Child Support Calculator: how it works
Calculating child support for an active-duty service member follows the same state guideline formula as any other case — the complication is almost always about what counts as income, not a different formula. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) are non-taxable, but nearly every state guideline treats them as income available for support because they represent real, spendable value even though they aren't wages in the traditional sense.
To calculate support for a military family, use the same state calculator you'd use for any case — just include BAH, BAS, and any other regular allowances or special/incentive pay (flight pay, hazardous duty pay, etc.) in the income field alongside base pay, unless you've confirmed with your state's own guidance that a specific allowance is excluded. Overseas or duty-station moves can also affect which state's guidelines apply — that's a jurisdiction question for a military legal assistance office (JAG) or a family law attorney, not something a calculator can resolve.
Choose your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
FAQ
Do I include BAH and BAS as income?
In nearly every state, yes — these allowances are excluded from federal income tax but are still counted as income for child support purposes because they reduce the service member's out-of-pocket housing and food costs.
Which state's guidelines apply if I'm stationed elsewhere?
This is a legal jurisdiction question (often governed by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and each state's own child support jurisdiction rules), not a calculator question — consult a military legal assistance office (JAG) or a family law attorney before assuming which state's formula applies to your case.