Texas Child Support Calculator

Determine gross monthly income (wages, self-employment, and other resources). Subtract Social Security taxes, federal income tax (computed as a single filer claiming one exemption), union dues, and health/dental insurance ordered for the child to get net monthly resources. If net resources are below $1,000/month, apply the low-income schedule (15%/20%/25%/30%/35% for 1-5 children). Otherwise apply the standard schedule (20%/25%/30%/35%/40% for 1-5 children, not less than the 5-child amount for 6 or more). Net resources above $11,700/month are capped at that amount for the guideline calculation — courts have discretion to order more above the cap based on the child's proven needs, but it is not automatic.

Texas uses a percentage-of-income model based only on the paying parent's net resources and number of children — it has no shared-parenting or overnight-based offset formula like income-shares states. Even under a 50/50 possession schedule, the parent not designated as primary conservator still owes the standard guideline amount; a court can deviate downward for extensive time-sharing, but there is no automatic reduction.

Net monthly resources — not gross pay and not your personal take-home after all your own expenses. It's a specific statutory calculation: gross income minus Social Security taxes, federal income tax (computed as a single filer claiming one exemption, regardless of actual filing status), union dues, and any health/dental insurance premiums ordered for the child.

The $11,700/month net resources cap (effective 2025-09-01) is where the guideline percentage calculation stops — courts don't automatically keep applying the percentage to income above it. A parent can still be ordered to pay more than the capped guideline amount, but only if the child's proven needs justify it, and that's a discretionary finding, not an automatic formula extension.