Texas Child Support Calculator: How Support Is Calculated Under the 2025 Guidelines

Texas uses a straightforward percentage-of-income model for child support — but "straightforward" doesn't mean simple. The calculation depends on what counts as net resources, which cap applies, and whether the paying parent supports children in other households. Here's exactly how it works under the current guidelines.

The Basic Formula

Texas child support follows three steps:

Step 1: Calculate gross monthly income. This includes wages, salary, overtime, bonuses, tips, self-employment income, rental income, interest, dividends, Social Security benefits, and disability payments.

Step 2: Subtract allowable deductions to get net monthly resources. Only four deductions are permitted:

• Federal income taxes (single filer, standard deduction, no exemptions)
• Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA)
• Mandatory union dues
• The cost of the child's health and dental insurance premiums

Step 3: Apply the guideline percentage.

The $11,700 Net Resources Cap

As of September 1, 2025, the statutory net resources cap increased from $9,200 to $11,700 per month. This cap is adjusted every six years for inflation.

What the cap means: the guideline percentages apply only to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources. If the paying parent earns more than that, the court applies the percentage to $11,700 and may order additional support above the cap only if the receiving parent proves specific, documented needs of the child — private schooling, therapy, specialized medical care, or documented extracurricular expenses.

Example for one child: A parent with $8,000 in monthly net resources pays 20% = $1,600/month. A parent with $15,000 in monthly net resources pays 20% of $11,700 = $2,340/month, unless the receiving parent proves the child's needs justify more.

Multiple-Household Adjustments

When the paying parent also supports children from another relationship, Texas applies reduced percentages. For one child before the court with one other child in another household, the rate drops from 20% to 17.50%. The adjustment tables scale up with the number of children in each household.

For low-income obligors earning less than $1,000 per month in net resources, a separate reduced schedule applies — 15% for one child, 20% for two children.

Medical and Dental Support

Child support is separate from medical and dental support obligations:

• Health insurance: If employer-sponsored coverage is available at a reasonable cost (no more than 9% of annual net resources), the paying parent must provide it
• Dental insurance: Reasonable if the premium doesn't exceed 1.5% of annual net resources
• Cash medical support: If employer coverage isn't available at a reasonable cost, the court orders cash payments to help cover private insurance
• Uninsured expenses: Copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs are presumptively split 50/50

What Doesn't Count as Income

A few items people commonly ask about:

• A new spouse's income does not factor into the child support calculation — only the obligor's income matters
• Child support received for other children is not included in gross resources
• Means-tested public benefits (SNAP, TANF) are excluded
• Return of principal or capital is excluded — only the income portion of investments counts

Enforcement If Support Isn't Paid

Texas has aggressive enforcement mechanisms. Child support orders are enforced through Income Withholding Orders that direct the employer to garnish wages. Federal law caps garnishment at 50-60% of disposable earnings (depending on whether the obligor supports other dependents), with an additional 5% for arrears exceeding 12 weeks. The court can also suspend driver's licenses and professional licenses, intercept tax refunds, and hold non-paying parents in contempt.

The Texas Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide includes a Child Support Worksheet that walks through the full calculation — net resources, guideline percentages, multiple-household adjustments, and medical support obligations — so you can estimate your support amount before mediation or court.

See more Texas guides →