New York Child Support Calculator
Program Statistics
Source: OCSS FY 2024 Preliminary Report · Preliminary data
Annual Collections
$1.6 Billion
distributed FY 2024
Children Served
535,765
enrolled in IV-D cases
Collection Rate
66.7%
of current support due▲ 1.4pp above the national average
Arrears Outstanding
$7.1B
cumulative unpaid support
Collected via Wage Withholding
76%
of collections via income withholding orders
Program Cost-Effectiveness
$4.61 per $1 spent
National avg: $4.24
How New York calculates child support
Percentage of Income ModelNew York uses a percentage-of-combined-income model under the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA). Both parents' adjusted gross incomes are combined and a fixed percentage — 17% for one child, up to 35% for five or more — is applied to the first $193,000. The non-custodial parent pays their pro-rata share. New York applies FICA deductions (but not full federal income tax) and allows deductions for NYC and Yonkers local income taxes. Child support continues until age 21.
Key inputs
- Gross annual income of each parent
- Number of children
- New York City or Yonkers residency (affects tax deduction)
- Maintenance (alimony) paid or received
- Monthly health insurance premium for the children
- Monthly childcare costs
What courts can adjust
Guideline amounts are a starting point, not a ceiling. A judge can deviate upward or downward based on the child's specific needs, a parent's financial circumstances, extraordinary expenses, or other factors the court finds relevant. Either parent can ask the court to consider a deviation.
Based on New York Domestic Relations Law § 240(1-b) (Child Support Standards Act, effective March 1, 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
# New York Child Support — Frequently Asked Questions
*Last updated: March 2026. This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Every family's situation is different. Please consult a family law attorney for advice about your specific case.* ---
How is child support calculated in New York?
New York uses a formula called the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA). The court adds both parents' incomes together, applies a percentage based on how many children you have, and then splits that amount between the parents based on each parent's share of the combined income. The parent who does not live with the children most of the time (the "non-custodial parent") pays their share to the other parent. The percentages are: 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and at least 35% for five or more. *This is a general overview of the CSSA formula. Your actual order may differ based on deductions, add-ons, and judicial discretion. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
What income counts toward child support?
Almost every source of income counts, including wages and salary, self-employment income, overtime, commissions, rental income, Social Security benefits, veterans' benefits, unemployment insurance, disability benefits, pensions, and annuities. A few things are **not** counted: public assistance like TANF, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and a new partner's or spouse's income. If you remarry or move in with someone new, their earnings do not affect the child support calculation. *Income determinations can be contested, particularly for self-employed parents or those with variable earnings. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
What deductions are allowed before the formula is applied?
New York allows only a specific short list of deductions. These are: FICA payroll taxes (the Social Security and Medicare taxes taken from your paycheck), New York City or Yonkers local income taxes if you live there, unreimbursed business expenses, alimony paid to a prior spouse, and court-ordered child support you pay for children from another relationship. Importantly, **regular federal and state income taxes are not deducted** — this is different from how many people expect the calculation to work. *Whether a specific expense qualifies as a deduction is a legal determination. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
How does parenting time (custody) affect child support?
In most cases, the parent the children don't primarily live with pays support to the parent they do live with. **New York does not automatically reduce child support just because you have the children a lot of the time** — even in true 50/50 situations. If parents share time equally, the higher-earning parent pays child support to the lower-earning parent. Getting a reduction based on extended parenting time requires going to court and proving that the arrangement significantly reduces the other parent's household expenses, which is a high bar. It is not guaranteed and is not automatic. *Parenting time arrangements and their effect on support are highly fact-specific. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
Is there a minimum or maximum amount?
**Minimum:** The lowest child support order in New York is **$25 per month**. Even if a parent has very little income, the court will generally order at least this amount. **Maximum / cap:** The formula applies to the first $193,000 of both parents' combined income (as of March 2026). Income above that cap is handled separately — the court has discretion over how much, if any, additional support to order for income above the cap. There is no absolute dollar ceiling on the final order. *The cap and minimum figures update periodically. Courts also retain discretion to deviate from guideline amounts. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
What if my income is very low?
New York has special protections for lower-income parents: - **If the standard formula would leave you below the poverty level** (about $15,960/year as of 2026), the court may set your payment at just $25 per month, and certain add-on expenses are not charged in that situation. - **If the standard formula would leave you above the poverty level but below the "self-support reserve"** (about $21,546/year as of 2026), your payment is capped at the greater of $50/month or the difference between your income and that reserve amount. These protections exist so that paying child support does not push a parent into poverty themselves. The exact amounts update each year on March 1. *Low-income protections have specific legal requirements and courts have discretion in applying them. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney to ensure you receive all protections you are entitled to.* ---
What are "add-ons" and how are they divided?
Add-ons are costs for the children that are added on top of the basic monthly support payment. In New York, there are two **required** add-ons: - **Health insurance:** The parent who provides health insurance coverage for the children pays the premium. The other parent reimburses their proportional share. If the premium is unreasonably expensive (more than 5% of both parents' combined gross income), a court may require lower-cost coverage instead. - **Work-related childcare:** If a parent needs to pay for childcare while they work or go to school, that cost is shared between the parents in proportion to their incomes. This only applies to childcare that is necessary for work — not convenience childcare. Both add-ons are split in proportion to each parent's share of the combined income, not 50/50. So if you earn 60% of the combined income, you pay 60% of these costs. There are also **optional add-ons** that a court can order depending on the circumstances, including private school tuition and extraordinary medical expenses. *What qualifies as a mandatory or optional add-on, and how costs are allocated, can be disputed. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
Can child support be changed later?
Yes. Either parent can ask the court to modify support if one of these three things is true: 1. There has been a **substantial change in circumstances** (like a major job change, serious illness, or a child's needs changing significantly) 2. Either parent's income has changed by **15% or more** since the last order 3. It has been **3 years or more** since the last order was set or modified One very important rule: a modification only takes effect from the date you file your paperwork with the court — **not the date your circumstances changed**. If your income dropped in January but you don't file until June, you still owe the old amount for those five months. It's important to file promptly if your situation changes significantly. *Meeting the legal standard for modification and filing at the right time are critical. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney before seeking a modification.* ---
When does child support end in New York?
New York is one of the few states where child support continues until a child turns **21**, not 18. This means three extra years compared to most states. Support can end before 21 if the child: gets married, joins the military, becomes fully self-supporting, or (between ages 17 and 21) consistently refuses to follow reasonable parental rules. For children with certain developmental disabilities, support can continue until age 26 in some circumstances. *Whether a child has been emancipated or qualifies for extended support involves a legal determination. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
What if a parent is self-employed or owns a business?
Self-employment income is included in the calculation, using the net income reported on the parent's most recent federal tax return. Courts are allowed to look closely at business deductions and add back expenses that reduce the owner's personal cost of living — things like personal use of a company vehicle, excessive entertainment deductions, or depreciation beyond what's legally allowed. If courts believe a self-employed parent is underreporting income, they can impute (estimate) income based on the business's revenue, the parent's lifestyle, or prior earnings. These cases can get complex, and both sides often benefit from having an attorney who can examine the financial records carefully. *Self-employment income cases are among the most contested in child support proceedings. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
What happens if a parent refuses to work or hides their income?
If a court believes a parent is voluntarily working less than they could — either by quitting, taking a lower-paying job on purpose, or not looking for work — the court can "impute" income. This means the court assigns an income level based on what the parent is capable of earning, using their education, work history, and available jobs in their area. **One exception:** Incarceration is not treated as voluntary unemployment in New York. A court cannot simply impute a full income to someone who is in prison. If you believe the other parent is hiding income, an attorney can help you request financial records through the court process. *Income imputation requires legal evidence and argument. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* ---
What if both parents each have some of the children living with them?
This is called "split custody" — for example, two children live primarily with Parent A and one child lives primarily with Parent B. In that situation, New York runs the calculation in both directions: it figures out what Parent A would owe as if they were the non-custodial parent for the children with Parent B, and vice versa. Then the two amounts are netted against each other, and the parent who owes more pays the difference to the other parent. This is more complex than a standard calculation, and it's a situation where having an attorney can be particularly helpful. *Split custody calculations involve additional complexity and fact-specific determinations. Consult a licensed New York family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.* --- *This information reflects New York law as of March 2026. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary widely. Nothing on this page is legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, please consult a licensed New York family law attorney.*
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