How Texas calculates child support
- Support is a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four and 40% for five or more.
- Net resources are income minus social security and federal income taxes (figured as for a single person with the standard deduction, as in the Attorney General’s 2026 tax charts), union dues, and what the paying parent pays for the children’s health and dental insurance.
- When net resources are less than $1,000 a month, lower percentages apply: 15% for one child up to 35% for five or more.
- The percentages apply to net resources up to $11,700 a month (effective September 1, 2025). Above that the court may add support based on the child’s proven needs.
- When the paying parent also supports other children, the multiple-family table in §154.129 gives a lower percentage.
What the calculator asks
- How many children is the support for?
- Who will the children live with most of the time?
- How many other children does the paying parent have a legal duty to support?
- What is the paying parent’s income?
- The paying parent’s gross income per month
- The paying parent’s monthly net resources
- What the paying parent pays each month for the children’s health insurance
- What the paying parent pays each month for the children’s dental insurance
- Union dues the paying parent pays each month
- Does a child receive Social Security or VA benefits because of the paying parent’s disability or retirement?
It never asks for names, Social Security numbers or account numbers, and your answers are not saved.
What the estimate leaves out
- Medical and dental support the court orders in addition to child support (Family Code §154.181 to §154.1825)
- More than one source of income, state income tax, and retirement contributions in place of social security tax (enter net resources instead)
- Additional support above the $11,700 cap for a child’s proven needs (§154.126)
- Equal or split possession, where the court sets support case by case
- Benefits a child receives because of the paying parent’s disability or retirement (§154.132, §154.133)
- Deviations the court may make (§154.123) and retroactive support (§154.131)
When a situation is outside what the calculator covers, it says so and points you to the official worksheet instead of guessing.
Official sources
- Texas Family Code ch. 154 (§§154.061–154.062, 154.125–154.129)
- Office of the Attorney General, 2026 Tax Charts (net resources cap $11,700, effective September 1, 2025)
- Office of the Attorney General, tax charts for 1987 to current
- Office of the Attorney General, Monthly Child Support Calculator
Texas Attorney General Monthly Child Support Calculator and 2026 Tax Charts →
Ready to estimate? The calculator shows each worksheet line so you can check it against the official form.
Open the Texas calculator →An estimate from the published guideline formula, not a prediction of a court order. The official court worksheet and the court’s decision control. General information, not legal advice. LawCat is not a law firm.