Child support · Texas · Percentage of the paying parent’s net resources
Texas child support calculator 2026
Under the Texas guidelines (percentage of the paying parent’s net resources), a parent with gross income of $5,000 a month paying support for one child to a parent earning $3,500 would pay about $840 a month, or $10,078 a year, before the court considers any deviation. For two children it is about $1,050 a month. Parenting time does not change the guideline amount in Texas unless the court decides to deviate.
Rules checked against the Texas statute and guidelines (effective 1 September 2025) on .
One child, headline example
$840
a month
Two children
$1,050
a month
Model
Percentage of the paying parent’s net resources
parenting time not in formula
A year, one child
$10,078
headline example
Texas child support by the paying parent's income
Guideline monthly support when the receiving parent earns $3,500 a month gross, with no health insurance or childcare add-ons and standard possession. Net income is estimated from gross using the state's method.
| Payer's gross monthly income | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $438 | $548 | $657 |
| $3,000 | $518 | $648 | $778 |
| $4,000 | $679 | $849 | $1,019 |
| $5,000 | $840 | $1,050 | $1,260 |
| $6,000 | $991 | $1,239 | $1,487 |
| $7,500 | $1,202 | $1,503 | $1,804 |
| $10,000 | $1,554 | $1,943 | $2,331 |
| $15,000 | $2,238 | $2,798 | $3,357 |
Worked example, step by step
Percentage of the paying parent’s net resources.
| Step | Figure |
|---|---|
| Gross monthly income (paying parent) | $5,000.00 |
| Less Social Security 6.2% | −$310.00 |
| Less Medicare 1.45% | −$72.50 |
| Less federal income tax (single, standard deduction) | −$418.33 |
| Monthly net resources (estimate) | $4,199.17 |
| Percentage for 1 child (guideline percentage, §154.125(b)) | 20.00% |
| Guideline child support a month | $839.83 |
What the guideline assumes
Texas uses only the paying parent’s income. The receiving parent’s income does not change the guideline amount.
Also worth knowing
Net resources are estimated the way the Attorney General’s 2026 tax charts do: a single taxpayer with the standard deduction and no other deductions. Union dues, retirement contributions, self-employment tax and dental premiums can also come off.
Also worth knowing
Guideline estimate only. A court can deviate if the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate (§154.123). Not legal advice.
Get the official figure
Texas publishes its own calculator, Texas Attorney General monthly child support calculator, which follows the same guidelines with every input the court uses. Use it, and a family law attorney or the state child support agency, before relying on any number here.
Courts can deviate
The guideline amount is a presumption, not a fixed rule. A judge can order more or less where the guideline would be unjust or inappropriate, for example for high incomes, special needs, or an agreement between the parents that the court approves.
Guides and definitions
- Long term capital gains tax: 2026 rates, brackets and examples (Guide)
- Child tax credit 2026: amount, income limits and who qualifies (Guide)
- Earned income tax credit: who qualifies and how much you get (Guide)
- Child Tax Credit (The Child Tax Credit cuts US federal tax by up to $2,200 per qualifying child under 17, with up to $1,700 refundable.)
- FICA (FICA is the US payroll tax for Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000).)
- Marginal tax rate (Your marginal tax rate is the share of your next pound or dollar of income that goes in tax and deductions.)
- Standard deduction (The standard deduction is the fixed amount US taxpayers subtract from income before federal tax: $16,100 single, $32,200 joint for 2026.)
- State Disability Insurance (SDI) (State Disability Insurance is a payroll deduction that funds short-term disability and paid family leave; California takes 1.3% of all wages in 2026.)
Child support in other states
- California (Statewide uniform guideline formula (income and time-share))
- Florida (Income shares (both parents’ net incomes combined))
- Illinois (Income shares (750 ILCS 5/505))
- Indiana (Income shares, weekly (Indiana Child Support Guidelines))
All states compared · Enter your own incomes, children and parenting time
Common questions
How is child support calculated in Texas?
Texas uses the Percentage of the paying parent’s net resources model. Percentage of the paying parent’s net resources. The court starts from the guideline amount and can adjust it.
How much is child support for one child in Texas?
It depends on income. With the paying parent on $5,000 a month and the other parent on $3,500, the guideline amount is about $840 a month. On $4,000 it is about $679, and on $10,000 about $1,554.
How much is child support for two children in Texas?
About $1,050 a month in the headline example, compared with $840 for one child. The guideline does not simply double for two children.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in Texas?
Not automatically. The Texas guideline amount does not change with parenting time, so the court would have to deviate from it. Many courts do reduce support for equal time, but it is a decision, not a formula.
Is this the amount a Texas court will order?
No. It is a guideline estimate from the published rules, with net income estimated from gross. The actual order depends on the full worksheet, the evidence of each parent's income and any deviation the judge allows. Use Texas's official calculator and get legal advice.
Sources and assumptions
- Gross monthly incomes as entered; net income for the formula is estimated with the state's standard method (single filer, standard deduction).
- No health insurance, childcare or other add-ons, and no support paid for other children, unless shown.
- Texas Family Code §154.125 (guideline percentages and cap)
- Texas Family Code §154.129 (multiple-family table)
- OAG 2026 tax charts (net resources, $11,700 cap)
- Texas Attorney General monthly child support calculator
A guideline estimate, not legal advice. The court decides child support.