Figuring out how much child support you will pay or receive in Texas is one of the most stressful parts of any divorce or custody case. The numbers feel abstract until you see them on paper, and the formula the state uses is not always what people expect. It is normal to feel anxious or overwhelmed when your finances and your child’s well-being are both on the line. At McCarty-Larson, PLLC, we understand how high the stakes are. Our team serves clients throughout Ellis County, Johnson County, Tarrant County, and Dallas County, and we walk parents through these calculations every day. This guide explains exactly how Texas calculates child support in 2026, what the new $11,700 cap means for your case, and how the math works at three different income levels.
When you choose McCarty-Larson, you are choosing a legal team that will stand by you every step of the way.
The Short Answer
In Texas, child support is calculated as a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources. The standard guideline is 20 percent for one child, 25 percent for two, 30 percent for three, 35 percent for four, and 40 percent for five or more. As of September 1, 2025, the cap on net resources is $11,700 per month, which means the maximum guideline support for one child is $2,340.
How Texas Calculates Child Support in 2026
Texas uses a percentage-based formula set out in Texas Family Code Section 154.125. Unlike many states that combine both parents’ incomes, Texas focuses almost entirely on the income of the parent who will pay support. That parent is called the obligor. The court takes the obligor’s monthly net resources, applies a fixed percentage based on the number of children, and produces the guideline amount.
The formula has three moving parts. First, the court figures out the obligor’s gross monthly income from every source. Second, the court subtracts a short list of allowed deductions to arrive at net resources. Third, the court multiplies that net resources figure by the guideline percentage. The result is the monthly child support obligation.
The formula was designed to be predictable. Two parents with the same income, the same number of children, and the same insurance costs will end up with nearly identical support amounts. That predictability makes it easier to plan, but it also means small mistakes in the income or deduction inputs can change the final number by hundreds of dollars per month.
The Standard Guideline Percentages
The percentages in Section 154.125 apply to obligors with children in only one household and net resources between $1,000 and $11,700 per month:
- 1 child: 20 percent of net resources
- 2 children: 25 percent of net resources
- 3 children: 30 percent of net resources
- 4 children: 35 percent of net resources
- 5 or more children: 40 percent of net resources
The percentages stack on the same income base. They do not increase per child after five.
What Counts as Net Resources Under Texas Family Code Section 154.062
Net resources are not the same as take-home pay. Texas Family Code Section 154.062 defines exactly what counts as income and which deductions are allowed. The list is narrower than most parents expect.
Income That Counts
The court starts with gross income from every source. That includes:
- Wages, salary, overtime, tips, commissions, and bonuses
- Self-employment and gig economy income
- Rental income, dividends, and interest
- Severance pay and retirement payments
- Trust income
- Most Social Security benefits
- Non-service-related VA disability payments
The point of this broad definition is to capture the full picture of what the obligor actually earns. A parent with a salary plus a side business plus rental income will have all three streams added together before any deductions are applied.
Income That Does Not Count
Texas excludes a few specific income sources from net resources:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF
- Supplemental Security Income, or SSI
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or SNAP
- Foster care payments
- Return of principal or capital
These are needs-based benefits, and the law treats them as money the parent cannot spare for support. Service-based income from those programs follows different rules.
The Four Allowed Deductions
From gross income, the court subtracts only four deductions:
- Federal income tax, calculated as if the parent files as a single person with one exemption and the standard deduction
- Social Security and Medicare taxes, also called FICA
- Union dues, if applicable
- The actual cost of health insurance and dental insurance for the child
That is it. No other deduction is allowed. This is where most parents make their biggest mistakes.
Common Deduction Mistakes
The federal income tax deduction is calculated using a single-filer assumption regardless of the obligor’s actual filing status. A parent who files married filing jointly will still see their child support calculated as if they filed single. The court is using a standard formula, not the obligor’s real tax return.
Voluntary 401(k) contributions are not deductible. Many parents assume their retirement contributions reduce their income for child support purposes the same way they reduce their taxable income on a W-2. They do not. The only retirement contribution that counts is a mandatory non-Social Security retirement contribution, which is rare outside of certain government and railroad jobs.
Car payments, credit card debt, and mortgage payments are also not deductible. The law treats child support as a higher priority than discretionary spending. The obligor’s lifestyle choices do not reduce their obligation.
Health insurance covers only the child. The obligor’s own coverage is not deductible, and family plans must be prorated to isolate the child’s portion. For a related deep dive on income changes that may affect your case down the road, see our post on how a significant change in income affects child support modification in Texas.
The 2026 Child Support Cap and the Maximum Guideline Amounts
On September 1, 2025, Texas raised the cap on monthly net resources from $9,200 to $11,700. This was the first adjustment since 2019 and represented a 27 percent increase. The cap is reviewed every six years under Texas Family Code Section 154.125(a-1) and is tied to the Consumer Price Index. The new figure remains in effect for 2026.
The cap matters because the guideline percentages only apply to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources. Income above that amount is not factored into the standard calculation unless the court orders additional support based on the child’s proven needs under Texas Family Code Section 154.126.
Maximum Guideline Support Under the New Cap
Applying each percentage to the $11,700 cap produces the maximum guideline payment for each number of children:
- 1 child: $2,340 per month
- 2 children: $2,925 per month
- 3 children: $3,510 per month
- 4 children: $4,095 per month
- 5 or more children: $4,680 per month
These are the maximum guideline amounts. A judge can order more if the receiving parent can prove the child’s specific needs justify above-guideline support, but the burden is on the parent asking for the increase.
Existing child support orders do not adjust automatically because of the new cap. A parent who wants to increase or decrease support based on the higher figure has to file a motion for modification. For the full breakdown of what the cap change means for existing orders, see our post on the new Texas child support cap and what you need to know.
Worked Examples at Three Income Levels
Numbers help more than percentages. Here are three worked examples showing how the formula plays out for parents at different income levels. All three assume one child, no other support obligations, and standard deductions.
Example 1: $4,000 Monthly Gross Income
A parent earning $4,000 per month in gross wages with $250 per month in child health insurance:
- Gross monthly income: $4,000
- Estimated federal income tax (single, one exemption): about $290
- FICA at 7.65 percent: about $306
- Child health insurance: $250
- Net resources: about $3,154
- Guideline support at 20 percent for one child: about $631 per month
This obligor is well below the cap, so the percentage applies to the full net resources amount.
Example 2: $8,000 Monthly Gross Income
A parent earning $8,000 per month in gross wages with $300 per month in child health insurance:
- Gross monthly income: $8,000
- Estimated federal income tax (single, one exemption): about $1,070
- FICA at 7.65 percent: about $612
- Child health insurance: $300
- Net resources: about $6,018
- Guideline support at 20 percent for one child: about $1,204 per month
This obligor is also under the cap. The full percentage applies.
Example 3: $15,000 Monthly Gross Income (Over the Cap)
A parent earning $15,000 per month in gross wages with $400 per month in child health insurance:
- Gross monthly income: $15,000
- Estimated federal income tax (single, one exemption): about $2,790
- FICA at 7.65 percent: about $1,148
- Child health insurance: $400
- Calculated net resources: about $10,662
In this case, calculated net resources are still below the $11,700 cap, so the percentage applies to the full $10,662 amount: about $2,132 per month for one child.
If gross income were higher, say $20,000 per month, calculated net resources would exceed the $11,700 cap. The guideline calculation would then stop at $11,700, producing the maximum of $2,340 per month for one child unless the court ordered above-guideline support.
For step-by-step guidance on starting a new case, see our post on how to file for child support in Texas.
Special Situations That Change the Math
Most cases follow the standard guideline. A handful of situations change how the formula is applied.
Multiple Households Under Section 154.129
An obligor who has a legal duty to support children in more than one household pays a reduced percentage. Texas Family Code Section 154.129 sets out an alternative table that lowers the percentage for the children in the current case to account for the support already going to children in another household. For example, an obligor with one child in the current case who already supports one child in another household pays 17.5 percent instead of 20 percent.
Low-Income Obligors Under Section 154.125(c)
Obligors with monthly net resources below $1,000 pay reduced percentages. The figures drop to 15 percent for one child, 20 percent for two, 25 percent for three, 30 percent for four, and 35 percent for five or more. This is meant to keep child support from becoming impossible for the lowest earners while still ensuring the child receives support.
New Spouse Income Is Excluded
A common misconception is that remarriage changes the child support obligation. Texas Family Code Section 154.069 excludes the resources of either parent’s new spouse entirely. The new spouse’s income, assets, and benefits do not count, no matter how much they earn. The only exception is if the new spouse’s contribution to household expenses frees up money the obligor would otherwise spend, and even that argument is hard to make in court.
Above-the-Cap Cases
For obligors with net resources above $11,700, the court applies the percentage only to the cap amount. The judge can order additional support, but only if the parent asking for more can show that the child has specific proven needs that exceed what the guideline amount covers. Proven needs typically involve documented expenses for private school, special medical care, or extracurricular activities tied to the child’s existing standard of living.
Possession Time
Equal possession time does not automatically change the formula. Texas does not apply an automatic shared-custody offset. A judge can deviate from the guideline when possession time is roughly equal, but the deviation is discretionary and case-specific.
Health Insurance, Medical Support, and How Long Support Lasts
Child support is only one piece of the financial obligation. Every Texas child support order also addresses medical and dental support. Under Texas Family Code Section 154.182, the obligor is usually ordered to provide health insurance for the child if it is available at a reasonable cost, generally meaning under 9 percent of the obligor’s gross income. If the receiving parent provides the insurance, the obligor reimburses them for the actual premium cost.
Cash medical support is ordered when employer-provided insurance is not available or is too expensive. The receiving parent then uses the cash payment to obtain coverage independently. Uninsured medical expenses such as copays, deductibles, and uncovered services are typically split between the parents in proportion to their incomes.
Under Texas Family Code Section 154.001, child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. The absolute cutoff is age 19, with the only major exception being a child with a physical or mental disability that existed before age 18. In those cases, the court can order indefinite support under Section 154.302. Support also ends early if the child marries, is emancipated by court order, or enters military service.
How McCarty-Larson Can Help
Calculating child support sounds simple until you sit down with a paystub, an insurance bill, and a stack of self-employment income statements and try to make the numbers work. Robin McCarty and Bria Larson have over 50 years of combined experience handling Texas family law, and our team helps parents make sense of the numbers and the law together.
- We calculate guideline support using the actual statutory deductions, not estimates
- We account for self-employment, bonuses, commissions, and irregular income correctly
- We apply the multi-household alternative guideline if you support children in more than one household
- We argue for or against above-guideline support when income exceeds the $11,700 cap
- We handle modifications when income changes or three years pass since the last order
- We serve clients across Ellis County, Johnson County, Tarrant County, and Dallas County
If your child support case is already filed or you need to modify an existing order, our Texas child support modification lawyers can review the math and identify what is worth challenging.
Get Help With Your Texas Child Support Calculation
Whether you are paying or receiving child support, the math has to be right. A small error in net resources or a missed deduction can change the outcome by hundreds of dollars every month for years. Contact McCarty-Larson today at (972) 775-2100 for a free, confidential consultation. Our Texas child support attorneys are ready to stand by you every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Child Support
How is child support calculated in Texas?
Texas calculates child support as a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources. The standard percentages are 20 percent for one child, 25 percent for two, 30 percent for three, 35 percent for four, and 40 percent for five or more. Net resources are gross income minus federal income tax, FICA, union dues, and the child’s health insurance.
How much child support do I pay if I make $5,000 a month in Texas?
For a parent earning $5,000 in gross monthly wages with one child and standard deductions, net resources are typically around $3,900 after federal tax, FICA, and child health insurance. Guideline support at 20 percent would be roughly $780 per month. Actual numbers vary based on insurance cost and other deductions.
What is the maximum child support in Texas in 2026?
The maximum guideline child support under the $11,700 cap effective September 1, 2025, is $2,340 per month for one child, $2,925 for two, $3,510 for three, $4,095 for four, and $4,680 for five or more children. A judge can order more only if the receiving parent proves the child’s specific needs.
More Common Questions About Texas Child Support
Does my new spouse’s income count toward child support?
No. Under Texas Family Code Section 154.069, a new spouse’s income, assets, and benefits are excluded from the child support calculation entirely. Remarrying does not increase or decrease your child support obligation.
Are 401(k) contributions deducted from income for child support?
Voluntary 401(k) contributions are not deductible. Texas Family Code Section 154.062 only allows a deduction for non-discretionary retirement contributions when the parent does not pay Social Security taxes, which is rare outside certain government jobs.
How long does child support last in Texas?
Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later. The absolute cutoff is age 19. Support can be ordered indefinitely for a child with a physical or mental disability that existed before age 18.