Texas Child Support Calculator (2026)

How Texas calculates child support

Texas is one of the few states that does not use an income-shares table for the basic guideline. Instead, the Texas Family Code sets a percentage of the paying parent’s monthly net resources. The percentages in Section 154.125 are 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five. For six or more children, the table says “not less than the amount for five children”, so the presumptive guideline stays at 40% and a court can order more when the children’s needs justify it.

The other parent’s income does not change the percentage guideline in a simple Texas case. That is why the calculator asks only for the paying parent’s net resources. If the parents have children in more than one household, a different formula under Section 154.129 can apply; this page does not reproduce it.

The result is the presumptive guideline amount. A court can deviate if the evidence shows that the guideline is unjust or inappropriate, but it must state the reasons. The guideline is the starting point, not a guarantee.

What counts as net resources

“Net resources” starts with gross income and subtracts the deductions listed in Section 154.062. The common deductions are federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax if the parent works in a state that has one, union dues, mandatory retirement contributions, and health insurance premiums for the child. Self-employment tax and business expenses can also matter for a self-employed parent.

Income is broader than salary. It includes overtime, bonuses, commissions, tips, self-employment income, unemployment benefits, disability payments, retirement income, and in some cases imputed income if a parent is intentionally underemployed. A single overtime-heavy month can distort the estimate, so use a representative monthly average.

The calculator does not compute net resources from a gross salary. It asks for the net figure because the tax withholding and deductions vary by filing status, state, and benefits. If you only know gross pay, use the OAG tax charts or the official calculator to get to net resources first.

The 2026 cap: $11,700

The Texas guideline percentages apply only up to a cap that is adjusted periodically. The 2026 figure is $11,700 of monthly net resources, effective September 1, 2025. A parent with $15,000 of net resources is still treated as having $11,700 for the percentage calculation, so one child is $2,340 rather than $3,000.

Above the cap, the guideline does not automatically produce a higher percentage. A court may order additional support if the child has proven needs that exceed the guideline amount, but the parent asking for more has to present evidence. The cap is the main reason a simple “20% of salary” shortcut overstates support for higher earners.

Parenting time and possession

Texas has a standard possession order and an expanded standard possession order, but the guideline itself does not reduce support based on overnights. A parent with standard visitation still pays the same percentage of net resources as a parent with less time. A court can consider expanded possession as a deviation factor, but it is not a formulaic credit.

This is different from states such as California, where timeshare is built into the formula, and Florida, where each parent having at least 20% of the overnights triggers a 1.5× adjustment. If you are comparing a Texas estimate to a shared-custody estimate from another state, the numbers are not directly comparable.

Health insurance, childcare, and medical support

The basic guideline does not include the child’s health insurance premium, dental insurance, work-related childcare, or uninsured medical expenses. Those are usually handled as additional orders. A court can order a parent to provide health insurance and allocate the premium between the parents, and it can add childcare costs to the support obligation.

The calculator also does not include arrears, interest on past-due support, or a credit for Social Security benefits paid to the child. Those items can change the amount that actually changes hands each month even when the guideline calculation is correct.

A Texas example: $5,000 in net resources

Start with a paying parent who has $5,000 of monthly net resources and one child. At 20%, the estimate is $1,000 per month. If the same parent has two children, the percentage is 25% and the estimate is $1,250. If the parent has $15,000 of net resources and one child, the cap reduces the calculation base to $11,700, so the estimate is $2,340.

These figures assume no other children, no multiple-household adjustment, no add-ons, and no deviation. They show how the percentage and the cap work; they do not forecast a court order.

What the Texas estimate leaves out

• Health, dental, and vision insurance premiums for the child.
• Work-related childcare and after-school care.
• Uninsured medical, dental, and prescription costs.
• The multiple-household formula under Section 154.129.
• The low-income guideline for net resources under $1,000.
• Deviations for expanded possession, special needs, travel, or extraordinary expenses.
• Arrears, interest, and credits for benefits paid to the child.

The estimate is also based on the income you enter. If the other parent disputes your income, the court can use payroll records, tax returns, bank records, or imputed income. A guideline calculation is only as good as the income figure behind it.

When Texas’s official calculator is the better choice

Use the Texas Attorney General’s calculator if you have more than one household of children, need the low-income table, or want the state’s own net-resources computation. The OAG calculator is also the better choice if you are preparing a court filing and need a worksheet that shows the deductions line by line.

If your case involves a disputed income figure, a self-employed parent, a parent outside Texas, or a request to deviate from the guideline, talk to a Texas family law attorney. The calculator can help you prepare questions, but it cannot replace the attorney’s review of the order.

Frequently asked questions