Texas Child Support Calculator (2026)
Texas Family Code §§ 154.125–154.129 sets the child‑support percentages and caps. As of September 1 2025 the statutory cap on net resources rose to $11,700 per month, up from $9,200, and the percentages range from 20% for one child to 40% for five or more children.
Reviewed 2026-09-02 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice.
How Texas calculates it
- Determine the paying parent’s monthly net resources – income after taxes, Social Security and the child’s health‑insurance cost.
- Apply the statutory cap: only the first $11,700 of net resources can be used for the guideline calculation.
- Select the percentage that matches the number of children (1 child 20%, 2 children 25%, 3 children 30%, 4 children 35%, 5+ children 40%).
- Multiply the chosen percentage by the capped net resources to get the guideline support amount.
- If the payer also supports children in other households, the percentages are reduced under § 154.129.
- Any income above the $11,700 cap requires proof of the child’s specific needs for additional support.
Worked example
In the example, a paying parent with $6,000 of monthly net resources and two children would apply the 25% rate: 25% × $6,000 = $1,500 per month guideline support.
Frequently asked questions
How does Texas determine the child‑support percentage?
Texas uses a fixed schedule in the Family Code: 20% for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five or more children.
What is the income cap for calculating Texas child support?
The cap is $11,700 of monthly net resources, effective September 1 2025. Only this amount is used in the guideline formula.
Are child‑support payments taxable in Texas?
Texas has no state income tax, and child support is not taxable to the recipient nor deductible by the payer under federal rules.
Can a parent with income above the $11,700 cap be ordered to pay more?
Yes. Support above the cap requires the paying parent to prove the child’s additional needs; the court may order extra support beyond the guideline.
What happens if the paying parent also supports children in another household?
The percentages are stepped down according to § 154.129, reducing the guideline amount when the payer has obligations to children in other homes.
Is the calculation different in Houston, Dallas or San Antonio?
No. Tex. Fam. Code §§ 154.125–154.129 sets one statewide guideline, so a case in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio uses the same percentages as anywhere else in Texas. Judges everywhere in the state may deviate only with written findings.