Child Support Formula: 2025 Changes You Need to Know

What's Changed for 2025

Services Australia updates child support rates annually. Key changes for 2025:

Self-Support Amount

The amount deducted from income before calculating child support.

2024: $28,463 2025: $29,212

Costs of Children Tables

The estimated cost of raising children at various income levels has been updated to reflect inflation.

How Child Support Is Calculated

Step 1: Work Out Each Parent's Income

- Taxable income

Plus certain other amounts

Less self-support amount

= Child Support Income

Step 2: Combined Income

Add both parents' child support incomes.

Step 3: Income Percentage

Each parent's percentage of combined income.

Step 4: Cost of Children

From the table, based on:

Combined income

Number of children

Age of children

Step 5: Care Percentage

How much time each parent has the children:

Less than 14%: No cost reduction

14-34%: 24% reduction

35-47%: 25% + 2% per percentage point

48-52%: Nil (equal care)

And so on

Step 6: Final Calculation

Income percentage × Cost of children = Parent's share

Minus care percentage adjustment = Child support payable

Example

Family: Two children aged 8 and 10 Parent A income: $80,000 Parent B income: $40,000 Care: Parent A 35%, Parent B 65%

The formula would calculate based on these inputs using 2025 rates.

When Changes Apply

New rates typically apply from 1 January 2025 for:

New assessments

Annual reassessments

Change of assessment applications

What to Do

- Review your current assessment

Use our Child Support Calculator with 2025 rates

Contact Services Australia if circumstances have changed

Lodge a change of assessment if needed