Federal Guidelines
Federal Child Support
Guidelines Explained
The Federal Child Support Guidelines establish the amount of child support that a paying parent must provide. These apply across Canada (except Quebec) based on the paying parent's income and the number of children.
Quebec does not use the Federal Child Support Guidelines. Instead, Quebec has its own child support determination model based on both parents' incomes. See our Quebec-specific guide for details.
How the Guidelines Work
Income-Based
Table amounts are based on the paying parent's gross annual income
Provincial Tables
Each province has specific tables based on local tax rates
Number of Children
Amounts increase with each additional child
Section 7 Expenses
Special expenses are shared proportionally to income
Shared Custody
Adjustments when child is with each parent 40%+ of time
Sample Table Amounts (Ontario)
Monthly child support amounts based on payor's gross annual income. Actual amounts vary by province.
| Gross Annual Income | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3 Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $363 | $581 | $754 |
| $60,000 | $534 | $879 | $1,117 |
| $80,000 | $713 | $1,171 | $1,479 |
| $100,000 | $871 | $1,416 | $1,797 |
| $150,000 | $1,175 | $1,861 | $2,308 |
Section 7 Special Expenses
Beyond the table amount, parents share certain "special or extraordinary" expenses proportionally to their incomes:
- Childcare costs (daycare, before/after school care)
- Health-related expenses (medical, dental, orthodontics)
- Educational expenses (tuition, tutoring, special needs)
- Post-secondary education costs
- Extracurricular activities (sports, music, arts)
Example: If Parent A earns $80,000 and Parent B earns $40,000, they share Section 7 expenses 67%/33% respectively.
Shared Custody Adjustments
When a child spends 40% or more of the time with each parent ("shared custody"), the table amounts may be adjusted:
- Calculate each parent's table amount
- Subtract lower from higher amount
- Higher-income parent typically pays difference
- Courts consider increased costs of shared parenting
- Courts have discretion to adjust for fairness
Note: Courts may increase or decrease amounts based on the actual costs of the shared custody arrangement.
Provincial Table Variations
Each province has slightly different table amounts due to different provincial tax rates.
Calculate Your Child Support
Get accurate child support calculations based on the Federal Guidelines for your province.