Estimate a Texas child support order under the state's Percentage of Income model. Texas bases support on the paying parent's monthly net resources: 20% for one child, 25% for two, rising with each additional child, up to a net resources cap of $11,700 per month.
In Texas, child support is 20% of the paying parent's net resources for one child, 25% for two, 30% for three, 35% for four, and 40% for five or more. Net resources means gross income minus federal income tax at the single rate, Social Security and Medicare, union dues, and the child's health and dental insurance. As of 1 September 2025 the guidelines apply to the first $11,700 of monthly net resources, so the maximum guideline support is $2,340 for one child and $2,925 for two.
Texas is one of only six states that use the Percentage of Income model. The court looks at one parent's income, not both. It takes the paying parent's monthly net resources and applies a flat percentage set by statute. The other parent's income does not enter the guideline calculation.
The percentage depends on how many children are in the case. Texas Family Code section 154.125 sets it at 20 percent for one child and rises from there.
| Children in this case | Percentage of net resources | Maximum at the $11,700 cap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | 20% | $2,340 / month |
| 2 children | 25% | $2,925 / month |
| 3 children | 30% | $3,510 / month |
| 4 children | 35% | $4,095 / month |
| 5 or more | 40% | $4,680 / month |
Because only the paying parent's income counts, the Texas calculation is simpler than the Income Shares method used in most states. The complexity in Texas sits in two places: working out net resources correctly, and adjusting for children the parent supports in another household. Both are handled by the calculator above. For the version covering every other state, see the main child support calculator.
Source: Texas Family Code sections 154.062, 154.125 and 154.129; Texas Office of the Attorney General. Cap updated by Senate Bill 1936, effective 1 September 2025.
This calculator provides an educational estimate only. Texas courts can vary from the guideline amount for the child's proven needs, extraordinary expenses, or other factors. Always consult a licensed Texas family law attorney before making legal decisions.
Texas does not use gross pay, and it does not use take-home pay. It uses a defined figure called net resources. Section 154.062 of the Family Code lists what goes in and what comes out.
Net resources start from almost every source of income. Then a short list of deductions is subtracted. Note that state income tax is not on the list, because Texas has none.
Texas uses the tax a single person with one exemption would pay, not your actual withholding. A large refund, extra allowances, or a second job does not change the net resources figure. The Office of the Attorney General publishes annual tax charts that convert gross wages to net resources.
Voluntary retirement contributions and car payments are not deductible. Neither is rent or a mortgage. Only the four statutory items above come out of income.
Courts do not simply accept the bottom line on a tax return. Expenses that carry a personal benefit are often added back for support purposes even when the IRS accepted the deduction. Judges also tend to average two or three years rather than rely on a single year.
Texas caps the income the guideline percentages apply to. As of 1 September 2025 the cap is $11,700 of monthly net resources, up from $9,200. The legislature raised it through Senate Bill 1936, the first adjustment since 2019. The cap is reviewed for inflation every six years.
A parent who earns more than $11,700 in net resources per month does not automatically pay more. To go above the cap, the parent seeking support must show the child has proven needs beyond the guideline amount. Below the cap, the percentage applies to the full figure.
The increase did not change existing orders on its own. A parent who wanted the higher amount had to file for a modification and obtain a new order. The same rule works in reverse: a change in the guidelines does not lower an existing order until a court says so.
Source: Texas Family Code section 154.125; Senate Bill 1936 (2025); Texas Register net resources adjustment, effective 1 September 2025.
If you are legally required to support children in another household, Texas lowers the percentage. Section 154.129 gives a table that blends the two duties, so a parent supporting several families is not charged the full rate on each case.
For example, one child in the current case with two other children elsewhere is charged at 16 percent rather than 20. The calculator above applies this table for you once you enter the number of other children you support.
| Other children you support | 1 child | 2 children | 3 children |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 20.00% | 25.00% | 30.00% |
| 1 | 17.50% | 22.50% | 27.38% |
| 2 | 16.00% | 20.63% | 25.20% |
| 3 | 14.75% | 19.00% | 24.00% |
| 4 | 13.60% | 18.33% | 23.14% |
Source: Texas Family Code section 154.129, multiple household adjusted guidelines.
When net resources are below $1,000 per month, Texas uses a reduced schedule. It starts at 15 percent for one child instead of 20, then 20 percent for two, 25 for three, 30 for four, and 35 for five or more. This protects parents on very low incomes, and the calculator switches to it automatically.
There is also a floor. A parent with little or no proven income can still be ordered to pay a minimum amount. A court can base support on earning capacity rather than reported income if it finds a parent is deliberately unemployed or underemployed. Reducing your hours shortly before a hearing rarely produces the intended result.
Texas treats medical and dental support as separate from the base percentage. The court will usually order one parent to carry health and dental insurance for the child. If the paying parent carries it, the premium for the child is deducted from net resources before the percentage is applied, which the calculator handles when you enter the cost.
Uninsured medical costs, such as copays and orthodontics, are typically split between the parents. Cash medical support can be ordered when neither parent has access to reasonable coverage. These amounts sit on top of the guideline figure, so the final order is often a little higher than the base percentage alone.
In Texas, child support usually runs until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever is later. Support can continue indefinitely for a child who is disabled and unable to support themselves.
An order can be changed when circumstances change substantially, or on request every three years. A change of 20 percent or $100 in the guideline amount generally qualifies. Common triggers are a job loss, a large income change, a new custody arrangement, or a child aging out.
Modification runs from the filing date, not from the day your situation changed. A parent who loses a job in January and files in June still owes the full amount for those five months. This is the most common and most avoidable mistake in child support.
Parents who agree informally to lower payments create arrears, not a modification. The existing order stays enforceable until a court issues a new one.