How to Use the New York Child Support Calculator
Enter what you know and press Calculate Estimate. The calculator follows the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) in Family Court Act section 413(1) and Domestic Relations Law section 240(1-b), with the 2026 figures from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Child Support Standards Chart (LDSS-4515, released March 1, 2026).
- Enter each parent's gross monthly income as Parent A and Parent B. The calculator subtracts FICA for you.
- Choose the number of children and which parent the children live with (the custodial parent).
- Add monthly child care and health insurance costs and say which parent pays them.
- Tick the shared custody box only if parenting time is truly equal.
Your numbers are sent with the form, not placed in the page address, and this site does not store them. This is a planning estimate. A New York court decides the actual amount.
New York Child Support Laws and Changes for 2026
Looking for new child support laws in New York for 2026? We did not find a new formula for 2026. The percentages in section 413 are unchanged. What changes each year are the dollar figures tied to the federal poverty guideline. In the OTDA chart released March 1, 2026:
- The 2026 federal poverty guideline for one person is $15,960.
- The self-support reserve (135% of that guideline) is $21,546.
- The combined parental income cap is $193,000.
A change in the guidelines does not automatically change an existing order. A parent generally has to apply for a modification.
How New York Calculates Child Support
New York uses income shares with fixed percentages. The steps in section 413(1)(c) are:
- Find each parent's income: gross income as it should be reported on the federal tax return, plus certain other income, minus FICA taxes, New York City or Yonkers income taxes, maintenance paid, support paid for other children and certain business expenses.
- Add the incomes to get the combined parental income.
- Multiply the combined income up to the cap by the child support percentage.
- Split the result in proportion to each parent's income. The non-custodial parent's share is the basic support obligation.
- Add the non-custodial parent's share of child care and health insurance costs. Education and other costs can be added by the court.
| Number of children | Percentage of combined parental income |
|---|
| 1 | 17% |
| 2 | 25% |
| 3 | 29% |
| 4 | 31% |
| 5 or more | At least 35% |
The guideline amount is presumptively correct, but the court may adjust it if it is "unjust or inappropriate" based on factors in section 413(1)(f), such as each parent's resources, the child's health and special needs, the standard of living the child would have had, and the non-custodial parent's expenses for visitation.
The Combined Income Cap
The percentage is applied to combined parental income only up to the cap, which is $193,000 a year in 2026. For income above the cap, the court decides child support by considering the factors in section 413(1)(f) and/or by applying the percentage. In other words, the law permits but does not require the percentage above the cap. This calculator uses the cap for the main figure and, when combined income is above it, shows the amount if the percentage were applied to all combined income.
Low-Income Parents: Poverty Guideline and Self-Support Reserve
Section 413(1)(d) protects a low-income non-custodial parent:
- If paying the basic obligation would leave the parent above the self-support reserve ($21,546), the full amount applies.
- If it would leave the parent below the reserve but not below the poverty guideline ($15,960), support is the greater of $50 a month or the parent's income above the reserve.
- If it would leave the parent below the poverty guideline, support is $25 a month.
In each case the court can order a different amount if it finds the result unjust or inappropriate. Child care, health insurance and education costs may still be ordered in addition.
Shared and Equal Custody in New York
The CSSA does not have a special formula for shared parenting time and does not credit overnights. New York courts have held that the CSSA applies even when custody is shared. Where parents have truly equal time, the parent with the higher income is treated as the non-custodial parent and pays the pro rata share (Baraby v. Baraby and Bast v. Rossoff). If you tick the shared custody box, this calculator applies that rule. The court can still adjust the amount for the factors in section 413(1)(f).
New York Child Support Examples
In each example the children live with Parent A and Parent B is the non-custodial parent. Amounts are shown per month, and each example subtracts FICA from gross income.
Example 1: Two children
A earns $2,000 a month and B earns $6,000 a month. After FICA, B has $66,492 a year and A has $22,164, a combined income of $88,656 (under the cap). 25% is $22,164, and B's 75% share is $16,623 a year, or $1,385.25 a month.
Example 2: With child care
Same incomes. A pays $800 a month of child care. B's 75% share is $600 a month, so support is $1,985.25 a month.
Example 3: B pays the health insurance
Same incomes. B pays a $300 monthly premium. A's 25% share ($75) is deducted, so support is $1,310.25 a month.
Example 4: Below the poverty guideline
A earns $3,000 and B earns $1,500, one child. After FICA, B has $16,623 a year. The basic obligation would leave B below the poverty guideline of $15,960, so support is $25.00 a month.
Example 5: Between the poverty guideline and the reserve
A earns $3,000 and B earns $1,900, one child. B's income after FICA is $21,056. Paying the full amount would leave B below the $21,546 reserve but above the poverty guideline, so support is the greater of $50 or the income above the reserve (nothing): $50.00 a month.
Example 6: Above the cap
A earns $3,000 and B earns $25,000, two children. After FICA, combined income is $317,457. The cap of $193,000 × 25% is $48,250. B's 89.5% share is $43,196 a year, or $3,599.75 a month. The court may apply the percentage to income above the cap.
These are illustrations produced from the statute and OTDA chart, not court rulings.
What Counts as Income in New York
Income starts with gross income as it should be reported on the federal tax return. It adds investment income, voluntarily deferred compensation, workers' compensation, disability, unemployment and Social Security benefits, veterans benefits, pensions and retirement benefits, fellowships and stipends, and annuity payments. The court may impute income from assets or perquisites, or from former income if a parent reduced income to avoid support (incarceration is not voluntary unemployment).
It subtracts unreimbursed employee business expenses, maintenance or alimony paid, child support paid for other children, public assistance, SSI, New York City or Yonkers income taxes and FICA actually paid. Child support runs until the child is 21.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Child Support
Is this the official New York child support calculator?
No. ChildSupportCalculator.xyz is an independent tool and is not affiliated with the State of New York. It applies the Child Support Standards Act (Family Court Act 413 and Domestic Relations Law 240(1-b)) and the 2026 OTDA chart. Courts decide actual amounts.
How is child support calculated in New York?
New York multiplies combined parental income, up to the cap, by 17%, 25%, 29%, 31% or at least 35% for one to five or more children. The non-custodial parent pays their pro rata share, plus their share of child care and health insurance.
Are there new child support guidelines in New York in 2026?
We did not find a new formula for 2026. The OTDA chart released March 1, 2026 lists the updated poverty guideline ($15,960), self-support reserve ($21,546) and combined income cap ($193,000).
What is the New York child support income cap?
$193,000 of combined parental income in the 2026 OTDA chart. Above it the court may, but does not have to, apply the percentage to the extra income.
Does New York use gross or net income?
Gross income minus FICA taxes, New York City or Yonkers income taxes actually paid, and certain other deductions such as maintenance and support paid for other children.
Does New York consider overnights or parenting time?
Not in the CSSA formula. The percentage is applied the same way whatever the parenting schedule. With truly equal time, the higher-income parent is treated as the non-custodial parent.
Is there a New York child support calculator for 50/50 custody?
Yes. Tick the shared custody box and the higher-income parent is treated as the non-custodial parent and pays their pro rata share.
How long does child support last in New York?
Until the child turns 21 (Family Court Act 413(1)(b)(2)), unless the child is emancipated earlier.
What is the minimum child support in New York?
$25 a month if paying the full amount would leave the parent below the poverty guideline, and $50 a month (or the income above the self-support reserve, if greater) if it would leave the parent below the reserve.
Does the New York calculator need my personal details or a login?
No. This site needs no login and does not store your numbers.
