New York Child Support Guide 2026: How the CSSA Formula Really Works
New York’s Child Support Standards Act uses one of the clearest formulas in the country — and one of the most misunderstood, because both parents’ incomes go into it. This guide covers the percentages, the new $193,000 income cap for 2026, and what gets added on top.
Get your number first with the free New York child support calculator — it combines both incomes, applies the CSSA percentage, and splits the result pro rata.
How is child support calculated in New York?
New York adds both parents’ gross incomes together, applies a percentage set by the Child Support Standards Act to the combined total, and then splits that amount in proportion to each parent’s income. The noncustodial parent pays their income share of the total to the custodial parent as child support.
Example: parents earning $60,000 and $40,000 have $100,000 combined. For two children the percentage is 25%, so the basic obligation is $25,000 a year. The higher earner holds 60% of the combined income, so they pay 60% — $15,000 a year, or $1,250 a month.
What are the New York child support percentages in 2026?
The CSSA percentages are 17% of combined parental income for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and no less than 35% for five or more children. They are set by statute — Family Court Act §413 — and have not changed; only the income cap they apply to moves over time.
The percentage produces the total obligation for both parents together, not the paying parent’s bill. Their actual payment is a pro-rata slice of that total — so the same combined income produces different payments depending on how earnings split between the parents.
What is the income cap, and what happens above it?
Since March 1, 2026, the CSSA percentages apply automatically to combined parental income up to $193,000, raised from $183,000. Combined income above that amount is not ignored, but nothing above the cap is automatic: the court decides whether to apply the percentages to the excess, using the statutory factors in §413(1)(f).
Those factors include the child’s prior standard of living, each parent’s resources, the child’s health and educational needs, and tax consequences. In practice, courts often extend the formula somewhat above the cap for moderately high earners, and use more discretion at very high incomes.
Do both parents’ incomes count in New York?
Yes. New York follows the income-shares model, so the custodial parent’s income directly affects the result: the higher their share of combined income, the smaller the paying parent’s pro-rata share of the basic obligation. Before combining, a court subtracts items such as FICA taxes and New York City or Yonkers income tax from each income.
This is the opposite of states like Texas, where only the paying parent’s income matters. If you want to see the contrast, run identical incomes through the Texas child support calculator. To understand your own take-home figures first, our New York income tax calculator and paycheck calculator break down what each salary actually leaves you.
What extra costs are added on top of basic support?
Basic support is only the starting point. New York adds mandatory add-on expenses, split between the parents in the same pro-rata proportions: the children’s health insurance premiums, childcare costs that let the custodial parent work or attend school, and unreimbursed medical expenses. Educational expenses can also be added in some cases.
Add-ons are often substantial — full-time childcare in New York City alone can rival the basic obligation. Treat any estimate covering only the basic percentage as a floor, not a final figure.
How long do you pay child support in New York?
Parents in New York are responsible for supporting a child until the child turns 21 — longer than the age-18 cutoff used in most states. Support can end earlier if the child becomes emancipated, for example by marrying, joining the military, or becoming fully self-supporting before age 21.
The age-21 rule matters for planning: a New York order can run three years longer than the same order in a neighboring state. College costs are usually handled by agreement, since basic support does not automatically extend past 21.
Can a New York child support order be modified?
Yes. Under Family Court Act §451, an order can be modified if there has been a substantial change in circumstances, if three years have passed since the order was entered or last adjusted, or if either parent’s gross income has changed by 15% or more. The change is not automatic — a petition must be filed.
The March 2026 cap increase does not by itself change existing orders either. Parents whose combined income sits between the old $183,000 cap and the new $193,000 cap may see a different result on modification, because more of their income now falls inside the automatic-formula zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is child support taxable in New York?
No. Child support is tax-neutral: the receiving parent does not report it as income, and the paying parent cannot deduct it. That is federal law in every state — unlike maintenance (alimony), which follows different rules.
What is the self-support reserve?
It is a floor protecting very low earners — $21,546 for 2026. If the full formula amount would push the noncustodial parent’s remaining income below the reserve, support is limited to the difference between their income and the reserve.
What if a parent quits a job to reduce support?
Courts can impute income — calculate support using what the parent is capable of earning rather than what they currently earn. Judges review past earnings, education, work experience, and the local job market. Voluntarily taking a much lower-paying job shortly before a support case is one of the most common triggers.
How does shared custody affect New York child support?
The formula still applies. The parent who has the children for the majority of the time is treated as the custodial parent for support purposes, even under a shared physical custody label. In genuine 50/50 arrangements, courts often treat the lower earner as the custodial parent and still apply the CSSA percentages.
This guide and the calculator it links to provide general estimates only and are not legal advice. New York figures follow the Child Support Standards Act (Family Court Act §413), with the $193,000 combined-income cap effective March 1, 2026; courts can adjust for add-on expenses, deductions, and above-cap income. For advice about your order, consult a New York family law attorney.
