General information only. Confirm with the agency for your situation. Spotted something out of date? Email help@unemployed.nz.
Child support when your income drops
Estimate how child support changes on a lower income and whether you can ask Inland Revenue for an estimate of income.
For a parent who pays child support and has the children less than 28% of nights (fewer than about 2 nights a week). From 28%, IRD counts shared care and the amount changes. If you receive it, your payments change the same way when the other parent's income changes.
Taxable income before tax, from last year's records.
Include what you have earned since 1 April, final pay and any benefit, plus what you expect to the end of the year.
If you do not know, use your best guess. IRD works it out from their tax records.
Enter all three incomes to see how child support could change.
Indicative only, for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. It ignores dependent children, other child support groups, and shared care of 28% of nights or more. IRD's calculator gives the official number. A child turning 13 also changes the assessment.
Sources: Rates and allowances, Child expenditure table, Estimate of income