Child Support in New Zealand
Child support in New Zealand is administered by Inland Revenue (IRD), not the Family Court — a formula assessment under the Child Support Act 1991 based on both parents' taxable incomes, how many nights the children spend in each household, and the children's ages. You can also bypass the formula by agreement. Call 0800 461 100 free, any hour, to understand how the system treats your situation.
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Child Support at a glance
How the formula thinks
The formula starts with each parent's taxable income, subtracts a living allowance (and allowances for other dependent children), combines what remains, and applies a percentage based on the number and ages of the children — then splits the obligation between the parents in proportion to their incomes and adjusts for the care each provides. Care matters in bands: once a parent provides more than a threshold share of nights, their assessment reflects it.Because every input is specific to your family, generic "how much will I pay" answers are guesses. IRD's own estimator produces real numbers, and the free line can explain what drives your figure — and what legitimately changes it. Talk it through with a lawyer now →
Agreeing instead of being assessed
Parents who can cooperate have two better options. A voluntary agreement — a written agreement registered with IRD — lets you set your own amount while keeping IRD's collection machinery, useful when payments should be automatic but the formula's number isn't the one you want. A private arrangement keeps IRD out entirely: you agree, you pay, you adjust as life changes. One caution: if the receiving parent gets a sole-parent benefit, the state generally requires formula assessment — private arrangements aren't always available. Talk it through with a lawyer now →When the formula produces an unfair number
The formula is deliberately rigid, so the Act provides a pressure valve: an administrative review, on defined grounds — the costs of re-establishing after separation, a child's special needs, care costs, a parent's income figure not reflecting real earning capacity (the classic: income routed through a company or trust), and others. Reviews are decided by an independent review officer on the papers and a hearing. Beyond that, limited appeals go to the Family Court. If your assessment feels wrong, the question is whether your facts fit a ground — exactly what a free call can sort out. Talk it through with a lawyer now →Arrears — both sides of the ledger
For receiving parents: IRD enforces — wage deductions, benefit deductions, interception at the border in serious cases — and you should report non-payment rather than absorbing it. For paying parents: penalties accumulate fast on unpaid child support, and the debt does not go away; if you cannot pay, engage with IRD early — relief, instalment arrangements and penalty write-offs exist for parents who front up, and none of them are offered to parents who go silent. Talk it through with a lawyer now →Getting child support sorted, step by step
Child Support — your questions answered
How much child support will I pay?
It depends on both parents' taxable incomes, the nights of care each provides, and the children's ages — there is no flat rate. IRD's estimator gives real figures for your inputs, and the free line can explain what drives the number and what can legitimately change it.
The other parent hides income through a company. Am I stuck with their 'declared' income?
No — this is a classic ground for an administrative review: the formula income does not reflect true earning capacity or resources. Review officers can look through structures at economic reality. Evidence matters; bring what you have.
Can we just agree an amount between ourselves?
Usually yes — privately (no IRD), or as a registered voluntary agreement (IRD collects your agreed amount). The main exception: where the receiving parent is on a sole-parent benefit, formula assessment is generally required.
What happens if child support isn't paid?
IRD enforces: deductions from wages and benefits, penalties on arrears, and active pursuit of debt. Receiving parents should report non-payment promptly. Paying parents in difficulty should contact IRD before missing payments — arrangements and penalty relief exist for those who engage.
Does shared care mean nobody pays?
Not automatically. The formula accounts for care in bands and for income differences — a higher-earning parent with equal care can still pay. The only way to know is to run the actual numbers.
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