Child Support Assessment

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Child Support Assessments
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Child Support Assessments
PARENTS INCOME
The child support assessment can be based on
the formula set out in the legislation, or
an agreement reached between the parents.
Formula Assessment
The current formula was introduced on 1 July
2008. It takes into account many variables
including the incomes of each parent, the number
and ages of children, the costs of children, the
level of care each parent provides for the
children, and whether either parent has a legal
duty to support any other children.
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The formula consists of three main elements

1. Parents Incomes
2. Costs of Children Table
3. Level of Care

The starting point is each parents taxable
income for the previous year, plus other amounts
which are automatically included such as

• Net financial investment losses (eg rental
  property, shares, managed investments)
• Reportable fringe benefits
• Foreign income
• Reportable superannuation contributions
• Some tax-free pensions or benefits
• Some payments from the Department of Veterans
  Affairs

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PARENTS INCOME
The Costs of Children Tables are based on
Australian research which looked at the amount of
money spent on raising children in households
with differing levels of income.   The Costs of
Children Tables are adjusted each year in
accordance with changes in average incomes.
LEVEL OF CARE
The amount of care provided by each parent can
be counted as a contribution to the costs of the
children.   The level of care is generally
counted in nights.  However, a request can be
made to determine the level of care based on
hours rather than nights.
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A table that converts the number of nights of
care into the percentage of a childs costs is
below.
Nights per year CSA terminology Equals Percentage of costs met through care
0-51 Less than Regular Care 0
52-127 Regular Care 24
128-237 Shared Care 25-75 (sliding scale)
238-313 Primary Care 76
314-365 Greater than Primary Care 100
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Child Support Consulting
http//www.childsupportconsulting.com.au/
http//www.childsupportconsulting.com.au/our-blog/
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