Fixed assessments
If you are a paying parent who reports a low taxable income and is not receiving
income support, you may be required to pay $22.58*
(indexed annually) per child per week. Where there are more than three children,
the amount will be capped at $67.74* a week.
This is called a fixed assessment. Fixed assessments cover parents who minimise their
taxable income in a way that does not fairly represent their true income or real
capacity to pay child support.
The total amount, currently $22.58* per
child, is still payable if the parent has less than shared
care of the child (less than 35 per cent). If a parent has a higher percentage
of care, this amount will not be payable
because the parent will be directly contributing to the child’s support through
care.
If your income is genuinely low
If you receive an income support payment, you won’t have a fixed assessment
but will have a minimum assessment.
If you don’t claim income support—for example, because your new partner
supports you—and have genuinely low income, you can apply for the fixed payment
not to apply. You’ll need to demonstrate that your income is genuinely low.
If you have genuinely low income, call us on 131 272 to talk about
your options.