Examples

Example One – How to deduct the full amount of child support

The employer is asked to deduct $75.00 in child support each week.

Gross weekly pay $450.00
Tax withheld $45.00
Weekly PEA $308.63 (2010)
Pay remaining $96.37
Deducted child support
(this amount to be remitted to CSA)
$75.00
Pay remaining $21.37
Plus PEA $308.63 (2010)
Net pay to employee $330.00

Other deductions such as an employee’s self contribution to superannuation and loan repayments can now be made from this amount.


Example Two – How the PEA can affect the deduction of child support

The employer is asked to deduct $75.00 in child support each week.

Gross weekly pay $400.00
Tax withheld $36.00
Weekly PEA $308.63 (2010)
Pay remaining $55.37
Deducted child support
(Pay this amount to Child Support Agency)
$55.37
Pay remaining $0.00
Plus PEA $308.63 (2010)
Net pay to employee $308.63

The employer cannot deduct the full amount of child support of $75.00 as it would leave the employee with less than the PEA.

The employer must deduct the child support ($55.37) and pay it to CSA with a payment advice slip. You will need to advise the reason for the variation either by phone, posting or faxing a Variation to Maintenance Deductions form. Employers registered with CSAonline can report the variations online.


Example Three – How to deduct child support from annual leave payments

The employee goes on paid holiday leave on the last pay day in the month and the pay he/she receives includes advance payment for the next two weeks. The employee is paid $400.00 weekly.

The employer is asked to deduct $30.00 in child support each week.

Total pay received $1,200.00
Tax withheld (for three weekly payments) $108.00
Weekly PEA x 3
$308.63
$925.89
Pay remaining $166.11
Deducted child support
(3 x $30.00)
$90.00
Pay remaining $76.11
Plus PEA $925.89
Net pay to employee $1002.00

Child support must be deducted from the advance payment of wages or salary.

The employer deducts $90.00 and forwards that amount to CSA on or before the seventh day of the following month. That is, $30.00 for the current pay week and $60.00 for the two weeks that are paid in advance. The employer should pay the deductions to CSA and advise the reason for the additional payment by phone, or posting or faxing a Variation to Maintenance Deductions form. Employers registered with CSAonline can report the variations online.


Example Four – How to make deductions of child support from a casual or part-time employee’s pay

The employee works part-time and earns $410.00 a fortnight.

The employer is asked to deduct $40.00 in child support each fortnight.

Gross fortnightly pay $410.00
Tax withheld $2.00
Pay remaining $408.00
Deduct Child Support $0.00
Fortnightly PEA $617.26 (2010)
Net pay to employee $408.00

When remaining income after tax is withheld, falls below the PEA, no child support can be deducted from the employee’s pay.

As no child support was deducted, the employer must advise the reason for the variation by phone, posting or faxing a Variation to Maintenance Deductions form. Employers registered with CSAonline can report the variations online.


Example Five – How to deduct child support and apply PEA when there is a salary sacrifice arrangement in place

The employee has a remuneration package valued at $2,600.00 per fortnight.

Of this $1,700.00 is salary sacrificed payments for the employee’s mortgage, car lease, health insurance and school fees.

The employer is asked to deduct $398.00 in child support each fortnight.

Gross fortnightly remuneration $2,600.00
Salary package for car $1,700.00
Tax withheld $98.00
Pay remaining $810.00
Fortnightly PEA $617.26 (2010)
Pay remaining $192.74
Deducted child support $192.74
Pay remaining $0.00
Plus PEA $617.26 (2010)
Net pay to employee $617.26

The employer cannot deduct the full amount of child support ($398.00) as it would leave the employee with less than the PEA.

The employer must deduct child support ($192.74) and pay it to CSA with a payment advice slip. The employer must advise the reason for the variation by phone, or posting or faxing a Variation to Maintenance Deductions form. Employers registered with CSAonline can report the variations online.

NOTE: A salary sacrifice remuneration package involving mortgage repayments is different to the situation where the employee asks their pay officer to deduct and pay their loan repayments from their regular pay. Where there is no formal salary packaging arrangement the child support should be deducted after tax instalments but before making the loan repayments as mentioned in Example One.


Example Six – How to make deductions when you receive a Notice Pursuant to Section 72A to deduct a cents in the dollar amount

The employee or contractor is paid $450.00 for work done.

The Section 72A Notice requires you to deduct 15 cents in the dollar.

Total payment $450.00
Deducted child support
($450.00 x $0.15)
$67.50
Pay remaining $382.50

Note: Tax deductions and child support are to be deducted from the gross amount.

PEA does not apply for employees or contractors where notices pursuant to Section 72A have been issued. The deducted amount must be paid to CSA within seven days of making the deductions.


Example Seven – How to make deductions when you receive a Notice Pursuant to Section 72A to deduct a periodic amount

The employee or contractor usually receives payments of between $300.00 and $500.00 each week for work done.

The Section 72A Notice requires you to deduct $110.00 per week.

In the first week the employee or contractor earns $500.00
In the second week the employee or contractor earns $450.00
In the third week the employee or contractor earns $90.00

Week 1  
Total payment $500.00
Deducted child support $110.00
Pay remaining $390.00

Week 2  
Total payment $450.00
Deducted child support $110.00
Pay remaining $340.00

Week 3  
Total payment $90.00
Deducted child support $90.00*
Pay remaining $0.00

*You are unable to deduct the full $110.00. You can only deduct what is paid.

PEA does not apply to amounts deducted under Section 72A Notice.


Example Eight – How to make deductions when you receive a Notice Pursuant to Section 72A to deduct a lump sum from an employee’s termination payment

The employee’s weekly salary is $600.00. The employee resigns and is owed five weeks in unpaid annual leave.

CSA sends a Section 72A Notice for a lump sum amount $962.00

Total annual leave payment $3,000.00
Tax instalments deducted
(5 x $72.00)
$360.00
Child support deducted $962.00
Pay remaining $1678.00

The deducted amount $962.00 must be paid to CSA within seven days of making the deductions.


Protected earnings amount figures

Year Per week Per fortnight Per month
2010 $308.63 $617.26 $1,341.99
2009 $304.05 $608.10 $1,322.07
2008 $290.85 $581.70 $1,264.68
2007 $284.85 $569.70 $1,238.59
2006 $273.75 $547.50 $1,189.51
2005 $267.00 $534.00 $1,160.97

Use the employer calculator to automatically work out your deductions.

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