Deducting from salary or wages
If you receive a Schedule of Child Support Deductions you need to follow these guidelines when making deductions:
- Make a deduction of child support at the same time you make tax withheld deductions.
- Do not change the amount that CSA has asked you to deduct unless CSA advises you in writing, or unless Protected Earnings Amount (PEA) prevents you from deducting the full amount.
- If deducting from more than one employee, you need to supply CSA with a breakdown of the total deductions paid to CSA for each employee.
- Payments can be made at the end of each pay period (i.e. weekly, fortnightly or monthly) or pay all the deductions together as long as you pay the deduction to CSA by the seventh of the next month.
- You can pay by cheque or money order (with a payment advice slip), by Electronic
Funds Transfer (EFT), at Australia Post, BPAY or Government EasyPay.
To arrange payment through EFT or BPAY or to find out more about your other
payment options please contact the CSA Payment Enquiry Line on 1800 241
272.
If the amount you deduct varies (e.g. due to PEA or an advance payment) advise CSA on a Variation to Child Support Deductions form. CSA will send you this form on request (phone 131 272), or it can be downloaded from our website at www.csa.gov.au/forms/
This will not be necessary for employers using CSAonline
services, as variations are reported through CSAonline.