How Is Child Support Calculated in Ontario?
- Ahsan Chaudhry
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Understanding how child support is calculated in Ontario is essential for parents navigating separation or divorce. Whether you are paying or receiving support, the right information can help you protect your rights and ensure your child’s needs are met. At Brace Law, our family lawyers in Oakville, Vaughan, and the Hamilton region guide clients through the entire process, from determining income to enforcing payments.
What Is Child Support in Ontario?
Child support is a legal obligation for one parent to contribute financially to the care of their child. The amount is determined according to the Federal Child Support Guidelines, adopted in Ontario law. These guidelines ensure children have consistent financial support that covers their basic living expenses.
The obligation to pay child support exists regardless of the Decision‑Making Responsibility and Parenting Time arrangements. Both parents must contribute to their child’s needs, even if one parent spends significant time with the child.
Determining Gross Annual Income
The first step in the Ontario child support calculation process is establishing the paying parent’s gross annual income. This is usually taken from Line 15000 of their tax return. However, if a parent’s income varies or if they are self‑employed, the court may average several years of income or assign (impute) a figure based on their financial situation.
Courts may also consider:
Dividends or business income from a company the parent controls
Bonuses and non‑taxable benefits
Income that appears intentionally reduced to avoid higher support payments
This ensures that child support reflects a parent’s true financial capacity.
Using the Ontario Child Support Tables
Once income is confirmed, the Ontario Child Support Tables are used to determine the basic monthly amount. These tables account for the number of children and the paying parent’s annual income.
For example, in 2025:
At $50,000 annual income with two children, the monthly payment is about $755.
At $100,000 annual income with two children, the monthly payment is about $1,416.
If the paying parent’s income is above $150,000, the court may adjust the amount, but in most cases, the table serves as the starting point.
Use the calculator below to get a quick estimate of the basic monthly child support amount in Ontario. Simply enter the paying parent’s annual gross income and the number of children to see the guideline amount.
The Role of Decision‑Making Responsibility and Parenting Time
Ontario law now uses Decision‑Making Responsibility and Parenting Time instead of the term “child custody.” These arrangements can significantly impact the amount of child support.
Shared parenting: If each parent has the child at least 40% of the time annually, the court will calculate what each parent owes and set off the smaller amount against the larger one. The difference is paid to the parent with the lower obligation.
Split parenting: If different children live primarily with different parents, a similar offset calculation applies.
These adjustments ensure child support reflects the actual division of parenting time.
Special or Extraordinary Expenses
The table amount covers essentials like housing, food, and clothing. Additional expenses, called special or extraordinary expenses (Section 7 expenses), can be added to the monthly amount. Examples include:
Child care expenses for work or education
Uninsured health and dental costs
Educational expenses such as tutoring or private school fees
Costs for competitive sports or extracurricular programs
These costs must be necessary, reasonable, and proportionally shared based on each parent’s income.
Retroactive Support, Undue Hardship, and Annual Disclosure
Courts may order retroactive child support for up to three years prior to a claim if payments were missed or not made in full.
An undue hardship application can be made if paying the table amount would cause severe financial difficulty, though courts require strong evidence before granting this request.
Parents must also provide annual income disclosure to keep child support calculations accurate. Failure to disclose can lead to recalculations and enforcement actions.
How Brace Law Can Help
At Brace Law, we help clients understand their rights and obligations under the Ontario child support guidelines. Our team carefully reviews financial records to ensure that income is calculated accurately, whether it involves straightforward employment income or complex self‑employment earnings.
We also provide clear advice on how your Decision‑Making Responsibility and Parenting Time arrangements may affect child support. For shared or split parenting cases, we negotiate or litigate to ensure the proper offset is applied.
When additional expenses are involved, we help you gather proof and present your case so these costs are divided fairly. We also assist with retroactive support claims, variations for changing circumstances, and undue hardship applications.
Our goal is to secure fair outcomes that protect both your financial stability and your child’s well‑being. With offices in Oakville and Vaughan, Brace Law is ready to assist residents of the Greater Toronto Area with all their family law needs. Contact us today to book a consultation with our top rated family law lawyers in Ontario.
📍 Our Oakville Law Office (Main Office): 2939 Portland Dr Unit 202, Oakville, ON L6H 5S4
📍 Our Vaughan Law Office: 3883 Highway 7 Road, Unit 220, Vaughan, ON L4L 6B9
📧 Email: staff@bracelaw.ca
Visit www.bracelaw.ca or call us today to book your consultation.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal policies and regulations change frequently, and every case is unique. For personalized legal guidance tailored to your situation, please consult with a qualified lawyer.
