Child Support Calculator Ontario: How Much Will I Pay/Receive?
One of the first questions parents ask when separating is: "How much child support will I pay?" or "How much will I receive?"
In Ontario, child support isn't arbitrary—it's calculated using federal guidelines designed to ensure children maintain a similar standard of living in both households. Here's what you need to know about how child support works and what you can expect to pay or receive.
How Child Support is Calculated in Ontario
Child support in Ontario follows the Federal Child Support Guidelines, which use a formula based on:
The payor's annual gross income
The number of children
The province or territory where the payor lives
The Guidelines include tables that show the monthly child support amount based on these factors. For example, a parent in Ontario earning $75,000 per year with two children would pay approximately $1,095 per month in basic child support.
You can access the official federal child support tables through the Department of Justice Canada website, or use their online calculator for a quick estimate.
What Income Counts Toward Child Support?
Child support is calculated based on gross annual income—that's your income before taxes and deductions. This includes:
Employment income (salary, wages, commissions, bonuses)
Self-employment income
Investment income and dividends
Rental income
Pension income
Employment Insurance benefits
Workers' compensation
Disability payments
Important note: If you're self-employed or own a business, calculating gross income becomes more complex. Courts may look at your business's net income, add back certain expenses, or even impute income if they believe you're underreporting earnings.
Beyond Basic Child Support: Section 7 Expenses
The table amount covers basic necessities—food, clothing, shelter—but children often have additional costs. These are called Section 7 expenses (or "special or extraordinary expenses"), and parents typically share them proportionally based on income.
Common Section 7 expenses include:
Childcare costs (daycare, before and after-school care)
Health-related expenses not covered by insurance (orthodontics, therapy, prescription medications)
Post-secondary education costs
Extracurricular activities (sports, music lessons, tutoring)
How Section 7 expenses are split: If one parent earns $80,000 and the other earns $40,000 (total combined income of $120,000), the higher earner would pay approximately 67% of Section 7 expenses while the other parent pays 33%.
Not all extracurricular activities automatically qualify. Courts consider whether the expense is reasonable given the parents' financial circumstances and whether it aligns with the child's interests and the family's spending pattern before separation.
Shared Parenting vs. Primary Parenting: Does It Change the Amount?
Primary parenting (where children live with one parent more than 60% of the time): The parent with less parenting time pays the table amount to the primary parent.
Shared parenting (where children spend at least 40% of time with each parent): The calculation becomes more nuanced. Rather than simply looking at table amounts, courts consider:
The increased costs of maintaining two homes for the children
The actual time spent with each parent
The financial circumstances of both parents
In shared parenting situations, the child support amount might be offset (meaning the higher earner pays the difference between what each parent would owe) or adjusted based on the actual costs each parent incurs.
What If Income Changes During the Year?
Child support is based on your most recent income information—typically your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency. However, income can fluctuate:
If you receive a significant raise or bonus: You should disclose this to the other parent, and child support may need to be adjusted upward.
If you lose your job or take a pay cut: Child support can be recalculated, but you need to formally request a modification. Courts won't automatically reduce payments just because you left a job voluntarily or took a lower-paying position without good reason.
Annual disclosure requirement: Parents paying child support must provide updated income information annually (by a specific date outlined in your agreement or court order), so the amount stays current.
When Income Information Isn't Clear: Imputed Income
Sometimes, a parent's reported income doesn't reflect their true earning capacity. In these cases, courts can impute income—meaning they assign a higher income amount for child support purposes.
Courts may impute income when a parent:
Is intentionally unemployed or underemployed
Fails to provide complete financial disclosure
Lives a lifestyle that doesn't match their reported income
Diverts income through a corporation or trust
Receives non-taxable benefits or perks
This is particularly common with business owners who might minimize their salary while enjoying corporate benefits, or professionals who take time off work without justification.
Child Support for Adult Children
Child support doesn't automatically end when a child turns 18. In Ontario, you may still owe child support if your child is:
Attending post-secondary education full-time
Unable to support themselves due to illness or disability
The amount and duration depend on the child's program of study, their financial contributions (part-time work, scholarships), and what's reasonable given the parents' means.
For university or college students, child support calculations often consider tuition, books, residence costs, and living expenses, with contributions split proportionally between parents—and sometimes with an expected contribution from the student as well.
How to Use the Child Support Calculator
Using an online child support calculator can be helpful for estimating payments. Here's how to use it:
Gather your most recent Notice of Assessment from CRA
Determine the parenting arrangement (primary or shared)
Count the number of children
Input the payor's gross annual income
Select Ontario as the province
The calculator will show the monthly table amount. Remember, this is the base amount before adding Section 7 expenses.
What If We Can't Agree on Child Support?
If you and your ex-partner can't reach an agreement on child support, you have options:
Mediation: A neutral third party helps you negotiate an agreement. This is often faster and less expensive than court.
Collaborative family law: Both parties work with lawyers trained in collaborative practice to reach a settlement without going to court.
Court application: If negotiations fail, you can apply to court for a child support order. A judge will review financial disclosure from both parents and issue a binding order.
Regardless of which path you choose, both parents must provide complete and honest financial disclosure. Hiding income or assets can result in serious consequences, including court sanctions.
Tax Treatment of Child Support
Child support payments are not tax-deductible for the payor, and not taxable income for the recipient. This is different from spousal support, which has different tax implications.
This means if you're paying $1,200 per month in child support, you cannot deduct that amount from your taxable income. Similarly, if you're receiving child support, you don't report it as income on your tax return.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
If your ex-partner isn't paying court-ordered child support, Ontario's Family Responsibility Office (FRO) can help enforce the order through:
Automatic payroll deductions
Intercepting tax refunds
Suspending driver's licenses
Reporting to credit bureaus
In extreme cases, garnishing bank accounts or registering liens against property
Most child support orders in Ontario go through FRO automatically, which handles collection and distribution of payments.
Common Child Support Mistakes to Avoid
1. Using net income instead of gross income: Always use your gross income (before taxes) when calculating child support.
2. Forgetting to update income information annually: Failing to provide annual disclosure can lead to disputes and potential underpayment or overpayment issues.
3. Making informal agreements without documentation: Verbal agreements or e-transfer arrangements aren't enforceable. Always formalize child support in a separation agreement or court order.
4. Assuming child support covers everything: Remember that Section 7 expenses are additional to the base table amount.
5. Stopping payments when the child turns 18: If your child is in post-secondary education, support can continue.
Disclaimer: This blog provides general information about child support in Ontario and should not be considered legal advice. Child support calculations can vary based on individual circumstances. For advice specific to your situation, please consult with a family law lawyer.
