Is child support considered taxable income in California? If you’re the payor, are child support payments deductible?

For more information on child support and taxes, contact us at Mohajer Law Firm. Our seasoned child support attorneys cater to all family law matters. Fill out our online contact form or dial (626) 569-5200 to schedule an initial consultation with one of our certified family law attorneys.

We will evaluate your circumstances and help you seek a fair amount of court-ordered support from your former spouse.

Transcript:
Whether you’re receiving child support or you’re paying child support, I’m frequently asked, ‘how will this affect my taxes?’ Well, in this video, we’re not only going to cover what is child support and how it’s calculated, we’ll also discuss whether receiving child support is considered as taxable income in the state of California. And if you’re paying child support, whether you can write it off during tax season.

Hi, I’m Sina Mohajer. I’m a family law attorney practicing in the Greater Los Angeles County since 2012. I’ve been a contributing member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and I’ve been rated by Super Lawyers since 2019.

What Is Child Support? How Is Child Support Calculated?

So what is child support and how is it calculated? Well, in family court, it’s very simple. We use a simple calculation. It’s actually a software that was created by the state in order to create or establish a guideline support.

So what that means, it takes into account your income, the other parent’s income, your custodial timeshare, along with other taxable information. And the system tells us what guideline child support is.

Now, you’re not going to be able to deviate it, most likely, but there’s always some wiggle room whenever you step foot in a courtroom.

Is Child Support Considered Taxable Income in California?

Now, whether you’re receiving child support, is that considered as taxable income? Well, in the past, it was taxable income. But recently, the Internal Revenue Service has changed their laws and regulation, so if you’re receiving child support, it is no longer considered as taxable income.

The Payor’s Perspective: Are Child Support Payments Taxable?

But what if you’re the payor? What if you’re the one who’s, every month, shoveling out child support payments on a monthly basis? Well, as I’m sure you might recall in the past, you were able to write that off.

Recently, that has also changed. According to the Internal Revenue Service, you can no longer write off your child support payments as a deductible.

Request a Consultation: Filing Taxes with Child Support in California

Now, if you’ve got questions about your child support payments or other issues pertaining to your family law case, feel free to reach out to us to schedule yourself an initial consultation. I’ll be happy to sit with you to discuss your options and figure out the best approach.