The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

2.3.3 When do child support periods end?

Context

CSPs do not overlap. An existing period always ends the day before a new period starts. When the Registrar makes a new assessment, the old assessment and CSP will end. If a CSP ends, the Registrar must make a new assessment to start immediately after the CSP that has ended.

On this page

A CSP will end at whichever of the following times occurs soonest after the start of the period (section 7A(3)):

  • When the Registrar makes a new assessment because an income tax assessment issues for one of the parents, the current CSP ends on the last day of the month in which the Registrar makes the assessment (section 7A(3)(b)). The new assessment applies to a new CSP that starts on the first day of the following month.
  • A CSP in an existing case will end on the day before the rate of child support changes because the Registrar has accepted a child support agreement (sections 7A(3)(c) and (d)).
  • In all other cases, the CSP will end 15 months after the start of the period. A CSP cannot be longer than 15 months (section 7A(3)(a)).

Act reference CSA Act section 7A Meaning of child support period

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