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.

Child Support Guide updates - 2023

12 December 2023 (v4.77)

Page Title Details
2.2.4 Interim care provisions & disputed care arrangements Clarified policy.
2.9.5 Amending assessments Clarified policy

1 December 2023 (v4.76)

Page Title Details
4.1.1 Overview Updated policy.
4.1.3 Decisions made under the CSRC Act to which a person may object Updated policy.
6.9 Correction of errors under the CSA Act & CSRC Act New page.

6 November 2023 (v4.75)

Page Title Details
1.2.3 History of the application of the CSA Act to WA ex-nuptial cases New page.
1.2.4 History of the application of the CSRC Act to WA ex-nuptial cases New page.
1.4.2 History of the application of the CSRC Act to WA ex-nuptial cases (deleted - see 1.2.4) Removed information.
1.4.3 History of the application of the CSA Act to WA ex-nuptial cases (deleted - see 1.2.3) Removed information.
1.5.2 International agreements & conventions Clarified policy.
2.1.5 Deciding to accept or refuse an application Clarified policy.
2.2.1 Basics of care Clarified policy.
2.4.2 Formula tables & values Clarified policy.
2.4.3 The steps involved in making a child support assessment Clarified policy.
2.4.4.30 Amended tax assessments Clarified policy.
2.4.4.60 New information about ATI Clarified policy.
2.4.10 Formulas 5 & 6 - assessments using the income of only one parent Clarified policy.
2.4.11 Fixed annual rate Updated policy.
2.4.12 Minimum annual rate Updated policy.
2.5.1 Income estimates for a year of income Restructured section and clarified policy.
2.5.3 Application to have the fixed annual rate of child support not used (deleted - see 2.4.11) Removed information.
2.5.4 Application to have the minimum annual rate of child support reduced to nil (deleted - see 2.4.12) Removed information.
2.5.5 Application to have an assessment continue past a child's 18th birthday Clarified policy.
2.5.6 Estimates of income - before 1 July 2010 (deleted - see 2.5.1.50) Removed information.
2.10.1 Suspension of liability to pay child support when parents reconcile Clarified terminology.
3.6.2 Registering overseas maintenance liabilities for collection Clarified policy.
4.1.6 Making a decision to allow or disallow an objection Clarified policy.
4.3.3 Implementing court orders made under the child support legislation Clarified policy.
5.3.3 Crediting lump sum payments Clarified policy.
5.5.4 Suspending payments to payees Clarified policy.
5.6.1 Election to end collection Clarified policy.
6.2.4 Information gathering powers under the CSRC Act Removed example.

20 September 2023 (v4.74)

Page Title Details
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added June 2023 consumer price index (CPI) figures.

14 August 2023 (v4.73)

Page Title Details
2.2.2 Care determinations & changes in care Clarified policy.
2.2.4 Interim care provisions & disputed care arrangements Clarified policy.
2.4.2 Formula tables & values Added ATI indexation factor information.
2.4.4.40 Provisional income - determination of ATI Removed ATI indexation factor information and updated examples.
2.4.13 Historical formula tables & values Added historical information to tables.
2.9.4 Private recovery of child support Clarified policy.
4.3.1 Overview Clarified policy.
4.3.6 Appealing AAT decisions in court Clarified policy.
5.2.10 Collection from parental leave payment Clarified policy.
5.4.1 Choice of court Clarified policy.
5.4.4 Enforcement under the FL Act Clarified policy.
6.2.6 Legal professional privilege Clarified policy.
6.4.1 Subpoenas & notices to produce documents Clarified policy.

3 July 2023 (v4.72)

Page Title Details
1.2.1 Amendments to the CSRC Act Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.2.2 Amendments to the CSA Act Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.7 Family & domestic violence Updated policy.
1.8 Child support interactions with FTB New page.
2.2.1 Basics of care Clarified policy.
2.3.1 What is a child support period? Clarified policy.
2.3.2 When do child support periods start? Clarified policy.
2.3.4 Child support years (pre 1 July 1999) Clarified policy.
2.4.2 Formula tables & values Added 2022 average weekly earnings (AWE) value.
2.4.4.10 Adjusted taxable income Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.4.4.40 Provisional income - determination of ATI Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.4.6 The costs of the child Clarified policy.
2.4.14 Historical CPI values Added June 2022 consumer price index (CPI) figures.
2.5.2 Exclusion of additional income earned post-separation Updated policy.
2.5.5 Application to have an assessment continue past a child's 18th birthday Clarified policy.
2.7.1 What is a child support agreement? Clarified policy.
2.8.2 Implementing court orders that vary assessments Clarified policy.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added March 2023 consumer price index (CPI) figures and conversion factors table.
5.2.3 Employer withholding - collection from salary or wages Updated to reflect legislative changes.
5.2.11 Departure prohibition orders Updated to reflect legislative change.
5.5.5 Overpayments Clarified policy.
6.8 Offences & prosecution Removed reference to penalty unit.
6.8.7 Prosecution of offences Clarified policy.

8 May 2023 (v4.71)

Page Title Details
1.1.2 Historical perspective Clarified policy.
2.1.6 Notice of the decision on an application for administrative assessment Updated page title.
3.6.4 Overseas maintenance liabilities & changes in circumstances Clarified policy.

20 March 2023 (v4.70)

Page Title Details
2.4.2 Formula tables & values Restructured tables.
2.4.13 Historical formula tables & values New page.
2.4.14 Historical CPI values New page.
2.9.2 Assessment notices Clarified policy.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added December 2022 consumer price index (CPI) figures.
5.2.9 Collection from third parties Clarified policy.
5.3.1 Non-agency payments Clarified policy.
6.3.4 Collection & use of third party information Clarified policy.
6.7.2 Address for service of notices Clarified policy.

6 February 2023 (v4.69)

Page Title Details
2.2.5 Alignment of care between child support & FTB Clarified policy.
4.1.8 Care percentage decisions Clarified policy.

3 January 2023 (v4.68)

Page Title Details
1.2.1 Amendments to the CSRC Act Updated to reflect legislative change.
1.7 Family & domestic violence New page.
2.4.2 Formula tables & values Added 2023 Costs of the Children Table.
2.4.4.10 Adjusted taxable income Updated to reflect legislative change.
2.6.10 Reason 4 - income of the child Updated examples.
3.4.3 CPI indexation for cost of living Added September 2022 consumer price index (CPI) figures.
4.2.5 The AAT review process Updated policy.
5.2.4 Employer obligations for collection from salary or wages Added 2023 protected earnings amount.
6.10 Family & domestic violence (deleted - see 1.7) Removed information (moved to 1.7).
6.10.1 Family & domestic violence (deleted - see 1.7) Removed information (moved to 1.7).