How each state calculator is built and tested

Which sources and editions are used?

The starting point is the state’s statute or court rule, identified by section. Each state page’s version plate records the edition in effect and when the official text was checked. For example, the Texas Family Code uses net resources; its September 1, 2025 edition was confirmed on October 15, 2026.

A statute’s date does not necessarily identify the current tables. Under 750 ILCS 5/505, Illinois uses tables revised effective March 20, 2026. If an edition date remains unconfirmed, as with the Florida Statutes, the page says it is being verified rather than supplying a date.

When a new edition is published before its effective date, the current and upcoming versions are kept separate until that date. Changes are recorded in the change log. The edition label distinguishes the rule currently in effect from a future rule.

What must pass before full calculation?

The site’s engine receives a full-calculation label only when it reproduces the state’s official worked examples to within $1 a month. This is the site’s testing threshold, not a tolerance established by state law. The test list on this page shows the tests for each state and the date of the last run.

Passing those examples checks the engine against official results; it does not establish an order for a particular family. The line-by-line worksheet makes the calculation available for review. A test result applies to the version tested, not automatically to a later edition.

What do the calculation labels mean?

The label describes what the site can calculate, not the legal status of the result. Even a full calculation remains a guideline estimate rather than an order.

The state pages identify official tools where available. Texas has an official calculator from the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division. The Florida Department of Revenue, Child Support Program does not publish an official calculator.

• Calculation: the engine meets the official-example testing threshold and shows the calculation line by line.
• Estimate: the formula needs inputs the site simplifies, usually taxes. The site rounds the result to $10 and links the official calculator first.
• Reference: the page explains the guideline and its sources without presenting a full calculated amount.

How are net-income taxes handled?

For net-income calculations, the site’s federal figures for 2026 come from the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration. They include a $16,100 standard deduction for a single filer, Social Security tax of 6.2% on wages up to $184,500, and Medicare tax of 1.45%. These figures do not replace a complete tax calculation.

State and local taxes are entered by the reader where needed. California is labeled an estimate because its formula needs each parent’s net income after federal and state taxes. Its page points first to the California Department of Child Support Services official calculator.

What does the site not do?

This is an independent reference site, not a law firm, government agency, or court. It does not provide legal advice or set, approve, or file support orders. A court or state agency decides the actual order and may depart from the guideline for reasons allowed by law.

The site’s calculations run in the browser. Inputs and amounts are not sent to a server, saved, or added to the page address. The privacy page explains this handling.

Official calculators, worksheets, and forms remain the state’s tools. State agencies, court self-help centers, and legal aid can provide free information or help, depending on the service. The disclaimer explains the limits of this reference.