Child support estimates 277-07040000

This document explains how to take a child support income estimate and includes checking the estimate, customer contact and estimate decision making.

Note: If an estimating customer indicates they have fears for their, or someone else’s safety:

Offer appropriate options to the customer, see Family and domestic violence
Document family and domestic violence concerns, or other sensitive issues, only in the Client Profile window of the customer who is reporting the concerns. See Table 1 > Step 9 in Documenting child support information. Do not document FDV concerns, or other sensitive issues, in the Estimate documentation macro or in any other window

Estimates of income

Customers can make an election for the child support assessment to be based on their estimated Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI) for the relevant financial year. The election is made for:

the full financial year if lodged on or before 1 July, or
the remainder of the financial year if lodged after 1 July. If lodged after 1 July, the estimate is made up of the:
- Year to Date (YTD) ATI, and
- estimated ATI for the remaining period of the financial year

Customers can lodge and update estimates online, verbally or in writing.

There are rules that determine if an estimate of income will be accepted. See the Child Support Guide 3.4.1 Making an income estimate election.

Estimates for use in a Notional Assessment

For information about lodging an estimate for a notional assessment, see Notional assessment relating to child support agreements.

Updating estimates

Customers who have a current accepted estimate, may be able to make a subsequent estimate election if their income changes. See Table 4
Child Support may amend a customer’s estimate if an event affecting the accuracy occurs. See Child support estimates review (post 1 July 2010)
After the end of the applicable financial year, estimates are reconciled by comparing a customer’s estimated income to their actual income. See Child support estimates – Reconcile (from 1 July 2011)

The Resources page contains links to macros, forms, lump sum calculator, estimate deeming policies, contact details, the Services Australia website, and the Customer Rights and Obligations script.

Operational Information

Child support estimates 277-07040000

Estimates of income

Related links