Child Support Facts The Judge Didn’t Tell You

It’s Not Taxable

If you’re paying child support to your ex, it’s not tax deductible in the way other kid related expenses or alimony is deductible. The reason is that alimony is income to your ex and he pays taxes on it at the end of year. Your child’s money is not income to either the ex who receives it or the child it’s for.

It’s Criminal to Miss Payments

If you have a child support order in place, you can be put in contempt of court if you miss payments. Depending on the state you live in, that means you can receive jail time. You may also face a drivers license suspension or wage garnishment. You can also have your lottery winnings, tax refunds or unemployment payments taken to pay your debt. If you can’t pay, it’s better to go back to court and request an adjustment instead of letting the payments go unpaid.