On September 1, 2025, Texas raised the cap on monthly "net resources" used to calculate guideline child support from $9,200 to $11,700 — a 27% jump and the largest single increase in the state's history. If you pay or receive support and the paying parent is a higher earner, this is the most important change in years. Here's what moved, what didn't, and what it means for an order that already exists.
What actually changed
Texas calculates guideline child support as a fixed percentage of the paying parent's monthly net resources — but only up to a ceiling. Under Texas Family Code §154.125, the guideline percentages apply only to the first slice of net resources up to that cap. Income above the cap is not automatically multiplied by the percentage; instead a judge may add support based on the child's proven needs.
The cap is adjusted for inflation by the Office of the Attorney General on a six-year review cycle. The previous figure, $9,200, took effect on September 1, 2019. Effective September 1, 2025, it rose to $11,700 per month — an extra $2,500 of net resources that the guideline percentage now reaches. Nothing else in the formula moved: the percentages for 1–5+ children are the same, and the way net resources are calculated is the same. Only the ceiling rose.
The new maximum guideline amounts
Because the percentages didn't change — only the ceiling did — the easiest way to see the impact is the new maximum monthly support a guideline order can reach:
| Children | Percentage | Old max ($9,200) | New max ($11,700) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20% | $1,840 | $2,340 |
| 2 | 25% | $2,300 | $2,925 |
| 3 | 30% | $2,760 | $3,510 |
| 4 | 35% | $3,220 | $4,095 |
| 5 | 40% | $3,680 | $4,680 |
The math behind each row is straightforward: the cap rose by $2,500, so the maximum rose by the guideline percentage of $2,500. For one child at 20%, that's $500 more per month ($1,840 → $2,340), which compounds to $6,000 a year. For two children at 25% it's $625 more per month; for three at 30%, $750; for four at 35%, $875; and for five or more at 40%, a full $1,000 more per month.
These maximums only apply once a parent's net resources actually reach the cap. A parent whose net resources are $5,000 a month is nowhere near it, and the increase changes nothing for them. The full income chart shows what guideline support looks like at ordinary income levels.
Who is affected — and who isn't
Affected: paying parents whose monthly net resources are above $9,200 (roughly $138,000+ a year in gross wages for a single W-2 employee). For them, guideline support can now be calculated on up to $11,700 instead of $9,200. The full effect lands on parents whose net resources reach the new cap itself — for a single W-2 earner under the 2026 tax method, that happens at roughly $15,800/month gross, or about $190,000 a year.
Not affected: the large majority of parents, whose net resources fall below $9,200. Their support is the same percentage of the same income as before. If that's your situation, the cap increase is background noise — your number is driven entirely by your income and the number of children before the court.
One group that should pay particular attention: self-employed and business-owner parents, whose net resources can be harder to pin down. When income is near the cap, the difference between a finding of $9,000 and $12,000 in monthly net resources is now worth real money either way.
Does it change existing orders automatically?
To modify under §156.401, a parent generally must show either (a) a material and substantial change in circumstances, or (b) that three years have passed since the order and the guideline amount would differ by at least 20% or $100. For a paying parent who was already at the old cap, the arithmetic is worth noticing: the one-child maximum moved from $1,840 to $2,340, a $500 difference — comfortably past the $100 threshold. Whether the cap increase alone supports a modification in a particular case is a fact-specific question, but it's exactly the kind of change worth a review. The modification guide walks through both routes, including the Attorney General's free review process.
Income above the cap: the "proven needs" standard
Reaching the cap doesn't mean support is frozen at the maximum. Under §154.126, a court applies the percentage to the capped amount and may order additional support above it based on the proven needs of the child and the parties' circumstances.
The key word is proven. Above the cap, the burden shifts: instead of a formula that runs on the parent's income, the receiving parent must show what the child actually needs — think documented expenses such as schooling, health care, or special programs — and the court decides how much of any excess to order and how to allocate it between the parents. A parent earning far above the cap doesn't automatically pay more just because the money is there. This is discretionary, not formula-driven, which is exactly why high-income cases benefit most from legal advice.
How to check whether the cap matters for you
Three quick steps:
- Estimate monthly net resources. Start from gross income from all sources and subtract the §154.062 deductions — the net-resources guide shows the full method, or the calculator does it for you.
- Compare to $11,700. Below it? The cap is irrelevant — the guideline percentage applies to your actual net resources. Above it? The percentage stops at $11,700, and anything more requires a proven-needs showing.
- Check your order's date. Finalized before September 1, 2025 and the paying parent is above $9,200 in net resources? The order may be running on the old cap, and a modification review could change the number.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Texas child support cap in 2026?
The cap is $11,700 in monthly net resources, in effect since September 1, 2025 and expected to hold until the next six-year review. It makes the guideline maximums $2,340 for one child, $2,925 for two, $3,510 for three, $4,095 for four, and $4,680 for five or more.
Did my existing order increase automatically on September 1, 2025?
No. An order finalized before that date keeps the $9,200 cap until it's modified. If you receive support and the paying parent earns above the old cap, you'd need to pursue a modification to capture the new ceiling.
At what income does the cap kick in?
For a single W-2 earner under the 2026 tax method, net resources hit $11,700 at roughly $15,800/month gross — about $190,000 a year. Below that, the cap never enters the calculation.
How often does the cap change?
On a six-year inflation review cycle run by the Office of the Attorney General. The last two steps: $9,200 effective September 1, 2019, then $11,700 effective September 1, 2025.
Can a court order more than the capped maximum?
Yes — but only on the child's proven needs under §154.126, not simply because the parent's income is high. The receiving parent has to document the need; the court decides the amount in its discretion.