Tag: 2026 Child Support in Ontario

If you are paying or receiving child support in Ontario in 2026, the current amounts are based on the Federal Child Support Tables that took effect on October 1, 2025. The updated tables may change the applicable amount, but an existing agreement or court order should be reviewed rather than assuming the payment changes automatically.

An important point for Toronto parents is the date. There are no separately named “2026 Federal Child Support Tables.” The current legal tables are the 2025 Federal Child Support Tables, and they are used to determine child support owed from October 1, 2025 onward.

That means a parent reviewing child support in 2026 should generally consider the updated tables together with current income, the number of children and any circumstances that affect the basic table calculation.

Parents with older child support arrangements may have a reason to review what they currently pay or receive. However, a different table amount does not automatically rewrite an existing child support order.

What Changed With the Federal Child Support Tables Used in 2026?

The Federal Child Support Tables establish basic monthly child support amounts under the Federal Child Support Guidelines. They were updated in 2025 to reflect more recent tax rules and came into force on October 1, 2025.

For Toronto parents, the update matters because the table amount calculated under the current rules may differ from the amount used when an older agreement or court order was made.

Are There Separate 2026 Federal Child Support Tables?

No. The tables currently used in 2026 are officially the 2025 Federal Child Support Tables.

Justice Canada states that:

• the 2017 tables apply to child support owed between November 22, 2017 and September 30, 2025; and
• the updated 2025 tables apply to child support owed from October 1, 2025 onward.

Therefore, someone searching for “Ontario child support tables 2026” should use the current 2025 table amounts for periods falling in 2026.

This distinction can also matter when calculating support for an earlier period. For example, a retroactive calculation covering dates both before and after October 1, 2025 may require using the table applicable to each period rather than applying the current table to the entire history.

Why Were the Federal Child Support Tables Updated?

The update reflects changes in tax rules, not simply inflation or an across-the-board cost-of-living adjustment.

Federal child support table amounts are partly based on the taxes a parent pays. Justice Canada updated the formula using more recent tax rules so the tables would better reflect a parent’s capacity to pay child support. The previous tables had been updated in 2017.

This is important because the change does not produce the same result at every income level.

Depending on the applicable income and tax rules, an updated table amount may be:

• higher than the previous amount;
• lower than the previous amount; or
• affected differently at different income levels.

Justice Canada specifically confirms that amounts under the updated tables may have either increased or decreased compared with the 2017 tables.

Therefore, parents should calculate the amount that applies to their actual circumstances instead of assuming that the 2025 update means every child support payment increased.

Do the Updated Tables Apply to Parents in Ontario?

Yes. The Federal Child Support Tables are relevant to Ontario parents, and Ontario is among the provinces that use the federal table amounts in its child support framework.

Justice Canada confirms that every province and territory except Quebec has adopted the Federal Tables in its provincial child support laws. As a result, the updated table amounts became applicable in those jurisdictions on October 1, 2025.

However, parents should still identify the applicable provincial table rather than assuming that the Ontario table always applies simply because one parent lives in Toronto.

Under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, when the parent against whom child support is sought lives in Canada, the applicable table is generally the table for the province where that parent habitually resides when the application is made. Different rules can apply where that parent lives outside Canada or their residence is unknown.

For many Toronto families where the paying parent lives in Ontario, this means using the Ontario table.

Does Every Ontario Parent Pay More Under the Updated Tables?

No. The updated tables do not create a universal increase in child support.

Justice Canada explains that the new amounts were generated by applying the existing federal child support formula using updated tax rules. Because tax changes affect income levels differently, some table amounts increased while others decreased.

A parent should therefore avoid conclusions such as:

• “My former spouse must now pay more because it is 2026.”
• “My support automatically increased when the new tables took effect.”
• “Everyone with an older order is entitled to a higher amount.”

The correct approach is to identify the applicable table, determine the relevant income and number of children, and then compare the current table calculation with the existing arrangement.

Even where the new calculation is different, the next legal step depends on whether support is being paid under a court order, separation agreement or another enforceable arrangement.

How Do the Updated Tables Affect Toronto Parents?

For many Toronto parents, the most practical question is not simply whether the tables changed. It is whether the current child support payment still matches the amount that should apply now.

The answer can depend on the paying parent’s current income, the number of children, parenting arrangements and any qualifying special or extraordinary expenses.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Ontario in 2026?

For a typical table calculation involving a child under the age of majority, the basic starting point is:

Applicable provincial table + paying parent’s income + number of children = basic table amount

The Federal Child Support Guidelines state that, unless another provision applies, the child support amount is based on the applicable table according to the number of children and the income of the parent against whom support is sought. An additional amount may also be ordered for qualifying section 7 special or extraordinary expenses.

This means looking up one monthly number is not always the end of the calculation.

Other rules may apply where, for example:

• parenting time is shared;
• the paying parent’s income exceeds $150,000;
• income is disputed or difficult to determine;
• the child is over the age of majority;
• section 7 expenses are being claimed; or
• another provision of the Guidelines changes the ordinary table analysis.

For incomes over $150,000, the Guidelines contain a specific rule addressing how support is determined rather than treating the simplified table lookup as the entire analysis.

Which Income Should Parents Use?

The child support calculation should be based on the income determined under the applicable Guidelines, not simply whichever income figure a parent chooses to provide.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines also state that when an amount is determined using specified information, the most current information must be used.

For an employee with predictable earnings, determining income may be relatively straightforward. More analysis may be needed when income includes:

• bonuses;
• commissions;
• fluctuating annual earnings;
• self-employment income;
• corporate income;
• unusual or non-recurring payments; or
• other compensation that may require adjustment under the Guidelines.

This is one reason Toronto parents reviewing an older child support amount should not simply reuse the income that appeared in the original agreement or court order.

If income has changed since support was last calculated, the old figure may no longer produce the current table amount.

What If the Paying Parent’s Income Has Increased or Decreased?

An increase or decrease in the paying parent’s income can affect the applicable child support table amount.

For example, a parent whose current Guideline income is materially different from the income used when an older order was made may find that the current calculation no longer matches the existing payment.

That does not mean the paying parent should simply reduce a payment after an income decrease. It also does not mean the receiving parent should treat a higher online table calculation as an automatically enforceable increase.

The existing legal arrangement matters.

Justice Canada states that the updated 2025 table amounts do not automatically apply to a child support order made before October 1, 2025. However, a difference between the updated amount and the amount in an existing order may constitute a change in circumstances that could support an application to update the order through a court or recalculation service.

The same practical principle applies when reviewing an income change: calculate the current amount first, then determine what legal process is needed to make any change effective.

How Does Shared Parenting Affect Child Support?

Shared parenting can require more than a straightforward one-parent table calculation.

Under section 9 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines, the shared-parenting rule applies when each parent exercises at least 40% of parenting time with a child over the course of a year.

When that threshold is met, the child support amount must take into account:

• the applicable table amounts for both parents;
• the increased costs associated with shared parenting; and
• the conditions, means, needs and other circumstances of each parent and the child.

Therefore, shared parenting does not automatically mean that no child support is payable.

It also means parents should be careful about relying on a simple “offset” calculation as though it always determines the final amount. The two table amounts are relevant, but the Guidelines require consideration of the additional section 9 factors.

If parenting arrangements have changed since the existing child support order or agreement was created, that may be another reason to review the current support calculation.

Are Section 7 Expenses Included in the Basic Table Amount?

Not necessarily. Section 7 special or extraordinary expenses are considered separately from the basic table amount.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines allow additional support for qualifying expenses where the legal requirements are met. These can include certain:

• childcare costs related to employment, illness, disability, education or employment training;
• medical and dental insurance premiums attributable to the child;
• qualifying health-related expenses;
• extraordinary educational expenses;
• post-secondary education expenses; and
• extraordinary extracurricular expenses.

An expense is not automatically a section 7 expense simply because a parent considers it important. The Guidelines require consideration of factors such as necessity, reasonableness and the parents’ financial circumstances.

As a guiding principle, qualifying expenses are generally shared in proportion to the parents’ respective incomes after deducting any contribution from the child. Relevant subsidies, benefits and tax deductions or credits must also be considered as required by the Guidelines.

This matters when child support in Ontario is recalculated. A new basic table amount does not automatically resolve what each parent should contribute toward section 7 expenses.

Parents reviewing support in 2026 should therefore consider the basic table amount and qualifying additional expenses separately rather than treating them as one calculation.

Do You Need to Recalculate or Change an Existing Child Support Arrangement?

A new table calculation does not necessarily change what a parent is legally required to pay. Toronto parents should distinguish between checking the current child support amount and formally changing an existing agreement or court order.

The right process depends on how the existing support arrangement was created, whether both parents agree, and whether the case qualifies for an administrative recalculation service.

Does an Existing Child Support Order Automatically Update?

No. An existing child support order does not automatically change simply because the current Federal Child Support Tables produce a different amount.

Under the Federal Child Support Guidelines, a change in circumstances that would result in a different child support order can provide a basis for variation. Ontario’s Child Support Guidelines contain corresponding provisions addressing changes to existing child support orders.

This distinction is important.

Suppose an older order requires a parent to pay a specific monthly amount. A calculation using current income and the tables now applicable in 2026 shows a different figure. That calculation may indicate that the existing support should be reviewed, but it does not by itself rewrite the order.

The parent should determine whether the amount can be updated through:

• an agreement between the parents;
• Ontario’s Child Support Service, if the case qualifies;
• a consent motion to change; or
• a contested motion to change where the parents cannot agree.

Ontario confirms that parents seeking to update or end child support through court must submit the appropriate forms to request a change to the existing order or agreement.

Until an enforceable arrangement is properly changed, parents should be cautious about simply paying a different amount based on their own calculation.

When Should Child Support Be Recalculated in Ontario?

Child support should be reviewed when information that affects the calculation has materially changed or when an older payment may no longer reflect the current Guidelines.

Common reasons to review child support in Ontario include:

• the existing amount was based on the former 2017 tables;
• the paying parent’s income has increased or decreased;
• previously used income information is outdated;
• parenting arrangements have changed;
• the case now meets the shared-parenting threshold;
• section 7 expenses have changed;
• a child is no longer entitled to support for an expense previously included; or
• an agreement or order contains an income-review requirement.

A review does not always result in a change.

For example, a parent’s income might move in one direction while another relevant factor changes in the opposite direction. Shared parenting or section 7 expenses can also require analysis beyond a basic table lookup.

The first goal should therefore be to determine the current amount accurately. The second is to determine whether a legal change is required.

What Documents Are Needed to Review Child Support?

Current and reliable income information is essential.

For proceedings governed by the Federal Child Support Guidelines, section 21 can require three years of personal income tax returns and Notices of Assessment or Reassessment, along with additional documents depending on how income is earned.

A Toronto parent reviewing support may need to collect:

• the three most recent income tax returns;
• Notices of Assessment and Reassessment;
• a current pay statement showing year-to-date earnings;
• information about overtime, bonuses and commissions;
• employment insurance, pension or other income statements;
• business financial statements if self-employed;
• corporate financial statements where a parent controls a corporation;
• documents concerning trust income where relevant; and
• receipts or records for disputed section 7 expenses.

Self-employed and incorporated parents may require substantially more disclosure than a parent earning only a fixed salary. The Guidelines allow courts to look beyond the basic tax-return figure where corporate or other income does not fairly reflect money available for child support.

Parents should also keep the existing separation agreement, child support order and any previous calculations available. Those documents help identify what income was originally used and whether the arrangement already contains a review mechanism.

Do Parents Have to Exchange Updated Income Information?

Income disclosure is not limited to the day the original order is made.

Under Ontario’s Child Support Guidelines, a parent or spouse against whom a child support order has been made has a continuing obligation to provide specified income information following a qualifying written request.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines similarly allow the other parent or order assignee to request prescribed updated information not more than once a year while the child remains entitled to support under the Guidelines.

The federal disclosure provisions also require the requested documents to be provided within 30 days after receipt when the parent lives in Canada or the United States, subject to the applicable rules.

Annual disclosure can help parents identify an income change before an outdated child support amount continues for several years.

It can also reduce disputes about when the other parent learned that income had increased or decreased.

What Happens If One Parent Refuses to Provide Income Information?

A parent cannot necessarily avoid a child support review simply by withholding financial documents.

The Federal Child Support Guidelines provide remedies where required disclosure is not provided. Depending on the circumstances, a court can order disclosure, draw an adverse inference, award costs or impute income.

Imputing income means the court uses an income amount it considers appropriate rather than accepting the figure claimed by the parent.

Section 19 of the Guidelines identifies several circumstances in which income may be imputed. These include intentional underemployment or unemployment in specified circumstances, diverted income, unreasonable expense deductions and failure to provide income information despite a legal obligation to do so.

However, income is not automatically imputed every time disclosure is late.

Parents dealing with missing information should keep records of:

• written disclosure requests;
• documents already exchanged;
• emails or other responses;
• previous tax information;
• known changes in employment or business activity; and
• deadlines contained in an agreement, court order or procedural rule.

A documented disclosure history can become important if court involvement is later required.

Can Parents Agree to a New Child Support Amount Without Going to Court?

In some cases, yes. Parents who agree on an updated child support arrangement may be able to document the change without a contested hearing.

Ontario also operates an online Child Support Service that can set up or update child support in qualifying cases. A Notice of Calculation or Recalculation issued through the service can be sent to the Family Responsibility Office for enforcement.

Not every family or support arrangement qualifies for that process.

Where an existing court order needs to be changed and both parents agree, Ontario also has a Form 15D: Consent Motion to Change Child Support specifically for consent changes involving child support.

Where the parents disagree, a motion to change may be required. Ontario’s current family court forms include Form 15 for a Motion to Change and Form 15B for a Response to Motion to Change.

The correct route depends on the existing document and the issues being changed. A Divorce Lawyer in Toronto can help review the appropriate process.

How to Review Child Support in Ontario in 2026

Parents can use the following process as a practical starting point:

1. Confirm the applicable Federal Child Support Table. Do not assume the Ontario table applies without considering where the relevant paying parent resides.
2. Obtain current income information. Review tax returns, Notices of Assessment, current earnings and any additional business or corporate records required.
3. Calculate the current basic table amount. Use the correct income, number of children and current table.
4. Review parenting arrangements and section 7 expenses. A basic table lookup may not provide the complete support amount.
5. Compare the result with the existing agreement or court order. Identify both the amount currently payable and the income originally used.
6. Determine how the arrangement can legally be changed. This may involve an agreement, administrative recalculation, consent process or court variation.
7. Document the change properly. Avoid relying solely on an informal verbal agreement or unexplained change in payments.

Common Mistakes That Can Lead to Child Support Disputes

One of the biggest risks is continuing to use income information that is several years old.

Other common problems include:

• assuming the new table automatically changes an existing order;
• reducing payments immediately after losing income;
• assuming all updated table amounts are higher;
• using gross income without considering required Guideline adjustments;
• ignoring bonuses or self-employment income;
• failing to exchange required financial information;
• overlooking section 7 expenses;
• assuming shared parenting eliminates child support;
• relying on an informal payment change without documenting it; and
• waiting years before dealing with a significant income change.

Delays can become particularly important where one parent later claims arrears or seeks a retroactive adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the Updated Child Support Tables Automatically Change My Existing Ontario Payment?

No. A different current table amount does not automatically rewrite an existing order. Parents may need recalculation, agreement, consent or a formal variation.

Do Parents Have to Exchange Income Information Every Year?

The Guidelines permit specified updated financial information to be requested in writing generally no more than once yearly after a child support order.

What Happens If the Paying Parent’s Income Decreases in 2026?

A genuine income decrease may reduce the applicable calculation, but the parent should properly change an existing order rather than unilaterally reducing payments.

Can Child Support Be Changed Without Going to Court in Ontario?

Sometimes. Eligible parents may use Ontario’s Child Support Service or document an agreed change; other cases may require a consent or contested court process.

Does Shared Parenting Mean Neither Parent Has to Pay Child Support?

No. Shared parenting can require consideration of both parents’ table amounts, parenting costs and financial circumstances rather than automatically eliminating child support.

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