Child support payments are due from the liable parent on the 20th of the month. We pay them to the receiving carer by the 23rd of the month.
Compulsory employer deductions
From October 2021
If you're a liable parent, it is compulsory for you to pay by deductions from your income if you earn salary and wages. We'll let your employer know when and how much to deduct.
Before October 2021
If you were registered as a liable parent before October 2021, you can choose whether to pay by employer deductions or to pay by other payment options - for example, payment plan, direct debit or credit card. However, if you miss payments, you’ll be registered automatically to make payments through compulsory employer deductions.
There are times when we may agree to you organising your payments yourself, even when you are earning salary or wages. For example, because your income is irregular.
If Work and Income pay you a benefit, they'll deduct your child support payments before your benefit is paid to you. We'll let Work and Income know when and how much to deduct.
Let us know if you change jobs or stop or start a benefit. By letting us know, we can help you make sure you still make your payments on time.
Other payment options
If you do not have employer deductions for child support payments, there are other ways to pay.
Child support payment plan
If you do not have salary or wages we can deduct child support from, you may want to use our child support payment plan. The plan will help you remember how much to pay and the date the payments are due.
You can choose to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly and we'll work out how much you need to pay. You can set this up by calling us or doing it yourself in myIR.
Set up a child support payment plan
Direct debit
When you set up a direct debit, it means you're letting us take a certain amount of money from your bank account. You can set up regular payments or make a one-off payment. Direct debits can be from New Zealand and some overseas banks.
Credit card or debit card online
You can make payments to us with credit and debit cards. We accept Visa and Mastercard.
The bank charges a convenience fee of 1.42% for any credit or debit card payment made to us. Convenience fees are charged and paid directly to the bank. There may be a delay in processing the fee (up to 24 hours) and it will show as a separate transaction on your bank statement.
You need to log into myIR to make credit or debit card payments.
Pay using a credit or debit card in myIR
Other ways to make payments
Find out about other ways to pay child support if you're in New Zealand or living overseas at 'Ways of paying'.
Keeping your child support up to date
As a child support customer, you'll always need to:
- tell us about changes
- check your information
- tell us if something is wrong.
What did you like about this page?
Please tell us how we could improve this page?
Thanks for sharing your opinion! Your feedback has been received.
Sorry there was an issue submitting your feedback, please try again later.