How Child Support Is Calculated in BC

The Short Answer - a Table Amount, Plus a Share of Certain Expenses

If you want to understand how child support is calculated in BC, start with one rule that has two parts. Under section 3 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines, the amount of child support for children under the age of majority is the amount set out in the applicable table, based on the number of children and the income of the parent who pays, plus any amount for special or extraordinary expenses under section 7. The Guidelines call this the presumptive rule. Unless the Guidelines themselves say otherwise, this is the calculation.

SiLaw Group Family Lawyers is a boutique family law and mediation firm in South Surrey. Family law is the only kind of law we practise, and we serve clients in English and Punjabi. This page walks through the calculation step by step. For the wider picture, see our complete child support guide and our child support services.

Step 1 - Find the Paying Parent's Guidelines Income

The table amount turns on one number: the annual income of the parent who pays. Section 16 of the Guidelines says that income is determined using the sources of income under the heading "Total income" in the T1 General form issued by the Canada Revenue Agency, adjusted in accordance with Schedule III.

Those Schedule III adjustments matter, because Guidelines income is not always the same as the income on a tax return. Among other things, Schedule III:

• deducts certain employment expenses, such as union and professional dues and some travel expenses
• deducts spousal support received from the other parent when calculating income for the table amount
• replaces the taxed-up amount of dividends from Canadian companies with the actual dividends received
• replaces taxable capital gains with the actual gains above actual losses
• adds back salaries or other payments a self-employed parent paid to family members or others they do not deal with at arm's length, unless those payments were necessary and reasonable

Section 17 adds flexibility. If a straight section 16 calculation would not be the fairest measure, the court may look at the last three years of income and settle on a fair and reasonable figure in light of any pattern, fluctuation, or one-time amount. That matters for people with bonuses, overtime, commissions, or uneven self-employment income.

None of this works without documents. Both the Guidelines and the court rules require income disclosure, and the numbers are only as good as the paperwork behind them. Our Form F8 financial statement guide explains what has to be produced.

Step 2 - Count the Children and Read the Table

Once income is set, the table does the work. The federal tables set a monthly amount based on the paying parent's annual income and the number of children the order covers. There is a separate table for each province.

You can look up the amount yourself using the federal government's child support table look-up tool. One caution when you do: the tables were updated in 2025. The 2025 look-up applies to amounts from October 1, 2025 onward, and the 2017 look-up applies to earlier periods. Using the wrong version gives the wrong number. You will find this tool and others on our calculators and tools page.

Step 3 - Add Any Section 7 Expenses

The table amount is not always the whole answer. Section 7 of the Guidelines lets the court add an amount for certain expenses, such as child care, some health costs, and post-secondary education, shared between the parents in proportion to their incomes. Our child support services page gives an overview of how these expenses work alongside the table amount.

Which Table Applies - and When It Is the BC Table

Section 3(3) of the Guidelines answers this directly. If the paying parent lives in Canada, the applicable table is the table for the province where that parent habitually resides. So the BC table applies when the payor lives in British Columbia, even if the other parent and the children live elsewhere. If the paying parent lives outside Canada, or their residence is unknown, the table for the province where the other parent habitually resides applies.

The same tables are used whether your case runs under the federal Divorce Act or BC's Family Law Act. The Divorce Act requires child support orders to be made in accordance with the applicable guidelines (section 15.1(3)). For unmarried parents and others under the Family Law Act, section 150 requires child support to be determined in accordance with the child support guidelines, and BC's Family Law Act Regulation adopts the Federal Child Support Guidelines for that purpose, reading "the age of majority" as 19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Income Is Child Support Based on in BC?

The paying parent's annual income, determined under sections 16 to 20 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines. The starting point is the "Total income" line from the CRA's T1 General form, adjusted under Schedule III. Where that would not be fair, the court can look at a three-year pattern instead.

Does the Other Parent's Income Matter?

Not for the basic table amount for children under 19, which is based on the payor's income and the number of children. Both incomes come into play for section 7 expenses, for shared parenting time situations, and for adult children, among others.

Is Child Support Calculated Differently for Adult Children?

It can be. Section 3(2) of the Guidelines says the usual approach applies unless the court considers it inappropriate, in which case the court sets the amount it considers appropriate having regard to the child's condition, means, needs and other circumstances and each parent's financial ability to contribute. Read more in our post on child support for adult children in BC.

Can Parents Agree on a Different Amount?

Parents can reach their own agreement, and courts can accept a different amount on consent if reasonable arrangements have been made for the child. But child support is the child's right, so an agreement that falls well short of the Guidelines may not hold up. A separation agreement prepared with advice is the safer route.

Talk to a Child Support Lawyer in Surrey for Free

If you want the calculation done properly, or checked, the first 30 minutes with us are free, in English or Punjabi, by phone, video, or in person at Suite 201, 3108 Croydon Drive in South Surrey. Call (778) 381-9977 or Book Now for a Free Consultation.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, speak with a lawyer.