Child support deductions

Create a liability account

You need to set up a liability account into which employee child support deductions will be added. This helps you keep track of the amount that needs to be paid.

1. Go to the Accounts command centre and click Accounts List.

2. Click the Liability tab.

3. Click New. The Account Information window appears.

4. For the Account Type, select Other Liability.

5. Specify an Account Number that suits your accounts list.

6. Name the account Child Support Payments.

   

7. Click OK.

Create a child support deduction category

Set up a child support deduction category so you can deduct the appropriate amounts from employee pays.

1. Go to the Payroll command centre and click Payroll Categories.

2. Click the Deductions tab and click New.

3. Name the deduction Child Support Payment.

4. Select the Child Support Payment liability account as the Linked Payable Account.

5. Select the ATO Reporting Category for this deduction. Typically this will be Not Reportable, but you can clarify this with your accounting advisor or the ATO. Learn more about Assign ATO reporting categories for Single Touch Payroll reporting.

6. Select the applicable Calculation Basis:

   • If you have a few employees who make fixed-amount child support payments, but the amount is different for each employee, select User-Entered Amount per Pay Period. Enter the amount to deduct on each employee’s standard pay, or if the amount varies from pay to pay, you can manually enter the deduction each time you pay the employees.

   • If the child support deduction is based on a percentage of wages, select Equals [x] percent of [Gross Wages]. If the percentage is different for each employee, you’ll need to create separate categories for each percentage rate. If the deduction shouldn't be calculated on certain wage categories, open the wage category (Payroll Categories List window > Wages), click Exempt and select the Child Support Payments deduction. 

   • If the child support deduction is the same fixed amount for all employees linked to this category, select Equals [x] Dollars and enter the amount to deduct each pay period, month, year or hour.
     In the example below, $100 will be deducted each pay period from all employees who are linked to this category.

     

     
     

     Protected Earnings

     The Protected Earnings Amount (PEA) is the part of an employee’s pay exempt from child support deductions. To ensure you don't deduct too much from an employee's pay, you'll need to check the guidelines on the Services Australia website and, if required, adjust the deduction amount.

7. Click Employee, select the employees to whom this deduction applies, and then click OK.

8. If you need to withhold child support deductions before PAYG is calculated, click Exempt and select PAYG Withholding then click OK. If you're not sure if this applies in your situation, check with your accounting advisor, the Department of Human Services, or the ATO.

9. Click OK.

When you process the employee's pay, the child support deduction will automatically be deducted.

However, if you selected the User-Entered Amount per Pay Period option when setting up the deduction category, and didn’t enter the amount in the employee’s standard pay, you’ll need to enter the amount to be deducted in the Amount column as a negative amount.

The child support payments deducted from the employee's pay will need to be paid to the applicable party, usually the Department of Human Services. Who the payments go to and how frequently you'll need to pay will depend on the employee's circumstances. If unsure, seek advice from the Department of Human Services.

Because we set up a separate liability account for the child support payments, it's easy to pay those amounts using the Pay Liabilities feature:

1. Go to the Payroll command centre and click Pay Liabilities.

2. In the Pay from Account field, select the bank account you're making the payment from, or select Electronic Payment if you're making the payment electronically.

   Bpay payments

   Outgoing Bpay payments can't be processed through AccountRight. Instead, choose the AccountRight account the payment is coming from (in the Pay from Account field), complete the Pay Liabilities transaction, then manually process the payment through your internet banking software.

3. In the Supplier field, select the card for whoever the payments are going to, such as the Department of Human Services. If a card doesn't exist, you'll need to create one.

4. For the Liability Type, select Deductions.

5. For the Payroll Categories, select the child support deduction category. All payments deducted are listed.

6. In the Dated From and Dated To fields, enter the period in which the child support payments were withheld.

7. Select all the child support payments you want to include with this payment.
   The total appears in the Total Payment field.

   

8. Click Record.

To keep track of the child support payments you have withheld, and those that you have paid:

1. Go to the Reports menu and choose Index to Reports.

2. Click the Payroll tab.

3. In the Payroll Liabilities group, choose:

   • Payroll Liabilities By Category to see the payroll liabilities that are paid or unpaid, or both.

   • Liabilities Payment Register to see the payroll liabilities you've paid using the Pay Liabilities function (Payroll command centre).