09/02/2026
One of the more common questions (and complaints!) we get in child support cases is that the Arizona Child Support Calculator uses gross income. The formula itself is tax adjusted, so in most cases this treats both parties equally. But not always. In cases involving income attributions or mandatory retirement contributions or other unique circumstances, the formula may not capture the parties' true financial circumstances. Deviation may be appropriate in those cases.
Arizona bases child support on gross income to prevent manipulation, but hidden income and tax treatment can still change the number significantly.
