Child support on $20,000 a year in Iowa (5 children)
Iowa guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Iowa overview
If Parent A earns $20,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Iowa's guideline amount is $461 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $1,610 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $461 (Parent B has no income, Parent A has no overnights).
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Change the numbers
Guideline child support
Iowa · 5 children · Parent A $20000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$461 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 32.9% of combined income
- Parent B: 67.1%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $4,549 a month
- Basic obligation
- $1,991 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 32.9%
- After the low-income rule
- $461 a month
- Guideline amount
- $461 a month
See the worksheet for this example
- Net income was estimated with Iowa's standard assumptions (head of household for the parent the children live with, 2026 tax year). Your actual taxes may differ.
Iowa uses the income shares model under Iowa Ct. R. 9.1–9.27 (Child Support Guidelines); Iowa Code § 598.21B. Official calculator: secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us. Child support agency: Iowa HHS Child Support Services.
Estimate under Iowa's child support guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Iowa sources on October 7, 2026. Not legal advice. Courts can deviate from the guidelines. How we calculate →
By parenting time and the other parent's income
| Overnights | $0 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B |
| 52 | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B |
| 104 | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B | $461 A→B |
| 128 | $392 A→B | $392 A→B | $392 A→B | $392 A→B | $392 A→B | $392 A→B | $392 A→B | $392 A→B |
| 182 | $374 A→B | $0 — | $252 B→A | $496 B→A | $741 B→A | $969 B→A | $1,292 B→A | $1,610 B→A |
The Iowa worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | Gross monthly income (Parent A)Parent A's gross monthly income | $1,666.67 a month |
| A | Gross monthly income (Parent B)Parent B's gross monthly income | $3,333.33 a month |
| B | Federal income tax (Parent A)Parent A's federal income tax | $32.50 a month |
| B | Federal income tax (Parent B)Parent B's federal income tax | $0.00 a month |
| C | State income tax (Parent A)Parent A's Iowa income tax | $9.02 a month |
| C | State income tax (Parent B)Parent B's Iowa income tax | $26.86 a month |
| D | Social Security and Medicare tax (Parent A)Parent A's Social Security and Medicare | $127.50 a month |
| D | Social Security and Medicare tax (Parent B)Parent B's Social Security and Medicare | $255.00 a month |
| J | Preliminary net income (Parent A)Parent A's preliminary net income | $1,497.65 a month |
| J | Preliminary net income (Parent B)Parent B's preliminary net income | $3,051.47 a month |
| L | Adjusted net monthly income (Parent A)Parent A's adjusted net income | $1,497.65 a month |
| L | Adjusted net monthly income (Parent B)Parent B's adjusted net income | $3,051.47 a month |
| A | Adjusted net monthly income (combined)Combined adjusted net income | $4,549.12 a month |
| B | Proportional share of income (Parent A)Parent A's share of income | 32.92% |
| B | Proportional share of income (Parent B)Parent B's share of income | 67.08% |
| D | Basic support obligation using only NCP's adjusted net monthly incomeSchedule amount on the paying parent's income alone (low income) | $461.00 a month |
| E | Basic support obligation (Schedule of Basic Support Obligations)Schedule amount | $1,991.00 a month |
| F | Each parent's share of the basic support obligation (Parent A)Parent A's share of the schedule amount | $655.44 a month |
| F | Each parent's share of the basic support obligation (Parent B)Parent B's share of the schedule amount | $1,335.56 a month |
| G | NCP's basic support obligation before health insurancePaying parent's basic obligation | $461.00 a month |
| J | Guideline amount of child support for NCPSupport before the visitation credit | $461.00 a month |
| R | Guideline amount of child supportGuideline amount | $461.00 a month |
Open the official Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Iowa Ct. R. 9.27 Form 1 →
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $461 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $461 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $461 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $510 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $461 a month A→B |
The children's health insurance premium is shared by income. When no parent has coverage at a reasonable cost, the paying parent also owes cash medical support. Child care paid by the parent with the children can add to support, up to a limit based on half of the paying parent's disposable income.
Things to know about this example
- Net income was estimated with Iowa's standard assumptions (head of household for the parent the children live with, 2026 tax year). Your actual taxes may differ.
How Iowa works it out
Iowa uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined adjusted net monthly income, and the paying parent pays their percentage share of it.
Net income is gross income minus federal and Iowa income taxes and Social Security and Medicare, worked out the way the guidelines prescribe (standard deduction, head of household for the parent with the children). Support paid for other children and a deduction for other children a parent must support also come off.
From 128 court-ordered overnights a year, the paying parent gets a credit of 15% to 25% of their basic obligation. With joint (equally shared) physical care, each parent owes their share of one and a half times the schedule amount for half the time, and the amounts are offset.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $20,000 in Iowa for 5 children?
If Parent A earns $20,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), Iowa's guideline amount is about $461 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $106 a week (the monthly amount × 12 ÷ 52).
What if the parents share time equally?
With about equal parenting time and the same incomes, the guideline amount is about $496 a month (Parent B pays Parent A).
What if Parent B has no income?
If Parent B has no income and the children live mostly with Parent B, the guideline amount is about $461 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: Iowa Ct. R. 9.1–9.27 (Child Support Guidelines); Iowa Code § 598.21B
- Iowa child support guidelines
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Iowa Ct. R. 9.27 Form 1
- Official Iowa child support calculator
- Iowa HHS Child Support Services
- Changing a Iowa child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official Iowa sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →