The Child Support Agency is a Commonwealth Government Department which administers the Child Support legislation. The legislation comprises the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (as amended) and the Child Support (Registration & Collection)Act 1988 (as amended).

The Child Support Agency processes applications for child support, creates assessments based on the legislative formula or a child support agreement, and administers the administrative remedies (eg estimates, change of assessment applications, objections) provided by the legislation.

The Child Support Agency can also collect payments of child support or maintenance from payers, and transfer it to payees. The CSA has a range of powers to enforce collection of child support debts. These powers include the ability to collect payments directly from a payer’s employer, to intercept tax refunds due to a payer, and to withdraw funds from a payer’s bank account where it can be identified.

Because the new formula treats parents’ incomes and the level of care of children in a different way to the past formula, it is important that all payers and payees confirm that the Child Support Agency has accurate information about care of the children and incomes.

From 1 July 2008, there have also been changes to the way the Family Tax Benefit(A) can be claimed. A parent can now claim a share of FTB(A) if they have 35% (or more) care of a child.