Annual $25 Fee for Parents Receiving Child Support

The $25 annual fee (sometimes called "the CP fee") is used to pay back the state and the federal government for part of the cost of providing child support services. The federal government requires states to charge the fee, and it cannot be waived. Certain types of child support cases, however, are not charged the fee.

Cases Subject to the Fee

• The fee is charged on cases getting full case-management services, as well as cases receiving only financial-management services.
• The fee is charged each year on each case receiving $500 or more in support for that year. Support includes child support, alimony, family support, and past-due support. The "year" starts on October 1 and ends on September 30.
• The fee will be taken out of the support payment before the payment is sent to the parent. The fee does not reduce the amount credited to the paying parent's account.
• In interstate cases, the state that initiated the child support case charges the fee. 

Cases Not Subject to the Fee

• The fee is not charged to parents or guardians who receive or had received cash benefits from the W-2 (TANF), SSI Caretaker Supplement, Kinship Care, or AFDC programs.
• Tribal child support cases are not charged the fee.
• Spousal-support-only cases are not charged the fee.

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