How much child maintenance must I pay in Austria?
It depends on income and age. Child maintenance is calculated by the percentage method as a share of the payer's monthly net income: 16% (ages 0–5), 18% (6–9), 20% (10–14), 22% (15+). These percentages are reduced for further dependants (−1 point per additional child under 10, −2 per child 10+, and a deduction for a maintained partner). The 2026 reference-need rates run from €360 (0–5) to €800 (20+) and mainly serve as a reference and cap (the luxury limit). Family allowance is no longer offset. In short: a percentage of net income, graduated by age.
📋 The rules
- Percentage method: 16–22% of net by age
- Deductions for further dependants
- Reference needs 2026: €360 to €800
- No statutory minimum as a fixed sum
- Family allowance is not offset
🔓 Exceptions
- Luxury limit: cap at about 2 to 2.5× the reference need
- The child's own income reduces the amount
- Special needs (e.g. braces) come on top
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Example: a 10-year-old whose father nets €2,500 → 20% = €500/month. If the percentage result is below the child's needs the court can adjust; unpaid maintenance can trigger a state maintenance advance and wage garnishment. Beware a myth: "the reference-need rate is the minimum I must pay" is not quite right — the binding figure is the percentage of net income; the reference need is a reference and cap value, not a fixed floor. Tip: calculate maintenance from your current net income and have it set by the court in a dispute.
📎 Official sources
- unterhaltsrecht.at · reference-need rates →
- oesterreich.gv.at · maintenance →
- oesterreich.gv.at · child maintenance →
❓ Frequently asked
How is child maintenance calculated?
Maintenance is set by the percentage method as a share of the payer's monthly net income. The rates are 16 percent up to age 5, 18 percent from 6 to 9, 20 percent from 10 to 14 and 22 percent from 15. There are deductions for further dependants.
What are the 2026 reference-need rates?
The reference-need rates for 2026 run from €360 for children up to 5, through €460, €560 and €700, up to €800 from age 20. They're updated each January and mainly serve as a reference and cap, for example for the luxury limit.
Is there a minimum maintenance?
Strictly not as a fixed sum. The binding figure is always the percentage of net income. The reference need is a reference value and a cap, not a statutory floor. If the child has no own income, maintenance follows from the percentage of net pay.
Is family allowance offset?
No. Under Supreme Court case law, family allowance is no longer offset against maintenance for minor or adult children. So it doesn't reduce the cash maintenance to be paid.
What is the luxury limit?
The luxury limit caps maintenance for very high incomes. Maintenance is then capped at about two to two-and-a-half times the reference need, roughly twice for children under 10 and two-and-a-half times from age 10.
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