Child Supp. Guid. 9.6

As amended through May 24, 2024
Rule 9.6 - Guideline method for computing taxes

For purposes of computing the taxes to be deducted from a parent's gross income, the following uniform rules shall be used:

(1) An unmarried parent shall be assigned either single or head of household filing status. Head of household filing status shall be assigned if a parent is the custodial parent of one or more of the mutual children of the parents.
(2) A married parent shall be assigned married filing separate status.
(3) If the parents have joint (equally shared) physical care of their mutual children, an unmarried parent shall be assigned head of household filing status and a married parent shall be assigned married filing separate status.
(4) The standard deduction applicable to the parent's filing status under rule 9.6(1), 9.6(2) or 9.6(3) shall be used.
(5) Each parent shall be assigned one personal exemption for the parent. The custodial parent shall be assigned one additional dependent exemption for each mutual child of the parents, unless a parent provides information that the noncustodial parent has been allocated the dependent exemption for such child. In cases of joint (equally shared) or split physical care, the dependent exemption(s) for the mutual child(ren) of the parties shall be assigned according to the order or decree establishing the joint or split care arrangement.
(6) If a parent's gross income under rule 9.5(1) is adjusted because of spousal support received or paid by the parent, applicable federal and state tax law determines whether those spousal support amounts are used to increase or decrease the parent's taxable income for computing taxes under this rule.
(7) If the amount of federal or state income tax, or both, actually paid by a parent differs substantially from the amount(s) determined by the guideline method of computing taxes, the court may consider whether the difference is sufficient reason to adjust the child support under the criteria in rule 9.11. This rule does not preclude alternate methods of computation by the Child Support Services as authorized by Iowa Code section 252B.7A.

Child Supp. Guid. 9.6

Court Order September 23, 2004, effective 11/1/2004; 3/9/2009, effective 7/1/2009; 5/9/2013, effective 7/1/2013; Order March 7, 2018, effective 1/1/2019; court order September 3, 2021, effective 1/1/2022; order June 30, 2023, effective 7/1/2023.