How to pay child support

If you have been ordered to pay child support through income withholding, your employer will take the money from your paycheck and forward it to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). DOR will then send the payments to the other parent. If your order to pay by income withholding is new, it may take a few weeks for your employer to set up the income withholding from your paycheck. Until your employer starts taking the child support payments from your check, you must send the payments directly to DOR.

If you have been ordered to pay child support by income withholding but the income withholding has been suspended, you must send your payments directly to DOR. DOR will implement income withholding if support becomes overdue or if either party asks us to implement it.

If you are not paying child support by income withholding, there are different ways to make your child support payments. Regardless of the method you choose, you must send your payments to DOR. Do not send payments directly to the other parent.

New! Pay By Text option now available.

Opt-in to receive text notifications when your child support payment is due. You can reply via text to authorize your payment by credit or debit card. Simply log in and complete the opt-in process. If you are new to the website, you must register before you can opt-in.

Remember:

• Don't send payments directly to the other parent. If you do there will be no record of your payment, you will be considered delinquent, and we will take enforcement action.
• Don't pay with cash except through MoneyGram.
• Keep your cancelled check or copy of your money order as your receipt. It will be your proof of payment in the case of a dispute.
• Make your check or money order payable to: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Print your Social Security number on your check or money order so you will receive proper credit for your payment.
• Write legibly on the checks and payment stubs.