Does overtime pay or a one-time bonus count as income for child support?

Yes, both overtime pay and one-time bonuses are generally included in annual income for child support purposes. The Guidelines use total annual income as the foundation, and extra earnings — whether regular overtime or an exceptional year-end bonus — are part of what a payor earned during the year.

The complexity arises when overtime or bonuses are irregular. If a payor earns substantial overtime in one year due to a special project, they may argue their income for that year is not representative. Courts can average income over several years to arrive at a fair figure when income fluctuates significantly. Using a three-year average is a common approach for variable earners. However, a court is also entitled to use the most recent year's income if the evidence shows it is more reflective of actual earnings going forward.

For recurring overtime and regular performance bonuses, courts are less sympathetic to arguments that these should be excluded — if the payor reliably earns extra compensation on top of base pay, it is part of their real income and should be reflected in child support. Payors who receive large bonuses may face applications by recipients after a particularly good year. Annual income disclosure makes these changes visible and either party can seek a variation when the numbers shift significantly.