Pay Child Support

Paying through Employers or on Your Own

Most parents pay child support through their employers. The process of an employer forwarding part of an employee’s wages to the state to pay for child support is called income withholding. Income withholding is the most common payment method for child support orders nationwide.

If you are self-employed or need to make extra pay child support payments, you have many options.

Important Reminders for Every Kind of Payment
  • Include your participant identification (ID) number and case number on every payment, every time. You can find these on Customer Connect, or contact us if you need help. Not including these numbers can lead to delays or errors when processing your payment.
  • Allow several days for your payments to be processed. If you pay your child support monthly, we recommend paying by the twentieth of each month.
  • Check for fees before paying. Some payment methods carry fees on top of the child support payment amount. Consult the list below and confirm the fees during the payment process.

Payment Options

Where to Pay

Type of Payment

Fees

Process

Online

Direct debit from bank account (ACH)

One-time set up fee of $2.50. After that, there should be no ACH fees if paid from the same account

  • Start here
  • Payment processed by ExpertPay
  • Includes fraud protection

Credit or debit card

1.9% of the payment amount
  • Start here
  • Payment processed by the California Support Disbursement Unit (SDU)

PayPal

2.49% of the payment amount ($3.95 minimum)
  • Start here
  • Payment processed by ChildSupportBillPay

By Mail

Check or Money Order

Free
  • Send payments to:
    California State Disbursement Unit P.O. Box 989067 West Sacramento, CA 95798-9067
  • Write your participant ID number and case number on every check or money order

By Phone

Direct debit from bank account (ACH)

One-time set up fee of $2.50. After that, there should be no ACH fees if paid from the same account

  • Call ExpertPay at (800) 403-0879
  • Includes fraud protection

Credit or debit card: State SDU

1.9% of the payment amount
  • Call us at (866) 901-3212. Select option 1
  • Accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover

Credit or debit card: ExpertPay

2.95% of the payment amount
  • Call ExpertPay at (800) 403-0879
  • Accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover

In Person

Cash: PayNearMe

$1.99 per transaction
  • Request a personalized barcode by visiting PayNearMe.com/California or calling (866) 901-3212
  • Visit a PayNearMe location (such as 7-Eleven, Family Dollar, and CVS)
  • Show the barcode to a cashier to be scanned at the counter
  • Payments guaranteed

Cash: MoneyGram

$1.99 per transaction
  • Find a MoneyGram location at  MoneyGram.com/locations or call (800) 926-9400
  • Locations may include Albertsons, CVS, Walmart, and others
  • Use the Receive Code 14630 in addition to your participant ID
  • Payments guaranteed

Cash: In-office kiosks

Free
  • Available in our offices during regular business hours
  • Use your participant ID

E-checks

Free
  • Uses the same information as a regular check: the routing number for your bank and your account number
  • Available in our offices during regular business hours
  • Use your participant ID

Credit Cards: In-office kiosks

2.2% of the payment amount
  • Available in our offices during regular business hours
  • Use your participant ID

 

All fees listed in this table are charged by the payment processor and do not go to Child Support Services.