Oklahoma Child Support Collections and Fees

After a noncustodial (paying) parent has been assigned a support order in Oklahoma, any source of their income or earnings may be withheld for child support collection purposes. Your employer is allowed to charge a small fee as an administrative fee for each deduction made. If the noncustodial (paying) parent’s employment ends, the employer must notify the Oklahoma child support office of the termination and report the new employer, if known.

Income Subject to Withholding for Child Support Garnishment

When a noncustodial parent is assigned an order for support, he or she must consider any source of income as subject to income withholding. The definition of income, for Oklahoma purposes, includes wages, salary, winnings, commission, income received as an independent contractor, and interest, regardless of source; workers’ compensation, disability or retirement benefits, or any other payments due are considered as income as well.

Bonuses and Other Lump Sum Payments

While Oklahoma does not require employers to report lump-sum payments (i.e., bonuses, sick leave, commissions, severance pay) owed to employees who have child support income withholding orders, the state does encourage reporting. For more information, contact:

Toby Hallows
Phone: (405) 522-0607
Email: Toby.Hallows@okdhs.org

Termination of Employment

If the employee’s job ends or the employee quits, wage withholding by the employer does not automatically stop. The employer has the duty to report the termination to the agency that sent the order/notice to withhold within 10 days of the termination.  Upon termination, the following information is sent to the issuing agency: company name, employee name and last known home address, date of termination, and the new employer’s name and address, if known.

Reporting is also required if the employee retires. The employer follows the same process stated above, but also includes the name and address of the retirement plan administrator.

Administrative Fees

There are some administrative costs associated with income withholding on an employee’s wages. Oklahoma law allows an employer to charge a fee of up to $5 per withholding to each employee (not to exceed $10 per month) to cover those costs. The employer deducts this fee from the employee’s remaining income, not the support payment.  Further, the employer must never deduct more than Oklahoma’s maximum withholding limits.

Penalty for Noncompliance

An employer that does not comply with an income withholding support order is liable for the total amount not withheld, plus a fine of up to $200 for each time it failed to withhold.

Oklahoma State Office of Child Support – Contact Information

Oklahoma Child Support Services
Child Support Enforcement Division
P.O. Box 53552
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Phone: (405) 522-5871
Fax: (405) 533-3685

Website

Case Studies: Exploring Child Support Collections and Fees in Oklahoma

Case Study 1: Noncustodial Parent Income Withholding

We examine the process of income withholding for child support collection in Oklahoma. We explore how a noncustodial parent’s various sources of income, including wages, salary, commissions, and more, are subject to withholding. We also delve into the administrative fees employers can charge for each deduction made and the penalties for noncompliance.

Case Study 2: Lump Sum Payments and Reporting

This  focuses on the treatment of lump-sum payments, such as bonuses, sick leave, commissions, and severance pay, in relation to child support income withholding orders in Oklahoma. Although reporting these payments is not mandatory for employers, we explore the state’s encouragement of reporting and provide contact information for more details.

Case Study 3: Termination of Employment and Reporting Obligations

We analyze the responsibilities of employers when an employee’s job ends or they quit in the context of child support withholding. We discuss the employer’s duty to report the termination to the relevant agency within a specified timeframe, including the necessary information to be provided. We also touch upon the reporting requirements for retirement and the associated details.