Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Child Support Act 1991

Collection of financial support - Due dates for payment of financial support

134AAA: Sixty-day grace period before penalties apply

You could also call this:

“You have 60 days to start paying child support without getting in trouble”

You have a 60-day grace period when you first get an assessment for child support payments. This grace period means you won’t have to pay any penalties if you’re late with your payments during this time.

The grace period doesn’t apply if you’re already paying child support or if the assessment is for a time when you were already supposed to be paying.

If you have to pay child support, your grace period starts on the first day you owe money under the new assessment. If your assessment says you don’t have to pay anything, your grace period starts on the day of the assessment.

The grace period lasts for 60 days. After that, you might have to pay penalties if you’re late with your payments.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS599021.

Topics:
Family and relationships > Children and parenting
Previous

134: Penalties for late payment of financial support debts, or

"Extra charges for not paying child support on time"

Next

134A: Status of penalties under section 134, or

"Penalties are treated like money you owe to the government"

Part 8 Collection of financial support
Due dates for payment of financial support

134AAASixty-day grace period before penalties apply

  1. This section applies to a liable person who receives an assessment unless—

  2. the person is already a liable person under an existing assessment; or
    1. the assessment is for a period in respect of which the person was a liable person.

      1. The person is not liable to pay to the Commissioner a penalty under section 134 in respect of a debt that becomes due and payable during a 60-day grace period.

      2. The grace period starts,—

      3. if the person is liable to pay financial support, on the first date on which a debt becomes due and payable under the assessment by the liable person in respect of a period starting on or after the commencement of this section:
        1. if the person is subject to a nil assessment, on the date of the assessment.

          1. The grace period ends with the expiry of 60 days after the grace period starts.

          Notes
          • Section 134AAA: inserted, on , by section 43 of the Child Support Amendment Act 2021 (2021 No 6).