Updated for 2026 guidelines
Florida Child Support Arrears Calculator 2026
Unpaid Florida support earns interest at the state judgment rate, and that rate changes every quarter. This page explains the moving rate and tracks your balance honestly.
Reviewed by SupportDecode Editorial Team Page content reviewed Sources Methodology Update log
Track a Florida arrears balance
Estimated arrears with interest: $5,000.00
Interest of $0.00 under Fla. Stat. 55.03(1).
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Arrears principalFla. Stat. 55.03 (judgment interest rate; quarterly CFO rate) (Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)) | $5,000.00 |
| Interest not computed: no verified numeric rate (Fla. Stat. 55.03(1))Market-indexed: the CFO sets the judgment interest rate quarterly (average Federal Reserve Bank of NY discount rate for the preceding 12 months plus 400 basis points). 8.06% per annum effective 2026-07-01 per the official CFO table; look up the rate for the relevant quarter before computing. Support judgments entered by the clerk under Fla. Stat. 61.14 keep the rate fixed at establishment (55.03(3)).Fla. Stat. 55.03 (judgment interest rate; quarterly CFO rate) (Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)) | $0.00 |
| Arrears principal plus interestFla. Stat. 55.03 (judgment interest rate; quarterly CFO rate) (Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine)) | $5,000.00 |
Assumptions
- Accrual period expressed as 12 month(s); partial months prorate.
- No verified numeric interest rate for this state; interest shown as 0 and the result is an estimate of principal only.
Estimate only. The court or state agency calculation controls.
Florida arrears interest under Fla. Stat. 55.03(1); rules last reviewed 2026-08-06.
How arrears interest works in Florida
When ordered support goes unpaid, the missed amounts become arrears. Florida applies its statewide judgment interest rate to support arrears and judgments under section 55.03, Florida Statutes.
That rate is not a fixed number. The Chief Financial Officer resets it every quarter, using the average discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York over the prior 12 months plus 400 basis points, which means 4 added percentage points.
Since July 1, 2026, the rate is 8.06 percent a year. Over the five quarters before that, it moved from 8.90 down through 8.65, 8.44, and 8.25 percent. The interest is simple; the statute has no compounding provision.
One detail matters for older balances. Support judgments entered by the clerk of court under section 61.14 keep the rate that applied when the judgment was established, instead of adjusting each year (55.03(3)).
How to use this estimate
Enter the unpaid principal and the accrual period. For Florida, the tool deliberately applies no interest rate, because there is no single correct one: the rate has changed every quarter, and different slices of a balance can carry different rates.
The result shows your principal with interest listed as zero and a note pointing you to the official CFO rate table. To finish the math by hand, take the rate for each period from that table and apply it as simple interest to the amount owed during that period.
A quick manual example with the current rate: $10,000 owed for a full year at 8.06 percent earns about $806 in simple interest. Repeat with each quarter’s own rate when a balance spans several quarters, then add the pieces.
The official ledger controls. The clerk of court and the Department of Revenue keep the payment record that counts, and partial payments, credits, and judgment dates all change the balance.
What this estimate includes
- Your principal, tracked as one amount over one accrual period
- The Florida statute citation and the current-quarter rate for context
- A pointer to the official CFO judgment interest table
What it leaves out
- An automatic interest total, because the Florida rate resets quarterly
- Payment-by-payment accrual and partial payment credits
- Judgments whose rate was fixed at establishment under 55.03(3)
- Enforcement steps such as license suspension or contempt
Florida arrears FAQs
What is the interest rate on Florida child support arrears?
It depends on the quarter. Florida applies the statewide judgment interest rate, which the CFO resets every three months. The rate is 8.06 percent per year effective July 1, 2026. For another period, check the official CFO judgment interest table linked in the sources.
Who sets the Florida judgment interest rate, and how?
The Chief Financial Officer sets it quarterly under section 55.03(1). The formula is the average discount rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the preceding 12 months, plus 400 basis points. That is why the rate drifts with the economy instead of staying put.
Why does this calculator show zero interest for Florida?
Because applying one rate would be a guess. A Florida balance that built up over several years passed through many different quarterly rates. Rather than invent a blended number, the tool shows your principal and sends you to the official rate table to apply the right rate for each period.
Is the interest simple or compound?
Simple. Section 55.03 sets a yearly rate and contains no compounding provision, so interest accrues on the unpaid support itself and does not earn interest on interest.
Does the rate on an existing judgment change every quarter?
Not always. Support-related judgments entered by the clerk of court under section 61.14 are excepted from the annual adjustment, so their rate stays where it was when the judgment was established (55.03(3)). Other judgments adjust. The clerk of court can tell you which rule your judgment follows.
What have the recent Florida rates been?
Per the official CFO table: 8.90 percent from July 1, 2025, then 8.65 from October 1, 2025, 8.44 from January 1, 2026, 8.25 from April 1, 2026, and 8.06 percent from July 1, 2026.
Official sources
Official sources last verified: .
- Fla. Stat. 55.03 (judgment interest rate; quarterly CFO rate)
Florida Legislature (Online Sunshine) Last checked
- Judgment Interest Rates table (8.06% eff. 2026-07-01)
Florida Dept. of Financial Services (CFO) Last checked
Reviewed by SupportDecode Editorial Team Page content reviewed Sources Methodology Update log
Changelog: page first published with the quarterly CFO rate rule and the 8.06 percent current rate. Material changes are dated in the update log.