Collect and Pay fees calculator
Written by James Whitfield · Last reviewed 29 October 2026
If the Child Maintenance Service collects and passes on payments, the paying parent pays 20% on top and the receiving parent gets 4% less. On £72 a week the paying parent pays £86.40 and the receiving parent gets £69.12: £898.56 a year in fees between them. Direct Pay has no collection fees.
| A week | A month (average) | A year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paying parent's 20% fee | £14.40 | £62.40 | £748.80 |
| Receiving parent's 4% fee | £2.88 | £12.48 | £149.76 |
Current fees from GOV.UK. Monthly is weekly × 52 ÷ 12.
Direct Pay or Collect and Pay
With Direct Pay the CMS works out the amount and the parents arrange the payments between themselves, with no collection fees. With Collect and Pay the CMS collects from the paying parent and passes the money on, and charges both parents.
Collect and Pay can be the safer choice if you do not want contact with the other parent or payments have been missed. You do not have to arrange anything directly if it is not safe for you.
Proposed changes (not in force)
In June 2025 the government said it plans to remove Direct Pay and charge 2% to receiving parents and to paying parents who pay on time, and 20% to paying parents who do not. This needs new legislation, which has not been passed; the government's aim is 2027 to 2028. Until then the current 20% and 4% fees apply, and this calculator uses them.
Questions
How much does the CMS charge for Collect and Pay?
20% added to what the paying parent pays and 4% taken off what the receiving parent gets. Direct Pay has no collection fees.
Is Direct Pay being scrapped?
The government plans to remove it, but this needs new legislation and has not happened. Direct Pay is still available.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Child Maintenance Service, payments and fees (checked 29 October 2026)
- DWP: Government response, improving the collection and transfer of child maintenance payments (updated 23 June 2025) (checked 29 October 2026)
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