Indiana Parenting Time Credit: Full Chart and Calculation

May 31, 2026

The parenting time credit (PTC) reduces the non-custodial parent’s (NCP) child support obligation when they have significant overnight time with the children. Use the Indiana child support calculator to see the full credit applied automatically based on your overnights.

How the Credit Works

The PTC applies only to the NCP’s share of the Basic Support Obligation (BSO) — not to childcare add-ons or health insurance contributions. It recognizes that the NCP incurs direct costs during their parenting time.

The credit does not apply below 52 overnights per year. At 52 overnights (1 per week), a 6% credit begins. The credit increases gradually up to 182 overnights.

At 183+ overnights (near-equal parenting), a completely different formula applies.

Graduated Credit Table (52–182 Overnights)

Overnights/year	Credit % applied to NCP’s BSO share
Under 52	0% — no credit
52–81	6%
82–96	8%
97–110	10%
111–127	12%
128–131	14%
132–182	19%

Percentages from the 2024 Indiana Child Support Guidelines. Always verify with the current guidelines at in.gov.

How the Credit Is Calculated

Step 1: Calculate NCP’s share of the BSO:

NCP BSO Share = BSO × (NCP Weekly Income / Combined Weekly Income)

Step 2: Apply the parenting time credit percentage:

Credit = NCP BSO Share × Credit %
NCP Obligation (before add-ons) = NCP BSO Share − Credit

Example: NCP income = $800/week, CP income = $600/week, 2 children, 120 overnights/year

Combined income: $1,400/week
BSO (from schedule): $370/week (approximate)
NCP income share: 800/1,400 = 57.1%
NCP BSO share: $370 × 0.571 = $211/week
Overnights = 120 → credit = 12%
Credit: $211 × 0.12 = $25.32/week
NCP obligation (BSO portion): $211 − $25.32 = $185.68/week

Add-on expenses (childcare, insurance) are then added separately without the credit reduction.

Near-Equal Parenting (183+ Overnights)

At 183 or more overnight visits per year, the standard graduated credit table no longer applies. A different formula is used that recognizes both parents bear roughly equal direct costs.

Near-equal parenting formula:

Determine each parent’s obligation as if they were the NCP (i.e., as if the other parent had all the overnights) — call these Obligation-A and Obligation-B
The higher-earning parent pays the difference between the two obligations

Example:

NCP (higher earner): $900/week gross → hypothetical obligation as NCP = $200/week
CP (lower earner): $600/week gross → hypothetical obligation as NCP = $140/week
Near-equal parenting payment: $200 − $140 = $60/week (from higher earner to lower earner)

The near-equal formula dramatically reduces child support compared to the standard formula because both parents are recognized as sharing direct custody costs equally.

Parenting Time and the Annual Count

“Overnights” means nights the child sleeps at the NCP’s home. Extended visits are counted by overnights — a two-week summer trip = 14 overnights.

What counts:

Regular weekly schedule overnights
Holiday overnights as scheduled in the parenting plan
Vacation overnights
Make-up overnights if provided by court order

What does not count:

Day visits (no overnight)
School nights when the child returns to the other parent’s home
Informal extra time not in the parenting order (courts use the order, not informal arrangements, unless a modification is filed)

Impact of Changing Overnights

Increasing NCP overnights from below 52 to just 52 triggers a 6% credit. Moving from 82 to 97 triggers a jump from 8% to 10%. The largest single jump is from 131 to 132 overnights (+5% to the 19% level).

Because child support orders are based on the parenting plan, changes to actual overnight time do not automatically change the order. A modification petition must be filed for the credit to be recalculated. See when and how to modify Indiana child support for the process.

For the full formula context, see Indiana income shares formula and run your scenario in the Indiana child support calculator.