Reviewed for current 2026 law
Tennessee Child Support Arrears Guide
Tennessee’s arrears interest depends on the case type and the dates involved. Since July 1, 2018, private cases accrue 6 percent unless a court lowers it, and state agency cases accrue none without a written court finding.
Reviewed by SupportDecode Editorial Team Page content reviewed Sources Methodology Update log
arrears calculator
Estimated arrears with interest: $5,000.00
Interest of $0.00 under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1).
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Arrears principal2018 Public Chapter 1049, amending Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1) (child support judgments and arrears interest) (Tennessee Secretary of State) | $5,000.00 |
| Interest not computed: no verified numeric rate (Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1))From July 1, 2018, interest on non-Title-IV-D arrears accrues at 6% per year unless the court lowers it, including to 0%, and Title-IV-D arrears accrue no interest unless the court makes a written finding, with a 6% ceiling. From April 17, 2017 through June 30, 2018, interest required a written finding and was capped at 4%; earlier arrears accrued 12% from each arrearage date. Because the calculator does not collect case type or a court-selected rate, it models no numeric rate and directs users to the controlling order and ledger.2018 Public Chapter 1049, amending Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1) (child support judgments and arrears interest) (Tennessee Secretary of State) | $0.00 |
| Arrears principal plus interest2018 Public Chapter 1049, amending Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1) (child support judgments and arrears interest) (Tennessee Secretary of State) | $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.
Tennessee arrears interest under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1); rules last reviewed 2026-09-25.
Case type and dates change the rule
Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1), each unpaid installment becomes a judgment for the unpaid amount and accrues interest under dated rules. There are three periods.
Before April 17, 2017, arrears accrued 12 percent a year from the date of each arrearage. From April 17, 2017, interest stopped accruing unless the court made a written finding that it should continue, and any rate the court set could not exceed 4 percent.
From July 1, 2018, the rule depends on case type. In non-Title-IV-D cases, which are handled privately, such as after a divorce, interest accrues at 6 percent a year, but the court may lower the rate, including to no interest. In Title IV-D cases, where a parent applied for state child support services, interest does not accrue unless the court makes a written finding and sets a rate of no more than 6 percent.
Tennessee’s general civil judgment rate, 8.75 percent from July 1, 2026, is a different rule. Child support arrears follow § 36-5-101(f)(1)(B) instead.
- Private cases (non-IV-D)
- 6% yearly from July 1, 2018; court may lower it, even to zerosource
- State agency cases (IV-D)
- No interest without a written finding; 6% maximumsource
- April 17, 2017 to June 30, 2018
- No interest without a written finding; 4% maximumsource
- Before April 17, 2017
- 12% yearly from each arrearage datesource
- General judgment rate
- 8.75% from July 1, 2026; not used for support arrearssource
Read the controlling order and case record
Find out whether your case is Title IV-D or private, and read the order for any written finding on interest. The calculator does not collect case type or a court-set rate, so it shows principal only. That does not mean every Tennessee case carries 0 percent.
Split a long balance by period: before April 17, 2017; April 17, 2017 through June 30, 2018; and from July 1, 2018. In a private case, the state processes payments but keeps no arrears balance, so the parties or the court may need to build the ledger.
What this estimate includes
- Principal projection
- All three rate periods
- Case-type rules
- Enforcement tools
What it leaves out
- Assumed case type
- Court-selected reduction
- Historical pre-2018 ledger
- Fees and credits
Tennessee arrears calculator FAQs
What is the Tennessee child support interest rate?
It depends on case type and dates. From July 1, 2018, private (non-Title-IV-D) cases accrue 6 percent a year unless the court lowers it, and state agency (Title IV-D) cases accrue no interest unless the court makes a written finding, with a 6 percent maximum.
Can the court lower the 6 percent rate?
Yes. In a non-Title-IV-D case, the court may reduce the rate to a lower rate, including no interest, as it finds appropriate under the circumstances.
Can a Title IV-D case get interest?
Yes, but only if the court makes a written finding. The court sets the rate after considering the factors it finds relevant, and the rate cannot exceed 6 percent a year. The state agency says interest is not charged automatically on past-due support.
What rate applied before 2018?
Before April 17, 2017, arrears accrued 12 percent a year from the date of each arrearage. From April 17, 2017 until July 1, 2018, interest stopped unless the court made a written finding, with a 4 percent maximum.
Is the 8.75 percent judgment rate used for child support?
No. The courts publish 8.75 percent as Tennessee’s general civil judgment rate from July 1, 2026, but child support arrears follow the separate rule in § 36-5-101(f)(1)(B).
How do I know if my case is Title IV-D?
A case becomes Title IV-D when a parent or caretaker applies for state child support services. Non-Title-IV-D cases are set up and kept privately, such as after a divorce, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Can past-due support be reduced?
Not for past periods. A support judgment cannot be modified for any time period or amount due before a modification action is filed, so file promptly when circumstances change.
Do I still owe arrears after current support ends?
Yes. The state agency says past-due support must still be paid after current support ends and is collected until the balance reaches zero. Child support cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.
What enforcement tools does Tennessee use?
The state agency lists liens on property, license revocation, restricted driver’s licenses, treasury offset, bank account seizure, passport denial, and credit reporting. Some actions happen automatically, and a payment plan may prevent some but not all of them. Passports are denied or revoked at $2,500 or more owed.
Is this an official payoff?
No. Use the official ledger and controlling order. A tax refund can be intercepted even while a parent pays current support plus an amount toward arrears.
Official sources
Official sources last verified: .
- 2018 Public Chapter 1049, amending Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-5-101(f)(1) (child support judgments and arrears interest)
Tennessee Secretary of State Last checked
- Understanding Past Due Child Support
Tennessee Department of Human Services Last checked
- Child Support Handbook for Custodial and Noncustodial Parents
Tennessee Department of Human Services Last checked
- Non IV-D and IV-D Child Support Cases (handout)
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts Last checked
- Tennessee Judgment Interest Rates
Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts Last checked
- Reichert v. Reichert, No. M2025-00408-COA-R3-CV (Tenn. Ct. App. 2026)
Tennessee Court of Appeals Last checked
Changelog: page reviewed . Material changes appear in the update log.