SERVICE
Send an employee's wages to the state for child support
For employers: You can set up recurring or one-time payments electronically.
What to know
What is this for?
- If you received an Income Withholding Order for an employee, you have to send part of their wages to the state to cover their child support.
What do I need to do?
- You can set up automatic payments by credit, debit, and direct transfer.
- Follow the instructions for what you should do when you first receive a withholding order.
What to do
The state uses ExpertPay to accept payment by bank account, debit or credit card, and PayPal.
Electronic payment
Register with ExpertPay.
- Select Employer
- Follow the prompts
You can set up automatic recurring payments.
Direct bank-to-bank transfer
You can also ask your bank to send money from your account to the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU) account directly.
To set up this form of electronic funds transfer, contact the SDU help desk.
Supporting information
Special cases
Out-of-state employers
If you're an out-of-state employer, you can pay by check.
Make the check payable to “CA State Disbursement Unit."
Mail to:
California State Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 989067
West Sacramento, CA 95798
Pay with one check, even if you are submitting for multiple employees.
You must include each:
- Employee name
- Child support enforcement case number
- Child support Participant ID (located on most letters and billing statements)
- Social Security number
- Date money was withheld (pay date)
- Amount withheld per employee
- Company name and phone number
If you don’t know the case number, call 1-866-901-3212.
Fines for not paying
If you don’t follow the withholding order, you might be responsible for the full amount of support owed, plus a fine.
You may have to go to court if you don’t withhold income as ordered.
The court can order an electronic funds transfer from your company’s bank.
Get help
San Francisco, CA 94105
Get directions
California Child Support Services
Bay Area Region Child Support Collaborative
Federal Office of Child Support Services
Partner agencies
What to know
What is this for?
- If you received an Income Withholding Order for an employee, you have to send part of their wages to the state to cover their child support.
What do I need to do?
- You can set up automatic payments by credit, debit, and direct transfer.
- Follow the instructions for what you should do when you first receive a withholding order.
What to do
The state uses ExpertPay to accept payment by bank account, debit or credit card, and PayPal.
Electronic payment
Register with ExpertPay.
- Select Employer
- Follow the prompts
You can set up automatic recurring payments.
Direct bank-to-bank transfer
You can also ask your bank to send money from your account to the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU) account directly.
To set up this form of electronic funds transfer, contact the SDU help desk.
Supporting information
Special cases
Out-of-state employers
If you're an out-of-state employer, you can pay by check.
Make the check payable to “CA State Disbursement Unit."
Mail to:
California State Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 989067
West Sacramento, CA 95798
Pay with one check, even if you are submitting for multiple employees.
You must include each:
- Employee name
- Child support enforcement case number
- Child support Participant ID (located on most letters and billing statements)
- Social Security number
- Date money was withheld (pay date)
- Amount withheld per employee
- Company name and phone number
If you don’t know the case number, call 1-866-901-3212.
Fines for not paying
If you don’t follow the withholding order, you might be responsible for the full amount of support owed, plus a fine.
You may have to go to court if you don’t withhold income as ordered.
The court can order an electronic funds transfer from your company’s bank.
Get help
San Francisco, CA 94105
Get directions