Maintenance - absent parent self employed

[roughtyping]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how the CSA would calculate what amount an absent parent should pay when they're self employed?

DS's dad has become self employed, I've suspected for a while he will reduce maintenance - he's done so this month.

We've always had an informal agreement, nothing in writing. He emailed me in the middle of the night to let me know and uses v formal language when he emails, so not sure if he's planning to show a solicitor. He's transferred a quarter of what he normally does, with no warning (usually transfers at end of month so was late with this).

I'm now starting to wonder about options in terms of formalising arrangements.

He doesn't see DS very often - a couple of times a year, and I'm always flexible and accommodating with this.

If he is self employed and has half a brain he can easily fix the figures so he I shown as earning f all and therefore the CSA calculation for how much he pays you will be next to nothing. Seriously, it's a well known tactic for non resident parents who don't want to pay! It's crap and needs sorting.

So, I'd suggest you try and do things outside of the CSA if you can. If he is offering to pay less than he used to but will a substantial and fair amount then just accept it and don't push to go via Csa. It's rubbish but make the best out of the situation.

Do you know roughly what he really earns? Even if he declared the full amount to the CSA (unlikely if he's self employed) he'd be required to pay 15% of his salary in maintenance with a reduction if there are any other children living with him. Perhaps you can use that to see the most you'd ever get if things turn nasty and you go via CSA. Likelihood is though, given that he's being nasty already, that you'd end up with just a few pounds a week once he's cooked the books!

That's what I thought :( thanks for replying.

Just lucky I'm with my husband and not a single parent household anymore, huh.

The CSA will eventually base its assessment on his tax returns.

What happens if the tax return also shows that he earns very little?

I ask because a friend of mine is in the same position. Her ex used to pay a lot via CSA but then he became 'self employed'. He's clearly still earning a lot but not 'paying himself'. Apparently his tax return showed that he earned less than £100 a week. Is there anything that can be done there? I have no idea how he works it. I just know that he's certainly not living on £5200 a year!

My best friend has the same problem. Her ex goes on three foreign holidays a year, has a new 4x4 every two years, has a nice 3 bedroom house but pays £29 a month in child maintenance.
My ex is a firefighter who pays me £100 which we agreed!