Quick answer: In South Dakota, the department or an obligee may collect interest on the unpaid principal of a support debt or judgment at 1% per month or fraction of a month. Each unpaid payment is a judgment and a lien. Withholding starts on any delinquency, and licenses cannot be issued or renewed at $1,000 of arrears without an arrangement.
This South Dakota child support arrears calculator adds up the unpaid installments and interest at the rate you enter under SDCL 25-7A-14, and flags the withholding, license and passport thresholds. The interest is what the department or obligee may collect, so treat it as a scenario.
South Dakota child support arrears and interest at a glance
| Rule | What South Dakota says |
|---|---|
| Interest | The department or any obligee may collect interest on the unpaid principal balance at the Category D rate, 1% per month or fraction thereof (SDCL 25-7A-14; 54-3-16) |
| Other judgments | The general judgment interest section excludes support debts and judgments (54-3-5.1) |
| Judgment and lien | An unpaid payment is a judgment by operation of law and a lien (25-7-7.4; 25-7-6.20) |
| Withholding | On any delinquency or arrearage the department serves a withholding order; the cap is 50% of earnings (25-7A-24; 25-7A-32) |
| Licenses | No issue or renewal of a professional, sporting or recreational license at $1,000 of arrears unless satisfactory arrangements are made (25-7A-56) |
| Ending withholding | The department may terminate it when no current support is due and arrears are paid (25-7A-38) |
How do child support arrears work in South Dakota?
- Interest and method. See the South Dakota child support interest rate.
- Collection. See what happens if you do not pay child support in South Dakota.
- Whether arrears can be changed. See whether South Dakota child support arrears expire or can be forgiven.
What does this arrears calculator check?
You enter the monthly support, the number of installments unpaid and the annual rate (12% by default, the same as 1% a month). The calculator adds interest on each installment from its due date and flags withholding, the $1,000 license line and the $2,500 passport line. It does not model partial payments. To change the amount going forward, see the South Dakota child support modification calculator, and for when the obligation stops, the South Dakota child support end date calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Dakota charge interest on child support arrears?
The department or any obligee may collect interest at 1% per month or fraction thereof on the unpaid principal.
What is the South Dakota interest rate on child support arrears?
One percent per month, or 12% a year, on the unpaid principal balance.
Is South Dakota child support interest simple or compound?
It runs on the unpaid principal balance, so the calculator shows simple interest.
When can South Dakota refuse a license for unpaid child support?
When the department notifies a licensing agency that the applicant owes $1,000 or more, unless the applicant makes satisfactory arrangements.
How much of my pay can South Dakota withhold for support and arrears?
Not more than 50% of wages and similar income.