Together, we can
help your employees
support their families.

Information for employers

Employers and other income sources play an important role in helping us enforce court-ordered family support payments.

• I have received a Support Deduction Notice?
  When you receive a Notice for one of your employees, you must calculate and deduct the support payments from the employee's earnings and send the payments to us. You have 14 days to set up the deductions in your payroll system. Here’s how you calculate the amount to deduct.
• my employee or a lawyer has asked me to stop deductions?
  You must not stop or change deductions solely on the direction of the payor or the payor’s lawyer. Learn when you can stop sending payments.
• the person is not employed here or has been terminated?
  You must let us know in writing within 10 days and explain why you are not/no longer a source of income for the payor named in the Support Deduction Notice. Here's how to contact us
• the person is temporarily laid off or absent due to illness or injury?
  You must let us know in writing within 10 days if your regular payments to us will be interrupted. Tell us the reason for the interruption and when payments are expected to resume (if you know). Here's how to contact us

• calculate how much I deduct?
  You must send us the amount set out in the Support Deduction Notice, up to a maximum of 50% of the payor’s net income. Learn how to calculate the amount.
• send a payment to FRO?
  We offer several secure and easy ways for you to send payments to us, including online banking, corporate pre-authorized debit, cheque and money order. Learn more.
• deduct support payments from my employee?
  Send us the amount set out in the Support Deduction Notice, up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the payor’s net income. You have 14 days to set up the deductions in your payroll system. You do not need to speak with your employee about the deductions. Learn how to calculate deductions.
• tell FRO about my employee’s other sources of income?
  You must let us know in writing within 10 days if you know of any other source of income the payor has, such as a new or additional employer, pension provider or benefit provider. Include the name and address of the other source of income. Here's how to contact us.

• are my legal responsibilities?
  You are legally required to deduct and send support payments to the Family Responsibility Office. You must also keep information confidential and cannot punish an employee for paying support. Learn more.
• is a support deduction notice?
  A support deduction notice is a document sent to the employer or income source of a person who has been ordered by the court to pay spousal or child support. This notice directs the employer or income source to deduct support payments from the payor's income and send them to FRO. Here's what to do if you receive one.
• can I tell other people about the employee's garnishment or support payments?
  You are legally required to keep information about an employee's support deduction payments confidential. The only people in your organization who need to know are the employee and the staff who make the deductions and send them to us (for example, your payroll staff). Read about your responsibilities.

• have to contact FRO?
  There are many situations where you are required to contact us. This includes if the person no longer works for you or is on leave, if you know the person has another income source, or if you calculate the payments would be more than 50 per cent of the person's earnings. Learn more
• start sending payments?
  You must start deducting the support payments no later than the first payday that falls 14 calendar days after you are served with a support deduction notice. Learn how to send payments to FRO
• stop sending payments?
  Keep deducting and sending payments to us until we tell you in writing to stop or to change your payments. Learn more
• have to speak with the employee about the deductions?
  You do not have to speak to your employee about payments on the case. You must not stop or change deductions solely on the direction of the payor. If either the support payor or recipient contacts you, please tell them to contact FRO.