Make child maintenance deductions from an employee's pay

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Make deduction from earnings order (DEO) payments

Send deduction from earnings order (DEO) payments to the Child Maintenance Service as soon as you make a deduction.

If you cannot make the full deduction you must send an updated payment schedule to the Child Maintenance Service by post or online.

If you have more than one employee with a DEO, send each payment separately.

You can be fined £500 for each missed payment and up to £1,000 for not providing information you’ve been asked for.

Paying the Child Maintenance Service

You can pay by:

  • using the online service
  • calling the Child Maintenance Service Employer Payment Team
  • using the Banks Automated Clearing System (Bacs), Faster Payments or CHAPS transfer
  • sending a cheque to the Child Maintenance Service

Pay using the online service

You can manage your Child Maintenance Service payments online. You need to contact the Child Maintenance Service Employer Payment Team to register.

Pay by phone

Phone the Child Maintenance Service Employer Payment Team.

Child Maintenance Service Employer Payment Team
Telephone: 0800 232 1961
Textphone: 18001 0800 171 2345
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Pay by Bacs, Faster Payments or CHAPS

You can make a transfer from your bank account by either Bacs, Faster Payments or CHAPS.

You should use:

  • sort code: 60 70 80
  • account number: 10026584
  • account name: DWPCMGEMPLOYER
  • account code: 0
  • transaction code: 99

You’ll need to give the employee’s National Insurance number as the reference.

Pay by cheque

Send a cheque made payable to ‘Child Maintenance Service’.

Child Maintenance Service 21
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2BU

The cheque must:

  • match the amount on the payment schedule
  • have your employer reference number on the back - this is a 12-digit number starting with 5
  • have your employee’s National Insurance number on the back

If you have more than one employee with a DEO, send a copy of your payment schedule with the cheque.

If you need help with a payment

You can either:

Child Maintenance Service Employer Payment Team
Telephone: 0800 232 1961
Textphone: 18001 0800 171 2345
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

Tell your employee

You must tell your employee in writing about each deduction when you give them their payslip. Include whether you have taken £1 administrative costs.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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