Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
Hi everyone
I have a 7yo daughter in the UK and have lived and worked in Sweden for the last five or so years. I studied here for four of those and in the last year got a good job, starting my career, here.
My ex is now asking for maintenance, which I am keen to pay. She used the calculator herself putting in a complete guess number as to my income and decided that is what I have to pay. I myself have looked at the calculator on CMOptions but this does not and cannot take into account the fact that I live abroad. I made an offer based on what I feel my daughter needs and what I can afford from my net income. My ex refused this, saying she feels I should pay what she has decided.
I cannot simply put my gross income into the calculator, because not only is it in a different currency (though simple enough to convert) there are several other factors that should be considered - because they decrease my net income disproportionately.
I want to know if there is any system where I can calculate what I should be paying, with the following factors taken into consideration:
- Higher tax rate (Income tax is over 31% in Stockholm) and VAT is 25%
- Much higher cost of living (nearly everything costs significantly more than in the UK, especially housing)
- Bank costs/fees/exchange rate losses from converting the money from Swedish to British currency
- Cost of travel (I fly over and travel cross country to see her in the South West 3-4 few months)
Also, has anyone had a similar situation? How did it go for you?
Thanks
I've not heard of any other situation like this, but I vaguely recall that someone's ex lived in Poland and something along the lines of because the case was opened in Poland rather than UK, the UK court had to accept that the Polish system would prevail. I'm a bit vague on this as I can't remember exactly, but if the UK CSA do work on that basis, then what is the system used in Sweden to calculate child maintenance? If it's to your advantage, then see if you can open a case with them (if it's like the UK system, you can close the case yourself, as the person who opened it, in the event that you need to).
It also is probably worth ringing the CMS and discussing your case directly with them. I am not a supporter of people trying to avoid paying the correct level of maintenance, but you have raised a very valid point in that the calculation is aimed at the UK tax system, and would be unfair on someone in another system.
Might be worth reading this reply for contacts etc http://www.dad.info/forum/child-maintenance/38924-net-income-gross-income#46342
Welcome to the DAD.info forum.
We don’t like to set ‘rules’, but to make sure that you and the other dads are kept safe, we have some requests. When engaging with the forum, please be aware of the following:
- The forum is not moderated 24 hours per day.
- Many of the moderators do so on a voluntary basis. Whilst they may be able to provide some guidance, advice or support, they may not be able to deal with specifics.
- We are not an emergency crisis service so if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
- If you are concerned about the safety of a child, please click here to find the support you can get for them (link to new page)
- If you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
We hope you find this forum a supportive environment and thank you for joining us.