(1) Under RCW 74.20.040, the division of child support (DCS) must impose an annual fee of thirty-five dollars for each case in which:

(a) The custodial parent (CP) has never received TANF, Tribal TANF or AFDC as the custodian of minor children; and

(b) DCS has collected and disbursed to the CP at least five hundred and fifty dollars on the case during that federal fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.

(2) A custodial parent who has children with more than one noncustodial parent (NCP) may be assessed a separate thirty-five dollar fee for each case in which DCS collects at least five hundred and fifty dollars in a federal fiscal year.

(3) If DCS has already collected the thirty-five dollar annual fee on a Washington state case and the CP begins receiving TANF or Tribal TANF during the same federal fiscal year, DCS is not required to refund or cancel the fee.

(4) If the CP with a Washington case has paid a fee to another state during the same federal fiscal year, the CP is still subject to the fee in Washington if the Washington case qualifies for a fee under subsection (1) above.

(5) A CP has the burden of proving prior receipt of TANF, Tribal TANF or AFDC in any jurisdiction, which would exempt the CP from paying the annual fee.

(a) DCS may impose the fee until the CP provides proof of prior receipt of TANF, Tribal TANF or AFDC.

(b) DCS does not refund any fee which has been retained by the state, but stops charging the fee immediately when the CP provides proof that the CP is not subject to the fee.

(6) The fee is retained from support payments collected, which means that the NCP gets credit against the child support obligation for the total amount of the payment.

PDFWAC 388-14A-2200

When does DCS charge a thirty-five dollar annual fee on a child support case?