Global Child Support Goes Digital: Auto-Convert Currencies Now!
Published Date: 3/10/2026
Notice
Summary
The Office of Child Support Enforcement is launching a new Central Authority Payment Service (CAP) to help states and foreign agencies send and receive child support payments electronically and securely. This new system will make international payments faster and easier by bundling payments and converting currencies automatically. States and foreign authorities need to sign up to join, and public comments are open until April 9, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster, Bundled International Child-Support Payments
CAP consolidates child support payments from participating states and sends one payment to each foreign authority through federal international electronic payment channels. Payments are converted automatically to the applicable currency and distributed by the foreign authority to the custodial parent using secure case and payment details, which OCSE says will make international payments faster and easier.
States and Foreign Authorities Must Enroll
State child support agencies (CSAs) and foreign authorities must enroll in the Central Authority Payment Service (CAP) to send or receive international child support payments. OCSE expects 46 states and 13 foreign authorities to implement CAP or maintain CAP contacts over the next three years, with an estimated total annual respondent burden of 5.24 hours (state contact form: 46 responses × 0.08 hours; foreign authority contact form: 13 responses × 0.12 hours).
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Key Dates
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