Can I deduct clothes from child support?

A common question is can you deduct things you purchase for the child from what you owe in child support. For example, if you buy a pair of shoes for your kid can you take $50 off what you owe in child support? The answer is no. The only thing that counts as child support is money, not clothes, toys or any other items, just money. That said, the custodial parent should not expect you to pay child support and then turn around and ask you to buy food and clothing for the child. That is what the child support is for.