Nanny taxes: A complete guide

Most families are not tax experts. So when it’s time to hire a caregiver — especially if it’s your first time — knowing all the ins and outs of what the IRS and your state requires can feel confusing and overwhelming. To make this process easier, we’ll break down everything you need to know about household employment taxes, or nanny taxes as they’re commonly called.

• What nanny taxes are
• How to pay nanny taxes
• What the benefits of paying nanny taxes are
• What can happen if you don’t pay nanny taxes
• How much time it takes to manage nanny taxes

What are nanny taxes?

The nanny tax is a combination of federal and state tax requirements detailed in IRS Publication 926 that families must manage when they hire a household employee, such as a nanny, senior caregiver or personal assistant. The taxes include:

• Taxes withheld from the employee: Social Security & Medicare taxes (FICA), as well as federal and state income taxes.
• Taxes paid by the employer: Social Security & Medicare taxes, as well as federal and state unemployment insurance.

For the 2024 tax year, nanny taxes come into play when a family pays any household employee $2,700 or more in a calendar year (or $1,000 or more in a calendar quarter for unemployment insurance taxes).

Note: Your obligations will vary depending on where you live. Not all states have income taxes, while others require additional taxes to be withheld from your employee, paid by the employer or both. To see the specific requirements where you live, visit the nanny tax page for your state.

What makes someone a household employee?

According to the IRS, a household worker is an employee if you control not only what work is done, but also how it is done. Generally speaking, that means the employee is coming to your home on the schedule you dictate while following your rules. It doesn’t matter whether the work is full time or part time or if you hired the worker through an online platform, they are still considered a household employee subject to taxes if you pay them more than $2,700 per calendar year. Families that misclassify their nanny or caregiver as an independent contractor by providing a Form 1099 for filing taxes can be charged with tax evasion.

Learn more about why a nanny is almost never considered an independent contractor.

How to pay nanny taxes

Now let’s get into the process of actually managing nanny taxes. There are four main action items that families need to take care of:

1. Apply for Tax ID numbers: You need both federal and state tax identification numbers in order to report your nanny taxes. You can get your federal employer identification number (FEIN) from the IRS and use this number to obtain your state identification number from the appropriate tax agency in your state.

2. Calculate and track payroll: You need to accurately calculate your nanny’s gross pay, the taxes withheld from them and your corresponding employer taxes each pay period. (Use our nanny payroll calculator to help).

3. File tax returns year-round:

   • Typically on a quarterly basis, you will need to file state tax returns. Some states do require monthly or annual filings, so check the details in your area to be sure.

   • You should send 1040 estimated payments to the IRS four times per year.

4. Complete year-end tax forms:

   • You must provide your nanny with a Form W-2 by the end of January each year so they can use it to file their tax return.

   • The Social Security Administration requires you to file Form W-3 and Form W-2 Copy A. This lets them know that you’ve properly withheld FICA taxes from your caregiver and remitted FICA taxes of your own throughout the year.

   • You need to prepare a Schedule H and file it with your federal income tax return.

   • Your state may also require an Annual Reconciliation form, which summarizes the state income taxes you withheld from your nanny.

If you’ve joined Care HomePay, we handle all of these procedures and returns for you. Check out how our nanny tax service works.

What household employees need to provide

Before a caregiver begins working for a family, there are three things they need to provide:

1. A Social Security number or an ITIN.

2. A completed Form I-9 with proper identification.

3. A completed federal W-4 form and corresponding state income tax withholding form (if you live in a state with income taxes).

If your employee needs a federal and/or state income tax withholding form, we have up-to-date versions available to download.

What are the benefits of paying nanny taxes?

Both families and their nannies actually benefit from proper tax reporting. Employers may be eligible for tax breaks to offset the cost of their nanny taxes and have less to worry about if they’re audited by the IRS or the state. Caregivers also gain this peace of mind; plus, it’s easier to qualify for short and long-term benefits like:

• Social Security income and Medicare coverage upon retirement.
• Unemployment benefits if they lose their job due to no fault of their own.
• A verifiable employment history necessary for obtaining auto and home mortgage loans.
• Reduced health care costs via subsidies provided through the Affordable Care Act.

What can happen if you pay your nanny under the table?

Here’s a common example of what can happen:

• Your nanny works for you for several years without having taxes withheld or you paying taxes on their wages.
• When your kids are in school full time, you decide to part ways with your nanny since their services are no longer needed.
• Your nanny files for unemployment benefits and is required to list you as their past employer. The unemployment office reviews the case and finds that you didn’t file any tax returns or pay into the state unemployment insurance fund.
• As a result, your former nanny will be refused benefits, and you can now expect an audit from the state and the IRS.
• You will end up having to pay back taxes (Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance taxes), along with penalties and interest. In some cases, you could be charged with tax evasion and your professional license could be in jeopardy.

How much work will filing nanny taxes involve?

The IRS estimates the average family can expect to spend 50-55 hours per year correctly managing the nanny tax process. This includes all the tax requirements listed above, as well as managing your employee’s payroll and responding to any notices sent by the IRS and tax agencies in your state.

Read more about how to pay nanny taxes yourself and how to catch up and pay legally.

Our HomePay experts can take care of all the work for you. From handling all the paperwork to actually filing your returns, we take care of everything. If this sounds like the better option for your family, contact our office at (888) 273-3356 or feel free to get started online.

Next Steps:

• Find out how much to pay your nanny
• Download a sample nanny contract
• Use our nanny tax calculator to help set your budget

* The information contained in this article is general in nature, may not be applicable to your specific circumstances, and is not intended to be a substitute for or relied upon as personalized tax or legal advice.