Knowledge Center

Nanny Employers

• Benefits of Outsourcing Nanny Payroll & Taxes

  Nanny payroll services are convenient and essential for many families. If your family utilizes nanny services, it’s important to understand nanny payroll and taxes. Some families wonder why they should bother involving the government at all, but it’s essential to learn why paying nanny taxes is both necessary and beneficial. You can simplify nanny payroll and tax… Read more »

• Hawaii Insurance Requirements for Employers

  In addition to federal requirements, household employers may also have state, or even local, labor and tax requirements. In HI, one such requirement is all employers (household employers included) are required to provide health insurance coverage to their employees, if they are not already covered. Below are the answers to frequently asked questions about this… Read more »

• Household Employment: Schedule H vs. 941

  Household employers file and pay the exact same employment taxes as commercial employers do. The IRS established the Form 1040 Schedule H in 1995 to simplify and streamline the household payroll tax reporting. Often times, however, the household employer or their CPA are confused about the proper reporting and begin filing quarterly Forms 941 for… Read more »

• Legal Nanny Payroll – It’s Worth It!

  Many families mistakenly believe that paying their nanny cash, off the books, is easiest all around. After all, no complicated tax forms, the nanny takes home more money, the family doesn’t pay taxes, it sounds good all around. Until it isn’t good at all! The Family’s Risks Unemployment Claims: Nanny jobs are, by their nature,... Read more »

• Why You Can’t Guarantee Your Nanny Net Pay

  If you’ve recently hired a nanny and agreed to compensation based on take-home pay (net pay), you may have noticed getting a consistent cost of payroll is more challenging than you anticipated. Here are some reasons you can’t guarantee your nanny the same net pay every time.   Income Fluctuation Your nanny is an hourly employee by law, which means… Read more »

• Are you a household employer?

  What Your Family Needs to Know... At HWS, we are experts on the tax and labor laws surrounding household employment, so you don't have to be. Let's first determine whether YOU are a household employer. Our knowledge center goes into much more depth on the details, here it is short and simple. Our lives are busy,... Read more »

• Is my nanny an “Independent Contractor?” Can I do that?

  Is my nanny an independent contractor? Can I give my nanny or senior caregiver a 1099  and let her file her own taxes? Most Workers are Employees! The US Department of Labor's Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, David Weil, clearly stated on July 15, 2015 that most workers are considered employees under the... Read more »

• Nanny Tax Compliance: Why a Nanny Wants to be Paid Legally

  In the “nanny world,” the temptation to accept a job that pays CASH (off the books, no payroll or income tax reporting) is faced by every nanny. After all, who LIKES to pay taxes? Professional nannies, however, understand nanny tax compliance and know that being paid legally is ultimately in their own best interest. Continue… Read more »

• Emergency Nanny Income During a Pandemic (Old – Redirected)

  17 March 2020 Summary Over the last several days, attempts to contain and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus are severely disrupting everyday life in the USA. Worries are running the gamut from, “Where can I find toilet paper?” to “I can’t work, I’m not being paid, how can I pay for toilet paper?”… Read more »

• 4 Common Errors: The Nanny or Senior Caregiver Compensation Offer

  You have a new baby in the house, you are not sleeping well, and you need to line up a great nanny before you return to work. Or mom is declining and you have to hire a senior caregiver to stay with her while you are working because she just is not safe alone any… Read more »