The household employment experts blog

Employing a nanny is expensive. After the family’s mortgage payment, the nanny’s salary is often the biggest expense in the household. Add the cost of taxes on top of this and many families wonder “Why?” They reason that not paying the taxes lets the nanny keep more money and saves them 10% on taxes. The nanny makes little enough anyway – why should she have to pay tax? Reporting nanny wages and paying Social Security taxes is the law. It is also the right thing to do for your nanny. Think about it. When you and your nanny agree to pay ‘off the books’ you are mutually agreeing to break the law. Is that the way you want your employment relationship with your nanny to start out? What message does that send her? Risks of Nanny Tax Avoidance…