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Just Found Out You’re a Household Employer? You’re Not Alone.

Maybe your nanny asked for a W-2. Maybe your CPA raised concerns. Maybe an agency mentioned “nanny tax requirements,” and now you’re wondering what you’re actually supposed to do.

Take a breath. This is manageable – especially when you have the right support.

At HomeWork Solutions, we help families across the country navigate household payroll, taxes, and compliance every day. Whether you’re hiring a nanny, bringing in a caregiver for a parent, or realizing you should no longer be paying “under the table,” our team can guide you through the process step-by-step and handle the details for you.

What Household Employers Need to Do - And How We Help

When you hire someone to work in your home, there are certain payroll, tax, and employment responsibilities that come with it. The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out yourself.

HomeWork Solutions helps simplify the process. Setup tax accounts, payroll, withholdings, tax filings, yearend documents, and ongoing compliance support from day one.

What Ongoing Support Looks Like

STEP 1

Confirm You’re a Household Employer

If you hire a nanny, caregiver, housekeeper, or other household employee and control their schedule, responsibilities, or work environment, you are likely considered a household employer under federal and state law.

Common Situations:

“I just hired a nanny.”
“My parent needs a caregiver starting next week.”
“I’ve been paying cash without considering taxes for months and want to fix it.”
“My CPA told me I need to issue a W-2.”
“An agency told me I need payroll.”

If any of these sound familiar, you’re in the right place.

STEP 2

Set Up Your Employer Accounts

Household employers typically need several tax and employment accounts set up before payroll can begin, including:

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS
State unemployment accounts
State withholding accounts
New hire reporting registration
Additional state or local tax accounts where required
For families employing someone across state lines, such as when the employee lives in a different state than the household worksite, additional payroll and tax registrations may also be necessary.

The good news? HomeWork Solutions handles all of it for you. Our team manages the setup process, coordinates required registrations, and helps ensure the proper federal, state, and local accounts are established correctly from the start so families don’t have to navigate complicated government systems on their own.

STEP 3

Properly Onboard Your Employee

Household employees typically need onboarding and tax forms completed before payroll begins, including:

Form I-9 employment verification
Form W-4 tax withholding forms
State-specific onboarding paperwork

HomeWork Solutions provides clients with the forms, resources, and guidance needed to complete the onboarding process correctly. You’ll have access to educational articles, how-to videos, and direct support from our team to help make onboarding feel simpler and more manageable from day one.

STEP 4

Run Payroll & Handle Taxes Correctly

Household payroll involves far more than simply writing a check. Employers may need to:

Calculate employer and employee payroll taxes
Withhold income taxes
File quarterly and annual tax forms
Track overtime and wage compliance
Prepare year-end tax forms, such as W-2s and Schedule H
Track healthcare reimbursements
Track retirement contribution

Our team helps families stay compliant while simplifying the ongoing responsibilities that come with household payroll and tax management.

STEP 5

Stay Compliant Throughout the Year

Household employment responsibilities continue long after setup. Tax filings, changing labor laws, payroll documentation, and year-end reporting all require ongoing attention.

HomeWork Solutions provides ongoing support, compliance monitoring, payroll processing, W-2 & Schedule H preparation, tax filing, and real human guidance throughout the year to help families stay organized and compliant.

What If You’ve Already Been Paying Cash Without Considering Taxes?

You’re not alone. Many families come to us after realizing their household employee should have been paid through legal payroll with taxes properly handled.

The important thing is addressing the situation proactively. Our team can help explain your options, answer your questions, and guide you through the next steps in a way that feels manageable, not overwhelming or judgmental.

Need an EIN? We'll Handle That.

Household employers need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS in order to legally process payroll and file employment taxes. Families also need state unemployment accounts, potentially need state withholding accounts, and local tax registrations depending on where the work is performed and where the employee lives.

HomeWork Solutions sets up all required federal, state, and local payroll tax accounts so families can feel confident everything is established correctly from the beginning.

Not sure if you’re officially considered a household employer?

Start with our Knowledge Center article:

Are You a Household Employer?

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Most families never expected to become household employers – and very few know all the rules upfront. That’s normal.

Our job is to simplify the process, answer your questions, and help you feel confident moving forward.

“Love working with the team at HWS. They are responsive, quick, and accurate. And perhaps most importantly, they always have time to review things when I don't understand. Highly recommend!”

— A. Marcus

We’ll Tell You Exactly What You Need in 10 Minutes

Whether you’re hiring a nanny, setting up caregiver payroll, or trying to correct an existing payroll situation, HomeWork Solutions is here to help.

Schedule a free consultation and our team will walk you through what applies to your household, what steps you need to take, and how we can help simplify the process.

What We Can Help With:

Tax account setup
Household payroll setup
Nanny & caregiver payroll
EIN and employer account setup
Employee onboarding support
Payroll tax filings & W-2s
Compliance guidance
Ongoing payroll support
And much more

Just Found Out You’re a Household Employer? You’re Not Alone.