How it Works
Three steps to household payroll peace of mind.
Most families come to us feeling overwhelmed, but leave their first call feeling confident. Here is how the process works, what happens in your first year, and what kind of support you get at every stage.
Getting started is simpler than you think.
Our process is designed to remove overwhelm and get you compliant quickly.
Tell us your situation.
Who you've hired, what state you're in, and how much support you want. A real specialist listens and asks the right questions. This takes about 10 minutes.
Choose the right plan.
From self-managed payroll (Guided) to full-service (Complete) to white-glove concierge (Premier). We'll recommend the right fit for your situation.
We handle everything from there.
Tax account setup, filings, withholdings, W-2s, and ongoing compliance monitoring. Handled correctly and on time, every pay period and every quarter.
Already been paying a caregiver for a while without payroll? We handle that too. We can go backwards, reconstruct records, and get you fully compliant from wherever you’re starting.
What to expect in your first year.
From your first payroll run to your first year-end W-2, here is exactly what happens and when.
- We set up your employer tax accounts and EIN registration.
- Your employee information is entered and your pay schedule is confirmed.
- Direct deposit is configured.
- Your first payroll runs. Your employee receives direct deposit.
- Federal and state withholdings are calculated and remitted automatically.
- Your online portal is live with full payroll visibility.
- Payroll runs on your confirmed automatic setting, or you report payroll each pay period.
- All tax withholdings remitted to federal and state agencies on time.
- Proactive alerts sent if any regulatory changes affect your account.
- State quarterly payroll tax returns are filed on schedule. Federal household employment taxes reconcile annually via Schedule H, attached to your personal return.
- State unemployment tax (SUTA) filings completed for your worksite location.
- You receive a summary of filings for your records.
- Quarterly filings continue on the same cadence.
- Any mid-year regulatory changes (new paid leave mandates, rate changes) are monitored and communicated for your approval.
- If a notice arrives from the IRS or your state, we handle it directly.
- Your employee receives their W-2 by January 31.
- Schedule H is prepared and delivered to you for your personal tax return.
- Annual FUTA reconciliation and filing completed.
- Your account is reset and ready for the new year.
After your first year, the rhythm is established and the process runs seamlessly in the background. Most clients tell us they barely think about payroll after the first few months. That’s exactly how it should be.
The right level of support for your situation.
Every HomeWork Solutions client gets real human support, which scales with each plan.
No matter which plan you choose, you will never reach a phone tree, an offshore call center, or a confused generalist. Every person who works on your account knows household employment inside and out.
Compliance Made Simple
Household employment law is complex. We track it so you don't have to.
Regulations that affect household employers change constantly, including new paid leave mandates, updated SUTA rates, local wage tax ordinances, and expanded overtime rules. We monitor federal, state, and local regulatory changes that affect household employers so when something changes, we handle the details.
- New hire reporting is a state mandate.
- State compliance: income tax withholding, SUTA, paid leave, retirement mandates.
- Local compliance: city and county wage taxes, where applicable.
- Retroactive compliance: if you're behind, we go backwards and get you current.
Go deeper into what makes HWS different.
The HomeWork Solutions time-tested process.
Payroll, Taxes and Compliance Made Simple
What payroll actually involves, what can go wrong, and how we monitor the law on your behalf.
Our Personalized Approach
How we tailor our service to your specific situation, from day one through your first year and beyond.
Ongoing Support and Education
What happens after setup. How we keep you informed and handle anything that comes up.
Families across the country trust HomeWork Solutions.
“I had no idea I was supposed to be paying taxes on my nanny’s wages until our CPA flagged it. HomeWork Solutions set everything up retroactively, without judgment, and got us fully compliant. I wish I had found them sooner.”
— Sarah M., Client since 2022, nanny employer
Ready to see how simple this can be?
Schedule a free 10-minute call. We’ll walk you through exactly what happens, recommend the right plan for your situation, and have you set up before your next pay period.