US employers are not required to offer benefits such as paid vacation time, paid sick time, medical or life insurance, or retirement savings plans unless stipulated by state or local laws. However, employers with full-time, permanent staff find that offering some basic level of benefits keeps them competitive in the employment market, attracting and retaining… Read more »
Many wonder how to pay nanny taxes and how often to file. Understand that the federal and state filing schedules are NOT synchronized. Additionally, not all states have the same reporting schedule. Federal Employment Taxes: Employers of domestic workers must, at a minimum, make annual payments for Social Security, Medicare and Withheld Income Tax (if… Read more »
Considering adding a nanny on business payroll? Nanny employers who own a business or a farm operated for profit can choose to include their nanny’s payroll in their 941 or 943 tax returns. The ‘nanny taxes’ are exactly the same employment taxes paid for other employees and do not require special calculation. What the sole… Read more »
Whether the nanny is fired (involuntary separation, termination or discharge) or resigns (quits) voluntarily, state rules define how quickly the employer must give the final paycheck. Below is a state by state summary of separation payment rules as they apply to household employees.* May 2019 You MAY NOT withhold the final paycheck pending the return… Read more »
When your household employee – whether a nanny, housekeeper, senior caregiver or other – leaves your employment many states require that you pay out her earned but unused vacation time. Generally, it doesn’t matter if the separation of employment is voluntary or involuntary. If you have a separate bank for sick time, that is excluded… Read more »
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime rules and domestic employment are often misunderstood by the household employer. The temptation is to either agree to a weekly “salary”, agree to “average hourly rate” (pay $15 an hour for 45 hours for example) and or to average weeks (pay bi-weekly and average the two weeks hours to… Read more »
SUMMARY: State insurance regulations determine when household employers workers’ compensation and disability insurance are required. The rules vary by state. We recommend meeting with a licensed insurance broker to review all of your insurance needs when you become a household employer. HWS has a licensed insurance partner who will provide HWS clients a no obligation… Read more »
What happens if I don’t pay for my nanny taxes? Failure to report wages paid to a domestic service worker – including a nanny, senior caregiver, housekeeper and more – and failure to pay the nanny taxes compromises the validity of your personal income tax return. These taxes are included on your personal federal income… Read more »