Knowledge Center

Senior Care Employers

• Costs of Senior Home Care

  More families are considering the possibility of privately hiring senior home care for someone it their family as a way to help their loved ones age in place in a safe and happy environment. This is uncharted territory for most people, and adult children who may have hired nannies to care for their children years... Read more »

• Duties of a Companion Senior Caregiver

  Whether a senior caregiver is governed by Federal and State minimum wage and overtime laws hinges on two key elements. Who is the employer? What are the duties in the companion caregiver job description? Employment law, wage and hour law, and payroll tax requirements for privately employed senior companion caregivers (whether direct hire or hired… Read more »

• Guide to Privately Hiring Senior Home Care

  Families of aging seniors are confronted with many choices as they navigate options to help maintain a healthy and productive life for elderly family members.  Home safety, medication management and transportation are key concerns for every family facing the naturally changing capacities seniors face as they age.  In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office,… Read more »

• Home Care vs. Nursing Homes

  Taking care of your parents as they age is a reflection of the bond you've developed throughout your lifetime. Depending on their health conditions, Mom or Dad might need constant assistance to help manage everyday tasks. Though in-home care and moving your loved ones to a nursing home are both suitable care options, you'll need... 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 »

• State Overtime Rules Senior Care Companions

  Today's retired seniors by an overwhelming 9:1 ratio fully expect to "age in place," staying in their private homes as long as they can and resisting moves to institutionalized settings. Increasingly these seniors private hire senior caregivers who help with mobility challenges, transportation and general household activities as a way to stay in their homes.... Read more »

• Understanding Senior Heath: When is Help Needed?

  Senior health  challenges afflict not only the aging, but an increasing number of adult children now caring for their parents. When is outside help needed to help your aging parent age in place? Monitoring an aging parent’s health Each year, projections for the average life expectancy of Americans trend up. There are differences by gender,… 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 »

• Senior Caregiver Hiring: Employee or Independent Contractor

  The IRS is increasing its focus on improperly classified domestic workers, including those hired as senior home care professionals. As an employer of a household employee, you must be aware of these changes for tax season. An adult over 18 years of age who works in your private home and to whom you pay more than... Read more »

• I have a housekeeper working in my home. What taxes do I need to pay?

  In general, the Internal Revenue Service requires payroll tax filings by a domestic employer (household employer) who pays a housekeeper or other household employee more than $2,700 cash wages (2023) in a calendar year*. These payroll taxes are collectively referred to as “nanny taxes”, although as a practical matter these employment taxes are applied to… Read more »