With Poppins, your caregiver gets paid, you get help staying compliant, and your family rests easy.
We take care of the details. So you can focus on what really matters.
We turn complex household tax rules into child’s play—handling forms and deadlines so you stay in the clear.
Numbers are our jam. Every paycheck, every tax filing, and every payment—accurate and on-time.
We believe in “what’s fair and square.” That means a simple, low monthly rate with no setup costs. Cancel anytime.
Tax talk can be, well, taxing. Rest easy knowing we’ve got real humans ready to help you in seconds.
Poppins is designed specifically for families employing in-home senior caregivers — from live-in aides to overnight companions. Every feature is tailored to the way you hire and pay.
According to the IRS, if you pay a caregiver more than $2,800 in a year or $1,000 in a quarter, you’re considered a household employer. That means you’re responsible for payroll taxes and other requirements. Poppins helps you get compliant from day one.
We obtain your Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), file your state’s new hire report, and set up your tax accounts (wherever we can) so you’re ready to pay legally.
Need more than one set of helping hands? Easily set up each caregiver in Poppins, with separate payroll and benefits details based on your terms.
Tailor payroll to your needs — add reimbursements (like mileage or meals), track hours, and set custom rates for overnights, live-in care, or variable shifts.
We help manage Social Security, Medicare, unemployment (when applicable), and state and local taxes—so your caregiver can be protected and you can avoid costly mistakes.
Poppins supports families and caregivers alike—from tax questions to paystubs—with a Boulder-based team ready to help.
Paying legally can protect both you and your caregiver.
Because doing the right thing should feel simple and delightful.
Falling behind happens! Poppins can calculate prior-period household taxes, file past-due returns when possible, set up your registrations, and get you running smoothly for future paydays.
Got questions? We’ve got answers.
If you hire someone to provide in-home support, they’re likely considered a household employee. This can include:
Most senior caregivers who are paid by the household for work that takes place at home are considered household employees, not independent contractors. Poppins helps you pay these household employees, and issues W-2s to your caregivers every year.
Your parent will be the employer on the Poppins account.
That’s a-okay by us! You can set up an account for each employee in Poppins, and customize payroll and benefits details according to your contract.
You do not need to pay household employer taxes if your caregiver is your spouse, your child under the age of 21, your parent (unless an exception applies), or anyone under the age of 18. Check out IRS Publication 926 for more details.
Some states require contracts with household employees. Check our state resources to see if your state is one of them. We created a free caregiver contract to help you get started on the right foot.
Some states require worker’s compensation insurance for household employment. Check our state resources to see if your state is one of them.
Some families will purchase workers' compensation even if it's not required by their state since it protects both the employer and employee.
We’ve partnered with Bhalu Insurance, because they’re THE experts in workers' comp for household employers. In fact, that’s literally all they do. Check them out if you want coverage. Just let them know you came from Poppins when signing up!