Need help with the legalese around California nanny tax rules? Trying to figure out how to pay your household employee the right way?
We’ve put together a bunch of useful info for you here. If it still seems like too much, we can handle everything for $45 a month. The first month is even free!
If you pay a household employee such as a nanny, babysitter, caregiver or house manager more than $2,400 a year or $1,000 in a quarter to perform work in your home (or occasionally even out of your home such as in a nanny share), you are a household employer.
There are important benefits to following the law. It gives your employee Social Security, Medicare and Unemployment Insurance benefits. It also allows her to build her credit. Paying legally sets you up to take advantage of tax credits for dependent care. Finally, you never know when you might get nominated for the Supreme Court. And, we all know how that ends if you haven’t paid your nanny taxes.
As a household employer, you must comply with certain tax obligations, commonly referred to as the “nanny taxes” or “household payroll taxes.” It’s complicated, but generally, after you have registered as an employer with all the appropriate agencies, you must:
You can find all the information about your federal obligations in the IRS’s Publication 926 – Household Employer’s Tax Guide and your California obligations in the California Household Employer Guide.
The IRS estimates that it would take you 60 hours to comply with the federal nanny tax regulations. That does sound, well, taxing. Poppins can take care of all of it for $45 a month! That includes all your state and federal registrations, new hire reporting, payroll calculations and direct deposit, quarterly state and federal filings and the year-end documents for you and your employee. This first month is even FREE!
If you decide to handle payroll and taxes yourself, you’ll need to know about these forms:
Form I-9: Have your employee complete this form when hired and provide the required proof of ID.
Form W-4: Have your employee complete this form which dictates how federal income tax is withheld.
Form 1040-ES: On a quarterly basis send this form to the IRS along with payment to report taxes from previous quarter. Don’t forget that federal quarter dates do not always line up with calendar quarters!
Form W-2: Fill out Form W-2 if you pay wages of $1,000 or more, and give Copies B, C and 2 to your nanny. Copy A (along with Form W-3) goes to the Social Security Administration.
Schedule H: If you pay your nanny cash wages of $1,000 or more in a calendar quarter or $2,400 in a calendar year, file Schedule H.
DE 4: Have your employee complete this form which dictates how California income tax is withheld.
DE 9, DE 9C & DE 88: On a quarterly basis file these reports with the State along with payment to report taxes and wages paid in the previous quarter.
But if that sounds like too much, Poppins can take care of all these filings for $45 a month! We gather all the information we need from you during signup, generate your forms through our system, make all the appropriate tax calculations, and submit everything on your behalf.
California household employers are required to provide all household employees with a written wage notice at the time of hire. You are required to complete the form and have your employee sign two copies – one for their records and one for the employee’s records.
You are not required by law to have a full written employment agreement with your nanny or household employee. Still, it is a really good idea to have a written employment agreement with your employee.
A written employment agreement spells out the obligations of both parties, including hours, compensation, duties, benefits and PTO. This is really important if the relationship doesn’t work out, and there is ever a dispute. Just as important, it helps you discuss the important issues with your employee at the outset. This way you make sure you have a good relationship and understanding before you even start.
If you decide to go this route, we’ve put together a Sample Nanny Contract. This should give you a good idea of the issues that are usually covered.
California’s minimum wage is $14.00 per hour. It will increase to $15.00 on January 1, 2023.
A number of municipalities in California require minimum wages higher than the state requirement.
California has different overtime rules depending on whether your employee lives with you and based on what type of work they perform. A “personal care attendant” is a domestic employee who spends at least 80% of their time caring for a child or elderly person.
Live-In - Personal Care Attendant |
|
---|---|
More than 9 hours in a day |
Must pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
More than 45 hours in a week |
Must pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
Live-Out - Personal Care Attendant |
|
---|---|
More than 9 hours in a day |
Must pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
More than 40 hours in a week (per FLSA) |
Must pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
Live-In - Other Domestic Workers |
|
---|---|
More than 9 hours in a day |
Must pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
More than 45 hours in a week |
Must pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
First 9 hours on the 6th or 7th consecutive day of work |
Must pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
More than 9 hours on the 6th or 7th consecutive day of work |
Must pay 2 times hourly rate |
Live-Out - Other Domestic Workers |
|
---|---|
More than 8 hours in a day |
Must Pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
More than 12 hours in a day |
Must Pay 2 times hourly rate |
More than 40 Hours in a Week (per FLSA) |
Must Pay 1.5 times hourly rate |
More than 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day of work |
Must Pay 2 times hourly rate |
Your employee is entitled to minimum wage and overtime regardless of whether they are paid hourly or salary. If they are paid by salary, it is best practice to document the hours worked (and the pay rate) included in the salary amount.
California law requires employers to give employees an itemized paystub with every paycheck. With Poppins Payroll, you can have paystubs emailed directly to your employee every payday.
California household employees have the right to be paid at least twice a month.
All California employers are required by law to have workers' compensation insurance. Workers' comp insurance provides benefits to your employee in the event of an on-the-job injury. It can also limit an employer’s liability.
Your homeowner’s policy may already provide you with some workers’ compensation coverage. You should contact your insurer to determine whether you need to add workers’ compensation coverage for your household employee. If you do not already have coverage, you can obtain coverage through the State Compensation Insurance Fund.
California employers must reimburse employees if they are required to drive their own vehicle on the job (not including commuting to and from work). You can use the current federal mileage reimbursement rate. Mileage reimbursement is not considered taxable compensation.
California household employers must comply with the following sick leave requirements:
Several California municipalities have their own paid sick leave requirements that provide additional benefits to employees. The cities of Berkeley, Emeryville, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Monica have additional sick leave requirements.
California employers must also track and report their employee’s sick leave every pay period. With Poppins, you can track sick leave and PTO in our system and it’ll automatically be included on your employee’s pay stub.
Household employers in California are required to provide a Change in Relationship Notice to their employee at the time they are fired or laid off.
You must provide a copy of the following notice and pamphlets to each employee to explain employees’ benefit rights:
For Your Benefit: California’s Programs for the Unemployed (DE 2320) provides information on Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance, Paid Family Leave, and Workforce Services benefits available to the employee.
Disability Insurance Provisions (DE 2515) outlines DI benefits.
Paid Family Leave (DE 2511) outlines PFL benefits.
All employers are required to post a number of notices for the benefit of their employees.
Household employers must keep accurate records of hours worked by employees and wages paid on an ongoing basis. These records must be kept for at least 3 years. With Poppins, we’ll keep all this information in your online filing cabinet, which you’ll be able to access even after you’re not using us to run your payroll.
Poppins Payroll® happily presents an easier way to handle taxes and payroll for nannies, housekeepers, senior caregivers and anyone else you employ in your home. Turns out you don’t have to empty your wallet to run a perfect payroll.