Simple household payroll. Your first month's on us!2

We’ll take payroll and tax filings off your plate for just $49/month1.

Get started for free

Just one single plan

No complicated tiers or add-ons. Cancel anytime.

$49/mo1

Includes:
Employer setup: EIN, state, and local account registration
New-hire reporting for your employee
Option to pay by direct deposit or your own check
Communication with tax agencies
Flexible pay schedules (dependent on state requirements)
Automated payroll with easy online dashboard to make changes
PTO and sick leave tracking after you've set up policies
Year-end documentation (Schedule H and W2) for active customers
Quarterly state and federal tax filings for active customers
Dedicated support from our Boulder-based team of experts
Our guarantee

The Poppins promise

We take care of the details. So you can focus on what really matters.

5 Compliance you can count on

Doing it right, made easy

We turn complex household tax rules into child’s play—handling forms and deadlines so you stay in the clear.

6 Accuracy you can count on

Precise where it counts

Numbers are our jam. Every paycheck, every tax filing, and every payment—accurate and on-time.

7 Fair, transparent pricing

Fair, transparent pricing

We believe in “what’s fair and square.” That means a simple, low monthly rate with no setup costs. Cancel anytime.

8 Peace of mind, start to finish

Peace of mind, start to finish

Tax talk can be, well, taxing. Rest easy knowing we’ve got real humans ready to help you in seconds.

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Comparison

How Poppins compares

No contracts. One flat monthly price1. Cancel anytime.

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Poppins Payroll1

Care.com HomePay2

SurePayroll3

Homework Solutions4

Customer rating5

4.9/5

4.8/5

4.1/5

4.4/5

Free trial

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Federal tax account setup

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$120 combined for federal & state

State tax account setup & agency communication

Free

Free

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$120 combined for federal & state

Direct deposit

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Lifetime access to payroll and tax records

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Premium phone & email support

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Phone & email support for your employees

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Additional employee

$10/per month

Up to $28 per month2

$10/per month

$69/per quarter

Year-end tax filings

Free

$1002

From $553

$125 per employee4

Subscription cost

$49/month

$75/month

$39/month

$83/month

Get started for free
Disclaimers
  1. Poppins Payroll’s estimated annual cost is based on a $49/month plan and includes one employee. New clients receive free service through the end of the calendar month in which they sign up. Total reflects 11 months of paid service. Bank account required at sign-up. Plan auto-renews monthly unless canceled. The $49 subscription fee does not include the preparation or submission of quarterly or year-end tax filings, payments, or documents (including W-2, W-3, and Schedule H) if your account is closed before the end of a quarter or calendar year. Additional fees may apply for state registrations and certain non-standard services, such as insufficient funds, account reactivation, back-tax calculations, late payroll revisions, or manual tax preparation. These fees may apply to both active and inactive accounts.
  2. Care.com offers multiple service tiers. This estimate is based on the Premium plan, which is most comparable to Poppins’ base plan, at $75/month with a first month free offer for new clients, plus a $100 fee for year-end documents (e.g., Schedule H, W-2s) for active clients. These fees are publicly listed on care.com as of July 2025. Additional employee fees vary by care type and plan tier. This estimate does not include limited-time fees, promotions, or discounts.
  3. As of July 2025, SurePayroll’s estimated annual cost is based on a $39/month plan that includes one employee, and additional year-end document fees of $50 for employer Schedule H, and $5 per W-2 for employees. This estimate does not include limited-time fees, promotions or discounts.
  4. As of July 2025, HomeWork Solutions pricing is $249/quarter for bi-weekly payroll, totaling $996/year for one employee. Each additional employee costs $69/quarter. A $120 enrollment fee applies. Year-end documents (e.g., W-2s, Schedule H) cost $125 per employee, even for active clients. This estimate does not include limited-time fees, promotions or discounts.
  5. Customer ratings are based on 3rd party review platforms as of July 8, 2025. Ratings for Poppins, Care.com Homepay, and HomeWork Solutions come from Google. Ratings for SurePayroll come from Capterra.

Why 65,000+ customers love Poppins

"Excellent service. The customer service representatives go above and beyond. They are the best I've encountered."

Waj Ahmed, NY

"Really like this small business. They go above and beyond with their service and also to great lengths to explain things. They helped sort out a year in which I'd missed recording payment, and got me back on track. Can't say enough good things about them!"

Angela M, VA

“Poppins is amazing. It works exactly as advertised and has excellent customer service. A great option for parents who want to be able to use their Dependent Care FSA for a private babysitter or nanny.”

Alice Veksler, VA

“Outstanding customer service from everyone we interacted with. When combined with the very fair pricing, Poppins Payroll gets an enthusiastic “two thumbs up” from us.”

Richard Birney, RI

"We've used Poppins for the past 5 years for our nanny. They took care of all the payroll, tax withdrawals, and tax forms so I didn't have to worry about a thing. Very prompt, very responsible, and worth the minor fee!"

Teagan Phelan, MA

"We had a nanny for five years, and used Poppins from day one. Not having to worry about calculating, filing, or making payments on my own was totally worth it."

Kirk Roberts, VA

"100/10 would recommend! Poppins has saved my sanity. The last time we used a nanny, I did all of the taxes myself. It was such a headache. I was thrilled to find Poppins this time around. It's affordable, easy-to-use, and allows me to spend time with my kids. So worth it!"

Alyx Williams, UT

"Simply the best payroll service. Competitively priced and the team go above and beyond to provide great service. I've used other payroll services and would recommend Poppins above others."

Johanna, NY

"Poppins is a super simple tax resource for this New Yorker who doesn’t have what it takes to follow tax law on his lonesome. Payroll, quarterly tax payments, tax prep, Poppins does it all."

Jonathan Eshleman, NY

"Jordan from Poppins made my experience great. He literally took care of everything when IRS gave me the run around. Cannot recommend Poppins enough!"

Imogene Wilson, CT

"I used Poppins Payroll for several years to pay caregivers for my parents. The service was fast, professional, and practically perfect. Would highly recommend this for anyone who needs to pay household employees."

Andy, MA

"We needed help with some payroll- and tax-related matters two years after we used Poppins. They provided prompt, friendly, and effective help. You can't go wrong with them!"

Victor F, CA

FAQs

Got questions? We’ve got answers.

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Customer help center
What is included for $49 a month¹?

The $49/month subscription fee includes household payroll services for one employee. It covers payroll processing, tax payments, quarterly filings, and year-end tax documents (W-2, W-3, and Schedule H) for active accounts.

Poppins handles federal and state tax account registrations as required, based on applicable employment laws and thresholds. You can manage payroll through your personalized dashboard — choosing weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly pay schedules (unless restricted by state rules).

We can process payments by direct deposit or you can issue checks (or electronic transfers) yourself. At the end of each quarter, we’ll collect the applicable state and federal taxes and submit them along with all required reports.

If your account is closed before the end of a quarter or calendar year, preparation or submission of those filings will be billed separately. Additional fees may apply for state registrations, amended filings, or prior-period payroll adjustments.

Who counts as a household employee?

Nannies, babysitters, and most in-home childcare providers are household employees because you determine their schedule, workplace, and responsibilities.

How much can I pay my nanny before I owe taxes?

If you pay more than $2,800 in a year or $1,000 in a quarter, you must pay Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes, plus any state-specific taxes.

Is Poppins nationwide?

Yes! Poppins is available in every state in the US, with experts who know the ins and outs of every state’s rules.

Why shouldn’t I just pay under the table?

Legal pay gives your nanny benefits like Social Security and Medicare credits, unemployment insurance, and in some states, disability or paid family leave — while protecting you from fines or legal issues.

Does Poppins handle small business payroll?

We specialize in household payroll only — it’s a different world from business payroll. For small businesses, we recommend our trusted partner, Gusto.

What forms does my nanny need to complete?

Your nanny must fill out Form I-9 (to verify work eligibility) and Form W-4 (for federal tax elections), plus any state tax forms. Poppins provides and guides you through them.

Do I need a written contract with my nanny?

Some states require one, but even if yours doesn’t, a written agreement is highly recommended. Poppins provides sample contracts you can customize.

How early should I sign up for Poppins Payroll before my nanny starts?

You can create your Poppins account any time before your nanny’s first paycheck.

We recommend completing full onboarding about one week before your nanny’s start date. This includes linking a valid U.S. bank account and adding your employee’s information.

Giving yourself that week ensures everything is ready before the first payroll run. Since Poppins processes payroll in arrears, your nanny will be paid one full week after the work week is completed.

Will Poppins handle all my tax filings?

Yes. For active customers, we prepare, file, and pay all required federal, state, and local taxes on time, every time, with guaranteed accuracy. Plus, we also handle year-end W-2s and employer forms for active customers.

If I’m in a nanny share, do all the families have to pay nanny taxes?

Yes. Each family is considered a separate household employer. That means each sets up their own Poppins account and issues their own W-2s. We’ll guide you through it step by step.

What if I’m in a nanny share and I need to pay two different hourly rates?

We’ve got you covered. You can set multiple hourly rates (plus overtime and reimbursements) right in your dashboard.

Why should I use a payroll provider that specializes in household employers?

Because household payroll is trickier than business payroll. We focus only on families like yours, so we know the rules inside out — from overtime laws to PTO accruals.