Paid your nanny before setting up payroll? We can help.

Wages paid outside of payroll are still taxable. As a household employer, you're responsible for Social Security, Medicare, and federal and state unemployment taxes on those wages. In most cases, interest and penalties can increase over time — a tax professional can advise on your specific situation. Poppins can help you get on the right track without the stress of figuring it out alone.

Yes. The IRS requires household employers to pay employment taxes on wages paid to household employees above applicable thresholds. For 2026, Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) generally apply once you've paid an employee $3,000 or more in annual cash wages, while federal unemployment taxes (FUTA) may apply if you've paid $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter. Most states apply similar thresholds for state employment taxes. These figures are reviewed annually and subject to change, so consult IRS.gov or a tax professional for the most current amounts. This includes wages paid before payroll was set up. The good news is that many families in this situation successfully get on track, and Poppins has helped a lot of them do it.

That's common. There are a couple of ways to handle it — Poppins will walk you through your options and help you choose the approach that works best for your situation.

It depends on your situation. If you're coming from another payroll provider, we'll need a pay stub for each pay period. If you set up payroll yourself and withheld taxes, we'll need your payroll records including a breakdown of taxes, hours, and pay rates. If you didn't withhold taxes, we'll ask for a weekly breakdown of hours and rates. Our team will walk you through exactly what's needed after you sign up.

Poppins handles the preparation of required federal and state payroll tax filings where applicable, and requirements vary by state. For any prior federal quarterly taxes owed, we'll calculate the amount due and provide payment instructions, you'll submit that payment directly to the IRS. Our team will walk you through each step so nothing falls through the cracks.

Fees are based on the complexity of your situation: how many prior quarters are involved, your state's requirements, and whether prior tax payments have already been made. We'll review the details and give you a clear quote before any work begins.

You can reach out or create an account without any commitment. But to have Poppins handle your prior wages documentation, you will need to be an active subscriber. Most families who come to us for prior wages stay on for ongoing payroll, which makes it easy to keep your household payroll on track going forward.