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Understanding Household Employment
Tax Credit for Summer Child Care
Are you hiring a summer nanny to care for your children? Or will you be taking advantage of the many day camp options available during the summertime school break? While temperatures and extra expenses seem to escalate quickly during the summer months, the IRS has...
More Minimum Wage Increases
Over the past two weeks, several minimum wage increases have been enacted around the country. Michigan Minimum wage will increase from $7.40 to $9.25 per hour over the next four years – an overall increase of 25%. The increase will occur in phases; beginning on...
Hiring a Nanny from Craigslist & Other Online Sites
Many people are familiar with online classified ad sites, such as Craigslist. These are low cost, easy to use, and work much like posting an ad on a college bulletin board or in the local newspaper. These sites also advertise local nannies and families looking for...
Nanny and Au Pair: What’s the Difference?
What is the difference between an au pair and a nanny? An au pair is a foreign national living in the United States as part of the host family, who receives a small stipend in exchange for babysitting and help with housework. Legally authorized to live and work (only...
Paying Your Nanny Off the Books: Not Worth the Risk
Many household employers mistakenly assume that because the employment of domestic work is within their own home, they are unlikely to get caught paying their employee illegally. Because there is a long history of household employment being paid in this way, many...
Home Office Tax Deduction for Domestic Employers
There is an option that makes it simpler for qualifying taxpayers to include a home office tax deduction. The IRS announced a simplified option that many owners of home-based businesses and some home-based workers may want to use to figure their deductions for the...
Life Insurance for Domestic Workers
Some employers offer life insurance for domestic workers. The main purpose of life insurance is to provide a death benefit to the nanny's (or other household employee) dependents or beneficiaries, in order to help replace lost income and protect against the financial...
Hiring a Senior Caregiver: Using an Agency
Hiring a senior caregiver can be just as important for a household employer as hiring a nanny; you are trusting the safety and well-being of a loved one to a stranger. Using an agency to hire a caregiver can help ease some concerns. When working with an agency, ensure...
Workers’ Compensation 101 for Household Employers
Do household employers need to have a workers’ compensation policy for their nanny? Depending on the state in which you reside, you may be required by law to provide and maintain Workers’ Compensation coverage for your nanny or other household employee. In some states...
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