Nanny Taxes in Utah

Household employers need to comply with tax, wage, and labor laws that affect nannies, in-home senior caregivers, and other household employees. While federal laws cover employers in all states, there are also state- and city-specific regulations that employers must follow. Here’s what you need to know about nanny taxes in Utah.

Utah Minimum Wage

Household employees must be paid at least the highest of the federal, state, or applicable local minimum wage rates. Utah hasn’t adopted a state minimum wage so the federal rate of $7.25/hour applies. Minors under the age of 18 can be paid $4.25/hour during the first 90 days of their employment before receiving an hourly rate at or above the minimum wage.

Overtime

Household employees in Utah are required to be paid at least time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a seven-day workweek. Overtime compensation is not required for live-in employees or when work is performed on a holiday.

Utah State Unemployment Tax & Rate

In Utah, the new employer SUI (state unemployment insurance) rate will be at least 0.30 percent on the first $47,000 of wages for each employee. Employers with previous employees may be subject to a different rate. This is an employer-only tax.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Household employers in Utah are required to have workers’ compensation coverage for any household employee who works 40 or more hours per week for the same employer. Get a quote on workers’ compensation insurance.

Final Pay

When a family terminates their household employee, all wages are due immediately and are payable within 24 hours of termination. To meet this requirement, a family can mail final pay to the worker with a postmark dated no more than one day after the date of termination; hand deliver the final paycheck to the employee; or initiate a direct deposit of the wages into the worker’s account within 24 hours of termination. If a family fails to pay wages due within 24 hours, their employee will continue to earn their wages (at the same rate as when terminated) until paid, or for 60 days, whichever comes first. When a household employee quits or resigns, all wages must be paid on the next regular payday.

Helpful Links for Nanny Taxes in Utah

Utah Labor Commission

Utah State Tax Commission

Federal Regulations

All household employers need to follow certain federal regulations including:

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Classification Guidelines

• Household workers are considered employees and not independent contractors. Learn more about misclassifying employees as independent contractors.
• Household workers are also non-exempt employees, which means they receive overtime pay of at least time-and-a-half for hours worked over 40 per workweek. Learn more about overtime pay.

FICA Taxes

Social Security and Medicare taxes are commonly referred to as FICA taxes. If you pay cash wages of $2,700 or more to any household employee in 2024 (or paid a domestic worker $2,600 or more in 2023), then you need to withhold and pay FICA taxes. FICA taxes are 15.3 percent of cash wages. As an employer, you pay 7.65 percent (6.2 percent for Social Security and 1.45 percent for Medicare). Your employee's share is also 7.65 percent, which you can withhold from their wages or choose to pay it yourself. You don't withhold or owe FICA taxes on wages you pay to your spouse, child under the age of 21, parent, or any employee under the age of 18 at any time during the calendar year.

Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)

If you pay a household employee total cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter, you'll owe federal unemployment tax. This is an employer-only tax. FUTA is six percent of cash wages on the first $7,000 you pay an employee.

Mileage Reimbursement

If your employee uses their own car in the course of their work, you can reimburse them for mileage. For 2024, the IRS has set the optional standard mileage rate at 67 cents per mile driven. Paying mileage is not mandatory or you can reimburse your employee at a different rate. However, if the cost of mileage causes your employee to fall below minimum wage, then you need to reimburse them for mileage.

GTM Can Help with Nanny Taxes in Utah

Call (800) 929-9213 for a free, no-obligation consultation with a household employment expert. We’ll answer all your questions and show you how to comply with wage, tax, and labor laws as a household employer. Or, if you’re ready to have GTM Payroll Services handle it all for you, get started with our nanny payroll and tax service.

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