Governments are recognizing the need to ensure household employees are paid a living wage and slowly phasing in wage increases over a series of years.  Effective January 1, 2022, minimum wage will be increasing in many states and cities across the country.  As longtime advocates for fair and legal pay, we believe this is long overdue!

Topics: senior care, nanny, agency, senior, CPA

Updated 29 December 2021

Every year HomeWork Solutions prepares a summary of new or updated household employment tax laws and benefit information.

HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYEE 2022 WAGE BASE:

The IRS annually reviews, and adjusts as necessary, the wage payment threshold that obligates a family to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes.  These tax withholdings are reported annually on a W-2.  This threshold will increase to $2,400 for 2022.

Topics: nanny, agency, senior, CPA

Hiring a nanny is a very personal decision that requires research. Investing time in interviews to get to know potential nannies and their experience is key to finding the right match. Fortunately, there are a few different types of specialty nannies out there that have specific areas of expertise.

Topics: nanny agency, nanny, nanny payroll tax, nanny tax, live-in nanny, live-in caregiver, temporary nanny, newborn care specialist, Special Needs

If you are hiring a nanny or caregiver to work in your home, offering a competitive compensation package with health insurance is important. However, the details surrounding health insurance coverage can get confusing. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Topics: nanny, agency, senior, CPA

Let’s face it- no one enjoys paying taxes. As a household employer, you set a budget for employment costs and seek out the most highly qualified employee within that budget. Don’t be surprised by employment taxes, and don’t neglect an opportunity to minimize them by including forms of non-taxable compensation and benefits in an employment offer. By thinking beyond gross pay to total compensation, you can increase employee take-home pay and make a more attractive offer to your ideal candidate.

Topics: maid, nanny retention, nanny, caregiver, Senior Caregiver Payroll, agency, senior, CPA

One of the most important aspects of hiring a household employee is determining if they have any criminal history.  While some minor offenses might not be a deal breaker, it’s important to have a full picture of who your candidates are so you can hire the right person for your family. Armed with a complete background check and employment verification, you can get your questions answered and make your hiring decision.

Topics: maid, nanny retention, nanny, caregiver, Senior Caregiver Payroll, senior

Establishing a regular recognition and reward system for your household employee(s) ensures that they feel valued and appreciated for their efforts. Paying a fair wage and benefits is the best way to show you respect and value your employee’s work, but when they go above and beyond, acknowledging them in a greater way is important. Here are some ways to recognize and reward your employee for a job well done.

Topics: maid, nanny retention, nanny, caregiver, Senior Caregiver Payroll, agency, senior, CPA

When your loved one has special needs, you may find yourself deciding between a specialized residential/daycare facility and care in your home. Between estimating costs, scheduling, and assessing needs, hiring a caregiver to work with your family member may feel like an overwhelming task. But as you dig deeper, you’ll find the benefits may just be worth it!

Topics: eldercare, Special Needs Trust, senior care, live-in caregiver, senior home care, Special Needs

Summer fun is coming to an end soon, and kids will be heading back to school before you know it. Transitioning from a summer schedule to an organized school environment can take some adjustment. Sometimes it can be difficult for children and parents, so here are some things to keep in mind to make things run as smoothly as possible.

Topics: nanny agency, nanny employment practices, nanny payroll tax, nanny job interview, childcare, nanny interview, nanny management, nanny job search

If you recently hired a household employee, you know that you have employment tax obligations. One of those is to pay Federal and State Unemployment Insurance tax. This benefit program is confusing to most, so here we will break down some essential things to know about it.

Topics: nanny w-2 form, household employee taxes, nanny undocumented, nanny unemployment insurance, nanny payroll, nanny benefits, W-4, pandemic