Understanding Your Role When Hiring a Household Worker

When you hire someone to work in your home, whether it’s a nanny, housekeeper, or caregiver, someone must legally be the employer. In most cases, that someone is you.

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As we wrap up 2025, many families are taking stock of the year and planning ahead for the holiday season. For household employers, this is an ideal time to recognize the important role your nanny, senior caregiver, or other in-home employee plays in your daily life.

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If you're hiring a nanny, senior caregiver, housekeeper, or any other in-home employee, understanding your responsibilities as a household employer is key to staying compliant with federal employment laws. Two terms you’re likely to encounter in the hiring process are Form I-9 and E-Verify.

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Whether you're employing a nanny, senior caregiver, or housekeeper, understanding when your employee is on the clock—and legally entitled to be paid—is an essential part of running a compliant household payroll.

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A new federal tax law passed this summer, and it includes a provision that could include tax savings for household employees—but only if you know the detail. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) includes a “No Tax on Overtime” rule, and although it doesn't directly change household payroll practices, it does impact tax reporting and employee tax credits.

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The 2025 Open Enrollment Period for health insurance is nearly here — and it’s an important time to check your coverage.

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Hiring someone to work in your home—whether it’s a nanny caring for your children, a caregiver supporting an elderly parent, or a housekeeper helping manage your household—means stepping into the role of a household employer. Along with that role comes the responsibility of handling payroll correctly, including understanding what you’re allowed to deduct from your employee’s paycheck.

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If you employ an in-home worker like a nanny, senior caregiver, housekeeper, or private chef, understanding how to classify your worker correctly is crucial. Classification affects your obligations as an employer—especially when it comes to taxes.

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Hiring someone to work in your home—whether a nanny, senior caregiver, or housekeeper—comes with responsibilities. One of the most important is verifying that your employee is legally authorized to work in the U.S. That starts with completing Form I-9, but in some states, there's an extra step: using E-Verify.

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When families begin considering in-home care—whether for a child or an aging loved one—questions about costs come up quickly. One of the most common: Are these expenses tax deductible? The answer is: sometimes, yes. But it depends on your situation and the type of care provided.

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