Mike and Joyce R. hired a caregiver to help Mike’s mom at home when she came to live with them after her husband passed away. They agreed with the caregiver at the time that they were going to pay her $500 a week off the books. She worked out wonderfully and she stayed with Mike’s mom for almost three years, and was let go with a generous severance when Mike’s mom had to enter a nursing home.

Every American dreads this date.  APRIL 15th!  We see images of adding machine tape, lines at the post office, and piles of tax receipts. January is the month household employers deliver W-2 forms to their nanny, housekeeper and other household employees. After a month of frantic phone calls from employers and caregivers alike pleading for tax help, I can offer the following reflections: