Friday, September 7, 2018

4 QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE HIRING HOUSEHOLD HELP





W
hen you hire someone to work in your home, you may have specific tax obligations, such as withholding and paying Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes and possibly federal and state unemployment insurance. 

Here are four questions to ask before you say, “You’re hired.”

1. Who’s considered a household employee?
A household worker is someone you hire to care for your children or other live-in family members, clean your house, cook meals, do yard work or provide similar domestic services. But not everyone who works in your home is an employee.
For example, some workers are classified as independent contractors. These self-employed individuals typically provide their own tools, set their own hours, offer their services to other customers and are responsible for their own taxes. To avoid the risk of misclassifying employees, however, you may want to assume that a worker is an employee unless your tax advisor tells you otherwise.

2. When do I pay employment taxes?
You’re required to fulfill certain state and federal tax obligations for any person you pay $2,100 or more annually (in 2018) to do work in or around your house.
In addition, you’re required to pay the employer’s half of FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes and to withhold the employee’s half.  You must also pay federal unemployment taxes (FUTA) equal to 6% of the first $7,000 in cash wages. And, depending on your resident state, you may be required to make state unemployment contributions.

3. Are there exceptions?
Yes. You aren’t required to pay employment taxes on wages you pay to your spouse, your child under age 21, your parent (unless an exception is met) or an employee who is under age 18 at any time during the year, providing that performing household work isn’t the employee’s principal occupation.

4. How do I make tax payments?
You pay any federal employment and withholding taxes by attaching Schedule H to your Form 1040. You may have to pay state taxes separately and more frequently (usually quarterly). Keep in mind that this may increase your own tax liability at filing, though the Schedule H tax isn’t subject to estimated tax penalties.
If you owe FICA or FUTA taxes or if you withhold income tax from your employee’s wages, you need an employer identification number (EIN).
There’s no statute of limitations on the failure to report and remit federal payroll taxes. You can be audited by the IRS at any time and be required to pay back taxes, penalties and interest charges. Our firm can help ensure you comply with all the requirements.

At Debreczeni and Petrash we are fully prepared to take care of taxpayers, no matter the category they fall in.  If you are currently a client, rest assured that we will guide you through this process.  If you are not currently a client please visit www.Debreczeni-Petrash.com or call (440) 230-5660 and see if we are a good fit for your needs.