GeorgeM777
Expert Alumni

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

It depends on the situation.  Given the facts in your case, the person you have retained to walk your dog could be your employee.  It appears you are controlling their work, and deciding what hours they work.   Control of what is done, how it is done, and when it is done are important considerations when deciding whether someone is an employee.  

 

Does your dog walker have their own dog sitting/walking business?  That also could be a factor to consider whether they are your employee.  If such person were to hold themselves out as offering dog sitting/walking services, then they could be considered a self-employed person and not your employee.  

 

The IRS states the following with regard to workers who are not your employee:

Workers Who are Not Your Employees. If only the worker can control how the work is done, then the worker is not your employee but is a self-employed worker. A self-employed worker usually provides his or her own tools and offers services to the general public as an independent business.

Here is a link to the IRS webpage that discusses household employees.  If you decide that your dog walker is your employee, then you may have reporting obligations among other things.  Below is a link to the IRS webpage that discusses what you need to do when you hire an employee

 

Hiring Household Employees

Hiring Employees

 

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