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New Member
posted Jun 4, 2019 6:43:04 PM

I paid my babysitter less than $2000 in 2017. Does that mean I do not have to give her a W-2?

I paid our babysitter less than $2000 cash in 2017. Does that mean I do not have to submit a W-2? 

Do I have to pay any taxes on what I paid her? Again, it was less than $2000.

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:06 PM

Yes. If you pay a "household employee", such as a baby sitter, less than $2000, you are exempt from the "nanny tax". You do not have to pay any tax or file schedule H.

The baby sitter is also exempt from FICA (social security and medicare) tax, but not income tax. 

12 Replies
Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:06 PM

Yes. If you pay a "household employee", such as a baby sitter, less than $2000, you are exempt from the "nanny tax". You do not have to pay any tax or file schedule H.

The baby sitter is also exempt from FICA (social security and medicare) tax, but not income tax. 

New Member
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:08 PM

No, you will not be required to issue your babysitter a W-2.

You must provide a Form W-2 if one of these is true:

  • You paid the employee at least $2,000 in 2017.
  • You paid the employee wages of any amount, and you withheld federal tax.

If you meet one of those rules, you must issue a W2 regardless of the age of the babysitter.

New Member
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:09 PM

With this situation, if we dont give a w2, can we still claim the<2000.00 as childcare expenses for our taxes?

Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:11 PM

Yes. But, you will have to provide the childcare provider's SS# to claim the dependent care credit

New Member
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:24 PM

Thanks!

Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:27 PM

And make sure your babysitter knows you are claiming the childcare credit.  She has to report her income from babysitting.  The iRS matches up what you claim you paid and what she reports on her own tax return.

Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:29 PM

Babysitter has to report it in any case.

Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:30 PM

Of course....but many people are unaware of that.  Don't want the babysitter to have a problem later.

Level 9
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:33 PM

It makes everything MUCH easier if you just give her an W-2.  It is easy to file.

Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:35 PM

Except for the fact that the deadline for supplying a 2017 W-2 is long past.

New Member
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:36 PM

Asking for 18, just found this conversation helpful and applicable.

Level 15
Jun 4, 2019 6:43:38 PM

You might want to review IRS pub 926 "Household Employer's Tax Guide"
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p926.pdf">https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p926.pdf</a>