Household employee
I received a w2 for being a caregiver for my mom, box 14 says house hold employee? What does that mean? Do I have to pay taxes none were taken out and I work for mom
Help?
Answers
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Hi Godislove23,
You may or may not have a filing requirement depending on what if any amount is reported in box 1 of your W-2. See page 9 of Publication 17 referenced above.'
A W-2 is issued by an employer. Here are some questions to consider because it is hard to directly answer your question without more details.
Who hired you? Your mom? Another family member? Or a state agency? Perhaps a county home health service?
Special rules apply to workers who perform in-home services for elderly or disabled individuals (caregivers). Caregivers are typically employees of the individuals for whom they provide services because they work in the homes of the elderly or disabled individuals and these individuals have the right to tell the caregivers what needs to be done.
Since you are a family member, the employer needs to report your compensation on a Form W-2.
Box 14 is often a 'catch-all' box. You may need to call the person or agency that issued your W-2 for more clarification.
There's also something called Difficult-of-Care payments. Does that sound familiar?
Certain Medicaid waiver payments are treated as difficulty-of-care payments when received by an individual care provider for caring for an eligible individual living in the provider's home. This income is considered non-taxable for income tax purposes, but may be included for eligibilty of the Earned Income Credit.
