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CareTax vs SurePayroll
A factual comparison of CareTax and Paychex SurePayroll Nanny for household employers.
In one sentence
SurePayroll is a small-business platform with nanny support that files for you. CareTax is built only for household payroll and costs roughly one-tenth as much.
CareTax and SurePayroll (a Paychex company) both support household employers, but they differ significantly in scope and price. SurePayroll is a full-service payroll platform designed for small businesses that also supports nanny payroll: it processes payroll, files federal and state taxes, and moves money on your behalf. CareTax is a focused calculation and record-keeping tool for household employers — it covers all 50 states' nanny tax rules, produces reference documents, and gives you exportable records, but you handle filing and payment yourself. SurePayroll is built for employers who want end-to-end automation; CareTax is built for employers who want accurate, transparent numbers at a lower cost.
Feature & Pricing Comparison
Pricing and features as of April 2026— verify on the provider's site.
| Feature | CareTax | SurePayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage (states) | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Pricing | Free tier; paid plans from $5.99/mo or $49.99/yr | ~$39/month for nanny payroll (see provider site) |
| Pay run calculations | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tax withholding calculations | ✓ federal and state | ✓ federal and state |
| Year-end docs (W-2/W-3/Schedule H) | Reference docs (paid plan) | W-2s issued; additional year-end fees apply |
| Filing on your behalf | — you file | Yes (full-service plan) |
| Direct deposit / payments | — | ✓ free 2-day direct deposit |
| State registration help | Guides provided; you register | Available |
| Free tier | ✓ up to 2 saved pay runs | — |
When to Choose Each
Choose CareTax if…
- You want household-specific tax logic for all 50 states in a tool built solely for nanny employers, not adapted from a small-business platform.
- You are comfortable making quarterly tax deposits yourself and want to keep annual costs well under $100.
- You want to see a full breakdown of FICA, FUTA, SUTA, and state withholding before you pay anything.
Choose SurePayrollif…
- You want a single platform to run payroll, make direct deposits, and file taxes automatically without any manual steps.
- You prefer a well-known brand backed by Paychex with phone support and a long track record in small-business payroll.
- Your household payroll situation is complex — multiple employees, multiple states — and you want a large provider managing compliance.
- You also have small-business employees and want one platform for both.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is CareTax cheaper than SurePayroll?
- Yes, for most households. SurePayroll's nanny payroll is approximately $39/month; verify current pricing on their site. CareTax's annual plan is $49.99/year. The cost difference reflects scope: SurePayroll files taxes and moves money on your behalf; CareTax gives you the calculations and you handle filings yourself.
- Does CareTax file taxes for me?
- No. CareTax calculates withholdings, employer taxes, and generates reference documents (W-2, W-3, Schedule H). You submit forms and make tax deposits to the IRS and your state directly.
- Can I switch from SurePayroll to CareTax mid-year?
- Yes. Request a year-to-date payroll and tax summary from SurePayroll, then enter those figures into CareTax to continue accurately for the rest of the tax year. CareTax supports YTD entry for mid-year transitions.
New here? See state guides, the glossary, or our methodology.