MI · State Guide · Tax year 2026

Michigan nanny tax guide

Everything you need to pay a nanny, caregiver, or household employee legally in Michigan— the rates CareTax uses to calculate your pay runs, the forms you'll file, and the state portals you'll file them through.

SUI (new employer)

2.7%

On first $9,000

SDI

None

PFML

None

State income tax

4.25%

Flat rate

Minimum wage

$13.73/hr

Workers' comp

Not required

Quick Facts

ItemValueNotes
Minimum Wage$13.73/hr$13.73/hr (Jan 1, 2026)
Pay FrequencyTwice monthly
Overtime Rules1.5x after 40 hrs/week; live-in exempt
Record Retention3 years

State Income Tax

Withholding Form: MI-W4

Unemployment Insurance

Registration: Register online

Workers' Compensation

Threshold: 35+ hrs/week for 13+ consecutive weeks

Paid Sick Leave

Accrual Rate: 1hr/30hrs worked

Annual Cap: 40 hrs paid + 32 hrs unpaid

Yes -- 1hr/30hrs; 40 hrs paid + 32 hrs unpaid (eff Feb 21, 2025)

New Hire Reporting

Deadline: Within 20 days of hire

Report Online: File report

Required Forms

Form MI-W4

Michigan state income tax withholding form

Purpose: Employee completes for state tax withholding

Key Deadlines

DeadlineDateDescriptionFrequency
New Hire ReportingWithin 20 days of hireReport new employees within 20 days to the stateat-event

State Agencies

Sources

Frequently asked

Do I owe nanny tax in Michigan?
If you pay a household employee $3,000 or more in 2026, you owe federal FICA (Social Security and Medicare). If you pay $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter, you owe FUTA. Michigan state unemployment kicks in once you exceed the state's wage threshold — typically the first $9,000 of wages.
What is the Michigan SUI rate for a new household employer?
New household employers in Michigan start at 2.7%, applied to the first $9,000 of each employee's wages per year. Your rate can change once the state assigns you an experience rating, usually after 2–3 years.
How much state income tax do I withhold for a Michigan nanny?
Michigan applies a flat 4.25% state income tax. You withhold this from each paycheck after applying any state standard deduction or exemptions based on your employee's state withholding certificate.
What forms do I need to file for a household employee in Michigan?
Federally: Schedule H (filed with your personal Form 1040), W-2 and W-3 (given to your employee and filed with the SSA), and quarterly EFTPS deposits if your liability exceeds $1,000/year. In Michigan: new-hire reporting, quarterly SUI filings, and any required state income tax withholding returns. CareTax generates all federal reference documents and points you to the Michigan state portals.