Do I owe nanny tax in Washington?

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. Washington state unemployment kicks in once you exceed the state's wage threshold - typically the first $78,200 of wages.

What is the Washington SUI rate for a new household employer?

New household employers in Washington start at 1%, applied to the first $78,200 of each employee's wages per year. Your rate can change once the state assigns you an experience rating, usually after 2–3 years.

Does Washington require Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)?

Yes. Washington requires PFML contributions totaling 1.13% of wages up to $184,500 per employee. The employee share is 0.78% and the employer share is 0.35%.

Do I withhold state income tax for a nanny in Washington?

No. Washington has no state income tax, so you do not withhold state income tax from your household employee's paychecks. You still withhold federal income tax if your employee requests it on Form W-4, plus federal FICA.

What forms do I need to file for a household employee in Washington?

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 Washington: 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 Washington state portals.

What is Schedule H, and when do I file it?

Schedule H is an IRS form that household employers file annually with their personal Form 1040 to report Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, and withheld federal income taxes paid to household employees. It is due by April 15 (or the extended deadline if you file for an extension). The IRS covers Schedule H in detail in Publication 926. CareTax includes Schedule H references for every saved pay run.

What if I pay my nanny less than $3,000 in a year?

If total cash wages to a single household employee fall below the federal FICA threshold ($3,000 in 2026; verify the current figure in IRS Publication 926), you generally do not owe Social Security and Medicare taxes for that employee. FUTA still applies if you pay $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter, regardless of the annual total. State thresholds may differ, so check your state's unemployment agency rules as well.

Is my nanny an employee or an independent contractor?

Nannies are almost always W-2 household employees under IRS common-law rules because the family controls when, where, and how the work is performed. Classifying a nanny as a 1099 independent contractor is one of the most common audit risks for household employers. IRS Publication 926 explains the employee vs. contractor distinction in detail. CareTax is built for W-2 household employees and walks you through correct classification.

Can I pay my nanny in cash and skip taxes?

The method of payment — cash, check, or bank transfer — does not change your tax obligations. Cash wages paid to a household employee are still wages and must be reported to the IRS and your state. Failing to withhold and remit payroll taxes can result in back taxes, substantial penalties, and personal liability for the employer. CareTax tracks every pay run so your records are complete regardless of how you pay.

What if I have more than one household employee?

The $3,000 FICA threshold applies per employee, so you evaluate each worker separately to determine whether federal Social Security and Medicare taxes apply. The $1,000-per-quarter FUTA threshold, however, is aggregated across all household employees combined. Each employee requires their own W-2 and is reported separately on Schedule H. CareTax supports multiple household employees within a single account.

Washington Nanny Tax Guide 2026

Reviewed by the CareTax editorial team · Last updated February 10, 2026

Quick Facts

Item	Value	Notes
Minimum Wage	$17.13/hr	$17.13/hr statewide; Seattle $21.30
Pay Frequency	Monthly minimum
Overtime Rules	1.5x after 40 hrs/week; live-in exempt
Record Retention	4 years

Unemployment Insurance

Registration: Register online

Paid Family & Medical Leave

Program: Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)

1hr/40hrs; 40hr carryover; monthly balance notice; Yes -- payroll tax withholding; 820+ hrs in prior 4 qtrs; up to 12 weeks; 0.58% payroll tax

Item	Value
Employer Contribution	Yes
Employee Contribution	Yes
Max Weeks	12 weeks

Paid Sick Leave

Accrual Rate: 1hr/40hrs worked

Annual Cap: 40 hr carryover

1hr/40hrs; 40hr carryover; monthly balance notice; Yes -- payroll tax withholding; 820+ hrs in prior 4 qtrs; up to 12 weeks; 0.58% payroll tax

New Hire Reporting

Deadline: Within 20 days of hire

Special Requirements

0.58% payroll tax for long-term care

Required Forms

Washington state form

Purpose: State compliance

Key Deadlines

Deadline	Date	Description	Frequency
New Hire Reporting	Within 20 days of hire	Report new employees within 20 days to the state	at-event

State Agencies

Sources

Poppins Payroll State Resources

Frequently asked

Do I owe nanny tax in Washington?: 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. Washington state unemployment kicks in once you exceed the state's wage threshold - typically the first $78,200 of wages.
What is the Washington SUI rate for a new household employer?: New household employers in Washington start at 1%, applied to the first $78,200 of each employee's wages per year. Your rate can change once the state assigns you an experience rating, usually after 2–3 years.
Does Washington require Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)?: Yes. Washington requires PFML contributions totaling 1.13% of wages up to $184,500 per employee. The employee share is 0.78% and the employer share is 0.35%.
Do I withhold state income tax for a nanny in Washington?: No. Washington has no state income tax, so you do not withhold state income tax from your household employee's paychecks. You still withhold federal income tax if your employee requests it on Form W-4, plus federal FICA.
What forms do I need to file for a household employee in Washington?: 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 Washington: 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 Washington state portals.
What is Schedule H, and when do I file it?: Schedule H is an IRS form that household employers file annually with their personal Form 1040 to report Social Security, Medicare, FUTA, and withheld federal income taxes paid to household employees. It is due by April 15 (or the extended deadline if you file for an extension). The IRS covers Schedule H in detail in Publication 926. CareTax includes Schedule H references for every saved pay run.
What if I pay my nanny less than $3,000 in a year?: If total cash wages to a single household employee fall below the federal FICA threshold ($3,000 in 2026; verify the current figure in IRS Publication 926), you generally do not owe Social Security and Medicare taxes for that employee. FUTA still applies if you pay $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter, regardless of the annual total. State thresholds may differ, so check your state's unemployment agency rules as well.
Is my nanny an employee or an independent contractor?: Nannies are almost always W-2 household employees under IRS common-law rules because the family controls when, where, and how the work is performed. Classifying a nanny as a 1099 independent contractor is one of the most common audit risks for household employers. IRS Publication 926 explains the employee vs. contractor distinction in detail. CareTax is built for W-2 household employees and walks you through correct classification.
Can I pay my nanny in cash and skip taxes?: The method of payment — cash, check, or bank transfer — does not change your tax obligations. Cash wages paid to a household employee are still wages and must be reported to the IRS and your state. Failing to withhold and remit payroll taxes can result in back taxes, substantial penalties, and personal liability for the employer. CareTax tracks every pay run so your records are complete regardless of how you pay.
What if I have more than one household employee?: The $3,000 FICA threshold applies per employee, so you evaluate each worker separately to determine whether federal Social Security and Medicare taxes apply. The $1,000-per-quarter FUTA threshold, however, is aggregated across all household employees combined. Each employee requires their own W-2 and is reported separately on Schedule H. CareTax supports multiple household employees within a single account.