Nanny tax & paycheck calculator
Pick your state and how you pay. See their take-home pay, what you withhold, and your employer taxes, with the forms you'll have to file. Uses 2026 federal and state rules.
Weekly gross
$1,000
$52,000/yr
Their take-home
$886
$46,070/yr
Your employer taxes
$118
$6,110/yr
Total cost to you
$1,118
$58,110/yr
Each paycheck
| Hours worked 40 h × $25.00. | $1,000.00 |
| Social Security 6.2% of gross wages. | −$62.00 |
| Medicare 1.45% of gross wages; no wage cap. | −$14.50 |
| CA State Disability Insurance / Paid Family Leave (SDI) 1.30% employee premium. | −$13.00 |
| California income tax California DE 4 percentage method: annualized wages $52,000.00, less standard deduction $5,706.00, → $46,294.00 taxable at 6.60% bracket = $1,443.78/yr, less credits $168.30 ÷ 52 periods. | −$24.53 |
| Take-home pay | $885.97 |
What you pay on top
| Social Security (employer) Employer match, same base as the employee share. | $62.00 |
| Medicare (employer) Employer match. | $14.50 |
| Federal unemployment (FUTA) 6.0% less a 5.4% credit for paying state unemployment tax on time, on the first $7,000.00 of wages each year. | $6.00 |
| California unemployment tax 3.40% on the first $7,000.00 of wages each year (DE 9 + DE 9C quarterly (or DE 3BHW quarterly wage report + DE 3HW annual return for household employers electing annual filing via DE 89), quarterly). Using the new-employer rate; replace with your rate notice. | $34.00 |
| CA Employment Training Tax (ETT) (employer) 0.10% employer premium. | $1.00 |
What you'll have to file in California
- Register with California Employment Development Department (EDD) once you pay register within 15 days of paying $750 or more in cash wages in a calendar quarter (sdi applies from $750; ui and ett apply once quarterly cash wages reach $1,000); file DE 9 + DE 9C quarterly (or DE 3BHW quarterly wage report + DE 3HW annual return for household employers electing annual filing via DE 89) quarterly.
- California income tax: withholding is voluntary for household employers.
- CA State Disability Insurance / Paid Family Leave (SDI): employee premium withheld each payday.
- CA Employment Training Tax (ETT): employee premium withheld each payday.
- W-2 to your nanny and W-3 to the SSA by Jan 31; Schedule H with your Form 1040.
- Minimum wage $16.90/h; paid sick leave is required. Workers' comp: Labor Code 3351(d) makes household workers (including child care) employees for workers' compensation; 3352(a)(8) excludes only workers employed (or contracted) for less than 52 hours or for no more than $100 in wages in the 90 days before injury. Coverage is commonly provided through a homeowner's/renter's policy endorsement—confirm with your insurer.
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Estimates for planning only, from the published 2026 rules for your state. Not tax advice. CareTab does not file or pay anything for you.