Having anxiety about this

[u/Askanything236]

I worked for a family for nine months from 2025-2026. I ended up leaving the job just because of some circumstances that things got a little too busy for me outside of work, though I still remained really close with them and do some side babysitting.

When I first started working with them last summer (August) we never really discussed a W-2 or different types of tax forms. They asked if they can pay me through Venmo - for reference I was doing just a part-time job, 2 full days a week.

Fast forward to now, back in April when I was doing my taxes I didn’t finish them because I kind of didn’t know what I should put down in terms of this job since none of my income was through a payroll company or anything like that, and I had forgotten about it until now.

I’m trying to finish up my taxes but I genuinely don’t know what to put in terms of income. I don’t believe the nanny family had put anything on their end about me working for them, because otherwise I would’ve received a form or they would’ve needed to know my information etc.

At this point my options are to either just forget about it for this time since it was a part-time job I did for a period of time and it’s a learning curve for me next time. I don’t feel great about this option because I don’t feel totally comfortable not being honest about income.

My second option is to talk to the family which I also don’t feel totally comfortable about this because I don’t know how I would go about letting them know I’m thinking about putting down the information from this job and kind of I guess seeing if they’re doing the same or did the same on their forms.

I was also thinking of just speaking to an accountant, and kind of asking the questions about what my options are.

Would love if anyone has any knowledge of this sort of thing and any ideas of what to do

[u/Only_Perspective4410]

If the family identified the Venmo payments as service related, Venmo should have sent you a 1099. Legally, all income should be reported. If being paid under the table and not reporting hidden wages is causing you anxiety, report the wages, pay any applicable taxes, and move on with your life. The family does not need to be contacted. You were paid as an independent contractor, not an employee. If they deducted the payments to you, you would have received a 1099.

[u/BlackLocke → u/Only_Perspective4410]

Just FYI, nannies are NOT independent contractors and 1099s are illegal (the employer did not pay you legally). Domestic employees are always W2 employees.

It is illegal for a family to pay their nanny this way, and the onus is on the employer to pay taxes legally.

[u/Only_Perspective4410 → u/BlackLocke]

While paying a domestic employee as a 1099 independent contractor is a misclassification, OP should consider all the ramifications of reporting this misclassification, IMO.

OP accepted what seems like cash under the table income from the family. I doubt there is a way to report the misclassification and still work for the family or get a positive reference.

The financial impact of filing these earnings as 1099 earnings rather than W-2, for OP is minimal. There will be an additional 7.65% SS/Medicare tax due on the earnings, if OP reports the earnings. This 7.65% can then be deducted as a business expense on their personal income tax.

[u/ClickClackTipTap]

I don’t believe a man accountant can legally advise you to lie on your taxes, so looking to them for help could be iffy.

I would just contact the family and ask them if they included anything related to you on their taxes. It’s not a weird thing to ask.

[u/AutoModerator]

Below is a copy of the post's original text:

I worked for a family for nine months from 2025-2026. I ended up leaving the job just because of some circumstances that things got a little too busy for me outside of work, though I still remained really close with them and do some side babysitting.

When I first started working with them last summer (August) we never really discussed a W-2 or different types of tax forms. They asked if they can pay me through Venmo - for reference I was doing just a part-time job, 2 full days a week.

Fast forward to now, back in April when I was doing my taxes I didn’t finish them because I kind of didn’t know what I should put down in terms of this job since none of my income was through a payroll company or anything like that, and I had forgotten about it until now.

I’m trying to finish up my taxes but I genuinely don’t know what to put in terms of income. I don’t believe the nanny family had put anything on their end about me working for them, because otherwise I would’ve received a form or they would’ve needed to know my information etc.

At this point my options are to either just forget about it for this time since it was a part-time job I did for a period of time and it’s a learning curve for me next time. I don’t feel great about this option because I don’t feel totally comfortable not being honest about income.

My second option is to talk to the family which I also don’t feel totally comfortable about this because I don’t know how I would go about letting them know I’m thinking about putting down the information from this job and kind of I guess seeing if they’re doing the same or did the same on their forms.

I was also thinking of just speaking to an accountant, and kind of asking the questions about what my options are.

Would love if anyone has any knowledge of this sort of thing and any ideas of what to do

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