For those do-it-yourselfers out there, the internet has made it possible to do just about any type of business function without leaving the house these days.  If you have a nanny and would like to remain friends with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), then this is the site for you.  You can handle the business of having a nanny without finding a shirt that doesn’t have encrusted food on it to visit your accountant.  There is a fee for the service, of course, but those tax penalties can be pretty steep. 

In checking this out, I realized that being a nanny is big business.  They have a professional association with a board, and they are a pretty educated group overall.  This is good for us as parents, because even though it drives the cost up, we have some reassurances that these are professionals caring for our kids.  Or, you can just do what we do and suck the life out of your extended family.  Whatever works.  Just be sure you pay the employment taxes.

Didn’t realize you were supposed to pay taxes for your nanny?  Check out this site for information on how to get started.  It was recommended by a mom I know from a listserv, and she swears by it.  The idea seems better than getting dressed up in something that doesn’t have drool stains to visit and pay an accountant. 

And check out the professional association.  Just browsing the website gave me a whole new perspective on this profession.  There are tips on good parent/nanny communications, and for nannies, information on how to survive leaving a family.  If you use a nanny or part-time caregiver, this site will give you valuable insights into their world.