5 Tax Tips for Housekeepers
As a housekeeper, you work hard for your money, so make sure you're not leaving any of it on the table at tax time. Be sure to claim all possible tax deductions to minimize the taxes you may owe or to maximize your tax refund with these five tax tips.
Key Takeaways
- If you’re a housekeeper who works as an employee, you should receive a W-2 form from your employer. If you’re an independent contractor and you are providing services to a business, you should receive a 1099-NEC form if you earned $600 or more from a client.
- You’re required to report your earnings from housekeeping, whether you are an employee or self-employed, and whether you earned a little or a lot.
- You can deduct the costs you incur that are an ordinary and necessary expense of housekeeping on Schedule C to reduce the profit—or increase the loss—on which you'll calculate your taxes.
- Typical business expenses for a housekeeper include the cost and maintenance of uniforms, aprons and gloves used on the job, insurance, bonding or licensing fees, cleaning supplies and equipment, and auto expenses related to work.
1. Am I an employee or an independent contractor?
Whether a client hires you as an employee or you work as a self-employed independent contractor dictates what forms you have to file with your annual income tax return. One deciding factor is who controls how the work is done.
An employee-housekeeper generally arrives, cleans and finishes his or her duties at a time and in a manner dictated by the client.
- For example, if the client furnishes the cleaning materials, provides instructions on how to clean and sets your work schedule, you are likely an employee.
- Also, if you earn more than $2,700 in 2024 from a single housekeeping client, you may be an employee for tax purposes.
However, if you're generally on your own in performing your duties and you supply your own tools of the trade—mops, brooms, sponges and cleaning products—the IRS is likely to consider you a self-employed independent contractor.
2. What IRS forms should I look out for?
Housekeepers who are considered employees should receive a W-2 form from their employers.
If you're a self-employed independent contractor and you earned $600 or more in 2021 from a client, you might receive a 1099-NEC form.
The main difference for tax purposes is that a Form W-2 shows your employer paid part of your Social Security and Medicare taxes. In addition to paying these taxes on your behalf, an employer may also have to pay you overtime in some states.
Self-employed housekeepers are responsible for paying these taxes on their own.
TurboTax Tip:
Since having more than one house to clean is typical in the housekeeping world, you may receive multiple W-2s or 1099 forms in the mail shortly after the tax year ends. Be sure to include all income on your return, whether you receive these tax forms or not.
3. Do I have to report all housekeeping income?
You must report any amounts you earn from housekeeping, whether you're an employee or self-employed, and whether you earned a little or a lot. Also, if you are paid in cash, that is not a reason to underreport earnings or ignore paying taxes on that cash income.
Being paid on the record offers benefits, like accurate recordkeeping, Social Security benefits in the long term, and can help to build a trustworthy, professional relationship between you and your clients.
4. What if I have multiple clients?
Having more than one house to clean is typical in the housekeeping world. Expect to receive multiple W-2s or 1099 forms in the mail shortly after the tax year ends.
Keep in mind that you may not receive all of these forms depending on how much you earned, so carefully keep track of your earnings from each client to avoid underreporting income.
5. What can I write off?
Deducting expenses from your housekeeping income is one perk of working for yourself. Deductible business expenses include:
- cost and maintenance of uniforms, aprons and gloves used on the job
- insurance, bonding or licensing fees you pay to a trade organization or insurer
- cleaning supplies and equipment
- gas or mileage related to work
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