HomePay is one of the oldest names in nanny payroll. The underlying business, Breedlove & Associates, has been handling household employment taxes since 1992. Care.com acquired Breedlove in 2012 and rebranded the service as HomePay.
The household employer market is meaningful: the IRS Form 1040 statistics show roughly 200,000 Schedule H filings per year, and that's just the families who file. So how much should this cost you? At $75/month for HomePay Plus or $59/month for Essentials, are they worth it in 2026?
What Is HomePay?
HomePay (formerly Breedlove) is a full-service nanny payroll company. "Full-service" means they don't just calculate your taxes. They file them for you.
Why does filing matter? The IRS defines a household employer as anyone who pays $2,800 or more in cash wages to a single household employee in 2025 ($3,000 for 2026). Once you cross that threshold, IRS Publication 926 is explicit:
"If you have a household employee, you may need to withhold and pay social security and Medicare taxes, pay federal unemployment tax, or both."
That paperwork (Form W-2 to SSA, Schedule H attached to your 1040, quarterly state unemployment returns, and any state withholding filings) is what HomePay charges you to handle.
HomePay now offers two tiers:
Plus ($75/month), the full-service tier:
- Everything below, plus
- Dedicated account management and audit support
- Employee app for logging hours, time off and expenses
- Tax agency notices managed for you
- Free Care.com membership
Essentials ($59/month), the entry point:
- Federal and state tax registration
- Payroll processing and tax calculations
- Quarterly tax filings (they do it)
- W-2 and Schedule H preparation
- Direct deposit
- Employee onboarding
- State and federal compliance
- Phone, chat and email support
The key difference from DIY options: HomePay actually submits your tax filings to the IRS and state agencies on your behalf.
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How Much Does HomePay Cost in 2026?
Pricing verified against HomePay's published rates, September 2026.
HomePay charges $59/month ($708/year) for Essentials and $75/month ($900/year) for Plus. There are no setup fees and no separate year-end fee. Both tiers include direct deposit and cover all 50 states.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus | $75 | $900 | Everything in Essentials + dedicated account management and audit support, employee app for hours, time off and expenses, tax agency notices handled, free Care.com membership |
| Essentials | $59 | $708 | Tax registration, payroll and direct deposit, tax withholding, quarterly filings, year-end forms, plus phone, chat and email support |
HomePay historically charged a $100 year-end fee on top of their monthly plan, but that fee is no longer listed on their pricing page.
What does $708–$900 actually get you?
The main thing you're paying for is filing. HomePay submits your quarterly tax forms and year-end documents to the IRS and state agencies. If you did this yourself, it takes about 15-20 minutes per quarter using the forms HomePay (or any payroll tool) generates for you.
So the real question is: is someone else clicking "submit" worth $720-$800/year more than NannyKeeper? For most families, probably not.
It's also worth knowing what that price does and doesn't buy. Household employment tax is reported on your own Form 1040, on Schedule H, under your own Social Security number, so the legal responsibility stays with you no matter who files. Before HomePay can file anything for you, it also has you sign over power of attorney to your federal and state tax accounts. That's standard for any full-service provider, but a real loss of control. HomePay's own Service Accuracy Guarantee reflects where the line sits: it reimburses a penalty when the error was theirs, but never the tax itself, and you're the one a tax notice comes to. File the forms yourself and you see every number first, so you catch a mistake before it's submitted. Paying for full-service buys you the convenience of not touching the forms, not a way to move who's accountable.
Same paperwork, a fraction of the price
NannyKeeper calculates the same taxes, generates your W-2 and Schedule H, and reminds you before every deadline, from $10/mo. You file the forms yourself, about 15 minutes a quarter.
What HomePay Does Well
They handle the filing. If the idea of submitting forms to the IRS terrifies you, HomePay removes that step. They file your quarterly taxes and year-end documents on your behalf.
Track record. Breedlove & Associates has been handling household employment taxes for 34 years, carries an A+ BBB rating, and has been BBB-accredited since January 2016. They process thousands of households per year and know what they're doing.
Customer service reputation. Reviews on Care.com's HomePay reviews page consistently highlight the support experience:
"HomePay was the first company that met me with a genuine heart." Linda G., Care.com HomePay reviews
Care.com membership. The Plus plan includes a free Care.com membership.
Where HomePay Falls Short
The price. HomePay's Plus plan costs $900/year and Essentials $708/year, for a service most families use to pay one employee. Poppins files for $588 and SurePayroll for $468; GTM's entry tier is $840.
No free tier. There's no way to try HomePay or track payments without committing to at least the $59/month plan.
Dated interface. The platform works, but it hasn't been modernized. Expect a 2010s-era web experience.
HomePay vs. NannyKeeper: Full Comparison
HomePay costs $708–$900 per year and files taxes for you. NannyKeeper costs $100–$180 per year and generates the same forms for you to file yourself in about 15 minutes per quarter.
| Feature | HomePay (Essentials) | HomePay (Plus) | NannyKeeper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $59 | $75 | $10 (Starter) / $18 (Plus) |
| Annual total | $708 | $900 | $100 / $180 |
| Direct deposit | Included | Included | $6/transfer (Plus) / $8/transfer (Starter) |
| Email deadline reminders | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free payment tracking | No | No | Yes, free forever |
| Files taxes for you | Yes | Yes | No (you file; takes 15 min/quarter) |
| W-2 + Schedule H | Included | Included | Included |
| All 50 states | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tax registration (EIN and state IDs) | Yes | Yes | Federal EIN on Plus with annual billing |
Ready to simplify nanny taxes?
NannyKeeper does the calculations, tracks the deadlines, and prepares the paperwork so you can focus on your family.
The main tradeoff: HomePay files your taxes for you. NannyKeeper calculates everything, generates the forms, and you submit them yourself (which takes about 15 minutes per quarter on the IRS and state websites).
The savings: NannyKeeper's subscription is $720-$800/year cheaper than HomePay's Plus plan. Even vs. Essentials, you save $528-$608/year. Direct deposit is billed per transfer ($6-$8, plus 0.8% of any transfer over $1,000), so total savings depend on how often you use it; with biweekly direct deposit on Starter you still save $592/year against Plus.
On support. The worry with a smaller service is whether anyone answers when you need them. Here's what NannyKeeper's support looks like from a customer's side:
"I appreciate all of your efforts in developing NannyKeeper and making it available to others. Your service, support, and responsiveness are excellent and much appreciated." Verified customer, senior-caregiver employer, April 13, 2026
More customer quotes, each dated and reproduced word for word, are on our reviews page.
A real example
Say you pay your nanny $500/week in California, by direct deposit every other week. Use our nanny tax calculator to see the breakdown, but here's the rough picture:
| HomePay (Plus) | NannyKeeper (Starter) | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual payroll service | $900 | $100 |
| Direct deposit | $0 (included) | $208 ($8 × 26 paydays) |
| Total cost | $900 | $308 |
| You save | $592/year |
The direct deposit line assumes paychecks of $1,000 or less, where the fee is the flat $8 (a transfer over $1,000 adds 0.8% of the excess). Against HomePay Essentials ($708) the same setup saves $400/year, and if you pay by check the saving is the full $800/year. The only difference in what you do: about 15 minutes per quarter filing forms yourself. NannyKeeper tells you exactly what to file, where to file it, and reminds you before each deadline.
Who Should Use HomePay?
HomePay is the right choice for families who refuse to touch tax paperwork and accept paying $700–$900 per year for someone else to file it. HomePay makes sense if:
- You truly cannot handle any tax paperwork yourself
- You have a complex situation (multiple employees in different states)
- The peace of mind is worth $900/year to you
- Your employer reimburses household employment services
Who Should Skip HomePay?
Most families paying a single nanny do not need HomePay. You probably don't need HomePay if:
- You're comfortable filing forms online (it's easier than it sounds)
- You're budget-conscious. Even with direct deposit fees, NannyKeeper saves you hundreds per year
- You want free payment tracking without a monthly commitment
- You'd rather save hundreds per year and handle the filing yourself
Not sure where you stand? Check your state's specific requirements or try our free calculator to see what you'd owe.
So Is HomePay Worth It?
HomePay is a legitimate service with a long track record. If you're certain you'll never open a tax portal, it will do the filing, and it has been doing it for families since 1992.
For most families, though, the numbers don't hold up. HomePay Plus is $720-$800 a year more than NannyKeeper for a step that takes about 15 minutes a quarter, on a return that carries your own Social Security number either way. The calculations, the W-2 and the Schedule H are the same. What you give up is the click, and what you get back is seeing every figure before it's filed.
Our recommendation: pick HomePay if having someone else file, with a Care.com membership and tax notice handling on Plus, is worth $708-$900 a year to you. Otherwise start on NannyKeeper's free tier, no credit card, and see what your taxes look like before you pay anyone. When you're ready to run payroll, it's $10/month, with direct deposit at $6-$8 per transfer.
Compare NannyKeeper vs HomePay in detail →
Compare all nanny payroll services →
Read our Poppins Payroll review →
FAQ
How much does HomePay cost per year?
HomePay costs $708–$900 per year depending on which tier you choose. The Essentials plan is $59/month ($708/year) and the Plus plan is $75/month ($900/year). Direct deposit is included on both plans.
Is HomePay the same as Breedlove?
Yes. HomePay was formerly known as Breedlove & Associates. They rebranded after being acquired by Care.com. The service is the same.
Does HomePay file my taxes for me?
Yes, that's their main selling point. HomePay submits your quarterly tax forms and year-end documents (W-2, Schedule H) to the IRS and state agencies on your behalf. This is what you're paying the premium for.
What's the cheapest nanny payroll service?
NannyKeeper starts at $10/month with no year-end fees, making the annual cost $100 on annual billing compared to HomePay's $900 (Plus) or $708 (Essentials). The tradeoff is that NannyKeeper generates your forms but you file them yourself (about 15 minutes per quarter). Free payment tracking is available with no subscription at all.
Can I switch from HomePay to NannyKeeper mid-year?
Yes. You can switch nanny payroll services at any time. NannyKeeper will calculate your taxes going forward. Ask your current provider whether it will issue your nanny a W-2 for the months it ran payroll. If it will, your nanny gets two W-2s that together cover the year; if it won't, the new provider's W-2 can cover the whole year. We recommend switching at the start of a quarter for the cleanest transition.
Is HomePay worth it in 2026?
For most families, no. You're paying $900/year (Plus) primarily for someone to click "submit" on forms that take about 15 minutes to file yourself each quarter. The Essentials plan at $708/year files the same returns and drops only the Plus extras (account management, employee app, notice handling, Care.com membership). Self-service alternatives like NannyKeeper generate the same forms, remind you of deadlines, and cost $100–$180/year. If you genuinely can't handle any tax paperwork, Poppins Payroll offers full-service filing for $588/year.
What are the best HomePay alternatives?
It depends on whether you need someone else to press submit. If you don't, NannyKeeper ($100-$180/year) generates the same W-2, Schedule H and pay stubs, sends deadline reminders, and costs $528-$800 less; you file the forms yourself in about 15 minutes a quarter. If you want full-service filing, Poppins Payroll ($588/year) is household-built and costs less than either HomePay tier, and GTM Payroll ($840/year) files the same way and, on its higher tiers, adds HR paperwork and employee benefits. See our full comparison of all services.