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
- Tax ID applications
- Dedicated phone support
- Tax agency communications
- Free Care.com Premium membership
Essentials ($59/month) — the entry point:
- 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
The key difference from DIY options: HomePay actually submits your tax filings to the IRS and state agencies on your behalf.
Estimate your nanny taxes
See what you'll owe in your state — takes about 30 seconds.
How Much Does HomePay Cost in 2026?
Pricing verified against HomePay's published rates, June 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 | Full-service payroll + tax ID applications, dedicated phone support, tax agency comms, Care.com Premium |
| Essentials | $59 | $708 | Standard payroll, tax filing, direct deposit, onboarding — no dedicated support or tax ID help |
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 $684-$780/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 — 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. Because you never review the returns before they go in, an error can go unnoticed until that notice arrives, often a year or more later. 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.
Phone support. You can call and talk to a human. For some families, that peace of mind is worth paying extra. Customer 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 integration. If you found your nanny through Care.com, the integration is seamless.
Where HomePay Falls Short
The price. HomePay's Plus plan costs $900/year—the most expensive nanny payroll option on the market for a service most families use to pay one employee. Even the Essentials tier at $708/year is pricier than most alternatives.
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 |
| Dedicated phone support | No | Yes | No (email support) |
| Tax ID applications | No | Yes | No |
Ready to simplify nanny taxes?
NannyKeeper handles the calculations, deadlines, and 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 $684-$780/year cheaper than HomePay's Plus plan. Even vs. Essentials, you save $492-$588/year. Direct deposit is billed per transfer ($6-$8), so total savings depend on how often you use it—but even with weekly direct deposit, you come out ahead.
A real example
Say you pay your nanny $600/week in California. 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) | $416 ($8 × 52 weeks) |
| Total cost | $900 | ~$516 |
| You save | ~$384/year |
The only difference? You spend 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 solid track record. If you genuinely need someone else to submit your tax forms, they'll do it reliably.
But for most families, the math doesn't add up. You're paying hundreds more per year for someone to click "submit" on forms that take 15 minutes to file yourself.
With NannyKeeper, you can start tracking payments for free—no credit card, no commitment. If you decide you want full payroll, it's $10/month. Direct deposit is available at $6–$8/transfer.
HomePay is fine. It's just expensive for what you get.
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, and you'll receive a W-2 covering the full year at tax time. 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 strips out dedicated support and tax ID help. 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?
The top alternatives are Poppins Payroll ($588/year, full-service and cheaper), GTM Payroll ($840/year, full-service with dedicated account manager), and NannyKeeper ($100–$180/year, self-service with deadline reminders). See our full comparison of all services.