SurePayroll is owned by Paychex, one of the biggest names in payroll. At $39/month for one nanny, it costs less than Poppins, HomePay or GTM for the same full-service filing.
Its main business is small-business payroll, and the Nanny & Household plan is one product on that platform. Is it the right fit for your nanny payroll?
What Is SurePayroll?
SurePayroll is a small business payroll service that also sells a dedicated Nanny & Household plan. They've been around since 2000 and were acquired by Paychex in 2011 for $115 million.
In 2022, Paychex also acquired NannyChex, a dedicated nanny payroll service, and folded it into SurePayroll by April 2023. So if you were a NannyChex customer, this is where your account ended up.
What's included:
- Payroll processing and tax calculations
- Federal and state tax filings (they file for you)
- W-2 and Schedule H preparation
- Direct deposit (2-day processing)
- Unlimited payroll runs
- Phone support (weekdays)
- New hire reporting
See what you'll owe
Use our free calculator to estimate your nanny tax costs for 2026.
How Much Does SurePayroll Cost in 2026?
SurePayroll's Nanny & Household plan is $39/month ($468/year) with one employee included. Its general pricing calculator lists multi-state payroll at $9.99/month extra and a separate fee in areas with local taxes; the nanny plan page doesn't say whether those apply. Direct deposit and W-2 generation are included; there are no setup fees.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Nanny & Household plan (1 employee included) | $39/month |
| W-2 + signature-ready Schedule H | Included |
| Direct deposit | Included (2-day) |
| Multi-state payroll | $9.99/month in SurePayroll's general pricing calculator; not listed on the nanny plan page |
| Areas with local taxes | Separate fee in SurePayroll's general pricing calculator; not listed on the nanny plan page |
| Monthly total (1 nanny) | $39 |
| Annual total (1 nanny) | $468 |
Price verified October 5, 2026 on SurePayroll's nanny payroll page (Nanny & Household plan, $39/month, one employee included). Its general pricing calculator quotes $29 plus $7 per worker ($36); we use the nanny plan because it is the product a family hiring a nanny signs up for.
SurePayroll's nanny page may still show a 6 months free banner, but its terms say that offer covered accounts opened September 1 to 30, 2026. Even then the free months were spread across the first year (months 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11) and only for accounts kept open twelve months. Plan on the regular $39 a month.
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 SurePayroll Does Well
Paychex infrastructure. SurePayroll is backed by Paychex, which processes payroll for over 700,000 businesses. You're getting enterprise-grade tax filing and compliance from one of the largest payroll companies in the country.
Low full-service price. At $468/year on regular pricing for one nanny, SurePayroll costs less than Poppins ($588), GTM ($840), and HomePay ($708-$900). If you want someone else to file your taxes, that gap is the main reason to look here.
Unlimited payroll runs. No extra charge for running payroll more than once a month. Some competitors charge per payroll run.
Phone support. Available on weekdays. You can talk to a human, which can matter when you have a tax question; whether you get a reply is a separate matter, covered below.
Where SurePayroll Falls Short
Household payroll is one plan among many. SurePayroll is a small-business payroll company (Paychex) that sells a dedicated Nanny & Household plan. The plan page is written for families and covers the basics: the IRS threshold, the W-2, Schedule H, and why not to pay under the table. It sits on a platform whose banner reads "Payroll purpose-built for small business," so if you want a company that only ever deals with households, that is the thing to weigh. The page mentions state tax ID help during onboarding; for the federal EIN, see our guide.
Filing reliability is hard to verify. When you outsource tax filing, you're trusting that it actually happens, and you're handing over authority to make it happen: full-service filing runs on a power of attorney you grant the provider over your federal and state tax accounts. We've heard from families who discovered that filings they assumed were handled simply weren't submitted, and only found out when the IRS reached out. SurePayroll's No Penalty Tax Filing Guarantee helps here, but read it closely: it reimburses a penalty only when the error was theirs, and it never covers the tax itself. Their terms say plainly that the client is always responsible for payment of any taxes due. Because nanny taxes land on your personal 1040 through Schedule H under your Social Security number, you're the employer of record either way. If a filing is missed, you're the one the IRS contacts.
Support can be hard to reach. In SurePayroll's public BBB complaints, the recurring theme isn't hold times; it's contact that never gets a reply, and a filing that has gone wrong is the worst moment for that. The numbers are in the comparison below.
2-day direct deposit processing. Some competitors offer next-day or same-day. Not a dealbreaker, but you'll need to plan ahead.
Deadline reminders aren't listed. SurePayroll's plan page doesn't list email reminders before a quarterly tax deadline, W-2 filing window, or Schedule H due date. That matters because the returns carry your own Social Security number, so the IRS comes to you whether or not SurePayroll pressed submit, and a record of your own deadlines is what you'd check their work against. NannyKeeper emails you before each one.
Multi-state costs may add up. If your nanny lives in a different state from where they work (more common than you'd think), SurePayroll's general pricing calculator lists multi-state payroll at $9.99/month extra, and a separate fee in areas with local taxes; the nanny plan page doesn't say whether either applies. If either could apply to you, ask before signing up.
SurePayroll vs. NannyKeeper: Full Comparison
SurePayroll costs $468 per year for one nanny on its Nanny & Household plan and files taxes for you. NannyKeeper costs $100–$180 per year and generates the same forms for you to file yourself.
| Feature | SurePayroll | NannyKeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $39 | $10 (Starter) / $18 (Plus) |
| Year-end fee | Included | Included |
| Annual total | $468 | $100 (Starter) / $180 (Plus) |
| Direct deposit | Included (2-day) | $6/transfer (Plus) / $8/transfer (Starter) |
| Files taxes for you | Yes | No (you file; takes 15 min/quarter) |
| Email deadline reminders | Not listed | Yes |
| Free payment tracking | No | Yes, free forever |
| W-2 generation | Included | Included |
| Schedule H generation | Included | Included |
| All 50 states | Yes | Yes |
| Household-specific | Yes (Nanny & Household plan) | Yes |
| Employee W-4 self-service | No | Yes (Plus) |
SurePayroll prices are its Nanny & Household plan, one employee included.
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: SurePayroll files your taxes for you. NannyKeeper calculates everything, generates the forms, sends deadline reminders, and you submit them yourself (about 15 minutes per quarter on IRS and state websites).
On support. SurePayroll holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and the same profile also lists 135 complaints closed in the last three years. A recurring thread in those complaints is not being able to reach anyone: complainants describe calls and emails going unanswered and issues dragging on for weeks or months without a meaningful reply. Complaints are self-selected, so that is a pattern some customers report, not what every customer gets. A NannyKeeper customer described our support this way:
"Excellent platform for managing nanny & domestic help taxes. The system is straightforward and the customer service is top-notch, quick turnaround times and clear responses to solve open tickets." Sarah B., verified Trustpilot review, June 14, 2026
More customer quotes, each dated and reproduced word for word, are on our reviews page.
The savings: NannyKeeper's subscription is $288–$368/year cheaper than SurePayroll's regular price for one nanny. 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 and how large each paycheck is. If you pay by check, the savings are significant.
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 exact breakdown, but here's the rough picture:
| SurePayroll | NannyKeeper (Starter) | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual subscription | $468 | $100 |
| Year-end documents | $0 (included) | $0 (included) |
| Direct deposit | $0 (included) | $208 ($8 × 26 paydays) |
| Total cost | $468 | $308 |
With biweekly direct deposit, NannyKeeper Starter saves $160/year. If you pay by check, NannyKeeper saves you $368/year. And either way, you get NannyKeeper's deadline reminders, threshold tracking and step-by-step filing guidance.
If your nanny lives across a state line. SurePayroll's general pricing calculator lists multi-state payroll at $9.99/month extra, and its nanny plan page doesn't say whether that applies. NannyKeeper's price doesn't change with the number of states: $308 with biweekly direct deposit or $100 by check.
SurePayroll vs. Other Full-Service Options
How does SurePayroll compare to the other full-service providers?
| Feature | SurePayroll | Poppins | GTM | HomePay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $39 | $49 | $70 | $59–$75 |
| Annual total | $468 | ~$588 | ~$840 | $708–$900 |
| Year-end fees | Included | Included | Optional service (price not listed) | Included |
| Household-specific | Yes (Nanny & Household plan) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phone support | Weekdays | Yes | Yes, plus email and web chat | Yes |
| Backed by | Paychex | Spectrum Equity | Independent (30+ yrs) | Care.com |
SurePayroll prices are its Nanny & Household plan, one employee included.
SurePayroll charges $468 a year for full-service filing, less than Poppins, GTM or HomePay. The difference is the company behind the plan: Poppins, GTM and HomePay only do household payroll, while SurePayroll is a small-business payroll company (Paychex) with a dedicated Nanny & Household plan.
If you want full-service and price is the priority, SurePayroll is the one to compare first. If you want a company that only does household payroll, Poppins or GTM are the ones to look at.
SurePayroll vs HomePay
This is the comparison families ask about most. SurePayroll is $468/year for one nanny; HomePay is $708–$900/year. Both calculate, file, and deposit your employment taxes and prepare your W-2 and Schedule H. The difference is the company behind the plan: HomePay (owned by Care.com) is household-only, and SurePayroll is a small-business payroll company (Paychex) with a dedicated Nanny & Household plan, so you save $240–$432/year with SurePayroll. If price decides it, SurePayroll. If you want a service that only ever deals with households, HomePay. We compare them line by line in HomePay vs SurePayroll.
Who Should Use SurePayroll?
SurePayroll is the right choice for families who want full-service filing for less than the household-only services charge. SurePayroll makes sense if:
- You want full-service filing and would rather pay $468 than $588 or more
- You already use Paychex for a business and want to consolidate
- You were a NannyChex customer and stayed after the migration
Who Should Skip SurePayroll
You probably don't need SurePayroll if:
- You want a company that only does household payroll
- You're comfortable filing forms online and want a lower subscription cost
- You want proactive email deadline reminders
- You want a free tier to try before committing
Not sure where you stand? Check your state's specific requirements or try our free calculator to see what you'd owe.
So Is SurePayroll Worth It?
SurePayroll charges $468/year for one nanny on regular pricing, less than Poppins ($588), GTM ($840) or HomePay ($708–$900), and it's backed by Paychex.
Its main business is small-business payroll, and the Nanny & Household plan is one product on that platform. Its public BBB complaints describe support that can go unanswered, which matters most when a filing goes wrong.
For most families, NannyKeeper at $100–$180/year saves you $288–$368/year on subscription and adds deadline reminders, threshold tracking and step-by-step filing instructions. The only trade-off: you file the forms yourself, which takes about 15 minutes per quarter.
If you need full-service filing and want to spend as little as you can on it, SurePayroll at $468 a year is the one to price first. If you don't need someone else to click "submit," NannyKeeper is the better value.
Compare all nanny payroll services →
Read our Poppins Payroll review →
Read our Nest Payroll review →
FAQ
How much does SurePayroll cost for nanny payroll?
SurePayroll's Nanny & Household plan is $39/month ($468/year) with one employee included. Its general pricing calculator lists multi-state payroll at $9.99/month extra and a separate fee in areas with local taxes; the nanny plan page doesn't say whether those apply. W-2 and signature-ready Schedule H are included. Its six months free offer ended September 30, 2026.
Is SurePayroll the same as NannyChex?
NannyChex was acquired by SurePayroll's parent company Paychex in May 2022. NannyChex customers were migrated to SurePayroll by April 2023. The NannyChex brand no longer exists.
Does SurePayroll file my taxes for me?
Yes. SurePayroll is a full-service provider: they calculate, file, and deposit your federal and state employment taxes on your behalf. They also prepare your W-2 and Schedule H. That said, as the employer of record, you're ultimately responsible for ensuring filings are submitted. It's worth periodically checking your IRS and state accounts to confirm payments were received.
Is SurePayroll good for nanny payroll?
SurePayroll works for nanny payroll: its Nanny & Household plan is $39/month with one employee included, files federal and state taxes for you, and includes a signature-ready Schedule H. The company's main business is small-business payroll (it's owned by Paychex). Some families have reported issues with filings not being completed and difficulty reaching support when things go wrong. Other options: NannyKeeper (self-service, $10/mo), Poppins (full-service, $49/mo), or GTM (full-service, $70/mo).
How do I switch from SurePayroll to another service?
You can switch mid-year without any tax issues. Download your year-to-date payroll records, ask SurePayroll whether it will issue your nanny a W-2 for the months it ran payroll, then cancel your SurePayroll account. If SurePayroll issues that W-2, your new service should still count those wages toward the year's tax thresholds and leave them off its own W-2 (in NannyKeeper, you enter them as earlier wages and answer that SurePayroll's W-2 has them); if it won't, your new service's W-2 can cover the whole year. We wrote a step-by-step guide to switching from SurePayroll that covers everything.
What's the cheapest nanny payroll service?
NannyKeeper starts at $10/month ($100/year on annual billing). Full-service providers, which file for you, start at $39/month for one nanny (SurePayroll, $468/year on regular pricing) and run to $75/month (HomePay Plus, $900/year). Free payment tracking is available with NannyKeeper's free forever tier, no credit card required.