If you employ a nanny in the United Kingdom you have the same legal responsibilities as a commercial employer irrespective of the country of origin of the nanny or employer or the duration of employment.

We are able to offer services in payroll, HR and employment law to ensure your nanny employment needs are covered.

One key advantage to our payroll package is if you decide to change your nanny during the year, the package can easily be transferred to your new employee with no additional costs.

Our annual subscription is just £250.00 This package includes comprehensive payroll services specifically tailored for nannies.

Nannies are generally employed by the family as they will dictate the nanny’s day, hours and duties.

In some instances, HMRC may grant a nanny self-employment status if they work for multiple families on a temporary basis, or with three or more families at one time. Every case can differ slightly, therefore we always advise the nanny to contact HMRC directly regarding any self-employment queries.

A self-employed nanny will not be entitled to any employment rights such as holiday pay, sick pay, maternity pay or protection when it comes to their position being terminated

A nanny is generally considered ’employed’ if they:

• Work a set number of hours
• Must undertake the work themselves
• Can be told at any time what to do, where to carry out the work or when and how to do it
• Can be moved from task to task
• Are paid by the hour, week, or month
• Can be paid overtime or receive bonus payments

A nanny is generally considered self-employed if they:

• Can choose their own hours
• Can send someone in their place to undertake the work or engage helpers at their own expense
• Can decide what work to do, how and when to do the work and where to provide the services
• Regularly work for a number of families
• Agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of how long the job may take
• Must correct unsatisfactory work in their own time and at their own expense

What are the risks for families?

If a nanny does choose to provide work on a self-employed basis then the family must get this status verified by HMRC.

Families who are looking to take on a self-employed nanny are responsible for requesting written confirmation of the self-employed status from HMRC.

If you take on a self-employed nanny without carrying out the correct checks to confirm your nanny’s self-employment status, and it later comes to light that they have not been granted this status, you as the employer could face serious repercussions such as liability for all unpaid tax.

If a nanny has previously been self employed, the transfer of their self-employed status between jobs does not happen automatically. We would recommend that nannies check with HMRC and confirm whether they can continue being self-employed in their new role.