Cisco & Co CPA

  • HOME
  • SERVICES
    • ACCOUNTING
    • PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING
    • BUSINESS FINANCIAL PLANNING
    • CHIROPRACTIC ACCOUNTING
  • WHY US
    • STAFF
  • FINANCIAL RESOURCES
    • DOWNLOADABLE FORMS
  • CONTACT US
CONTACT US

Hiring Family Members – What You Need to Know!

A mother, father, and daughter in their family florist business.
Friday, 05 March 2021 / Published in Business

Hiring Family Members – What You Need to Know!

Many business owners hire their children, their spouse, or other family members to work in their business. Sometimes this works out well. Other times it causes problems. Let’s look at the pros and cons of putting family members on your payroll.

Hiring your children

Hiring your kids for a summer or part-time job usually has more tax advantages and fewer drawbacks than hiring other relatives. The financial advantage is that if you’re paying your child to do useful work, the business gets a tax deduction for the wages paid. Your child will probably pay little or no income tax, and the after-tax wages stays in the family.

Follow certain steps to make sure the wages are fully deductible. The child must be doing a real job that helps the business, and the wages must be reasonable for the work performed. Keep detailed records of hours worked and pay salary regularly, preferably on the same schedule as other employees. In other words, treat your child just like any regular employee.

In addition, depending on how your business is organized and the age of your child, you may be able to avoid paying Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment on their wages. To qualify, you must be a sole proprietor or a husband-wife eligible partnership and your child must be under the age of 18.

Hiring your spouse or other relatives

An advantage to hiring your spouse or other relatives is that you have an employee whom you know well, and who may be more motivated or more flexible than a non-family member. And in many family-owned businesses, it’s a powerful way to train the next generation who will take over leadership.

That same familiarity can bring disadvantages, however.

Few families are without some internal or intergenerational conflict, and that can be disastrous if it spills over into the workplace. You must also consider the effect on other employees. Any sign of favoritism or unequal treatment can cause resentment and ruin the motivation of other employees.

Be cautious moving forward

There are plenty of businesses where hiring family members has worked out just fine, but other businesses where it didn’t work out.

So think long and hard before you bring family members into the business. Talk to them and to your key employees beforehand so everyone understands and is comfortable with their roles in the company.

As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your tax situation please feel free to call.

What you can read next

final notice bill
Tips on Monitoring Your Accounts Receivable
Man handing out cash
New Overtime Rule May Mean More of Your Employees Qualify For Overtime Pay
Hand holding credit card
Keep Your Business Safe With Internal Controls

Recent Posts

  • Person giving an online business review.

    Handling Negative Online Reviews of Your Business

    Here are some ideas on handling those pesky onl...
  • Graduation cap sitting on a pile of money.

    Student Loan Forgiveness Q&A

    While there may be legal and Congressional chal...
  • Person sitting on the floor holding a calculator paying their bills.

    Taming Monthly Bill Creep

    Paying bills is inevitable, but paying too much...
  • A social security card laying on a pile of money.

    Tips to Protect Your Social Security Number

    Very few things in life can create a higher deg...
  • Electric vehicle charging

    New Electric Vehicle and Other Energy Credits

    Tax incentives for purchasing clean (electric) ...

Categories

  • Announcements
  • Business
  • Financial Planning
  • Personal
  • Retirement Plans
  • Tax Tips & Information
  • Uncategorized
  • Wealth Management

Schedule your 1-to-1 financial planning consultation today!

Visit our Office

Get Directions

Speak with a Staff Member

419.629.3494

Contact Us

Send A Message
Cisco & Co CPA

Mark J. Cisco & Co, Ltd.

419.629.3494

419.629.2444

Hours:

  • Monday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
  • Tuesday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
  • Wednesday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
  • Thursday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
  • Friday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM
  • Saturday: CLOSED
  • Sunday: CLOSED

5030 State Route 66
New Bremen, OH 45869

PO Box 114
New Bremen, OH 45869

  • HOME
  • SERVICES
  • WHY US
  • FINANCIAL RESOURCES
  • CONTACT US

PAYROLL PORTAL

SIGN IN

FOLLOW US!

Copyright © 2021 Mark J. Cisco & Co, Ltd.   |  Website design by Marketing Essentials, LLC   |   Privacy Policy | Site Map

TOP