topic Re: Best card for house cleaning services? in Credit Cards

Best card for house cleaning services?

IcyCool7227 — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 08:32:06 GMT

I am looking to hire housekeeping services but not sure if there's a card that specifically gives extra cashback for services like that. Does anyone know of any? I don't even know a debit card either.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 17:29:17 GMT

Cash and hire someone recommended vs a service is my advise coming from someone that has always had a cleaning lady in many states. Most dont pay taxes in the private field and in teory pass it onto you

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

MrDuck — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 19:19:37 GMT

Cash if they give a discount.

If not the best 2+% cash back card you have. Or any new credit card that you need to hit a minimum spend on.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:20:11 GMT

@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Cash and hire someone recommended vs a service is my advise coming from someone that has always had a cleaning lady in many states. Most dont pay taxes in the private field and in teory pass it onto you

And just a friendly PSA...

Any individual whom you employ to provide services in your home whom you pay directly AND whose total payments in the calendar year meets the IRS household employment threshold, $2,700 currently (2024), must receive a W-2 from the employer (family) and the household employer must pay the payroll taxes.

Which would basically mean you paying the employer portion of FICA/Medicare tax, or paying both employer/employee if you don't deduct. and, if required Federal and/or state unemployment.

So either pay below the threshold, or hire a company. Or be lucky and don't run for office.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 01:35:19 GMT

"How much for cash in hand and no receipt?"

Same price? Here, put it on my Amex Platinum then.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

ptatohed — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 07:25:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Cash and hire someone recommended vs a service is my advise coming from someone that has always had a cleaning lady in many states. Most dont pay taxes in the private field and in teory pass it onto you
And just a friendly PSA...

Any individual whom you employ to provide services in your home whom you pay directly AND whose total payments in the calendar year meets the IRS household employment threshold, $2,700 currently (2024), must receive a W-2 from the employer (family) and the household employer must pay the payroll taxes.

Which would basically mean you paying the employer portion of FICA/Medicare tax, or paying both employer/employee if you don't deduct. and, if required Federal and/or state unemployment.

So either pay below the threshold, or hire a company. Or be lucky and don't run for office.

Do individuals accept credit cards?

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

xenon3030 — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:11:11 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
Do individuals accept credit cards?

They can, if they want to. The guy may consider the side business as sole-propriator (or another business type), run his own website for online transactions or get a POS system with card reader or connect such device to his smart phone.

Some might prefer cash to minimze hassle. I asked one moving company, with a high rating on Yelp, and after completing the work, they asked for check, cash or Zelle while no other options were available.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Pppoolboy — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 16:32:22 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
And just a friendly PSA...

Any individual whom you employ to provide services in your home whom you pay directly AND whose total payments in the calendar year meets the IRS household employment threshold, $2,700 currently (2024), must receive a W-2 from the employer (family) and the household employer must pay the payroll taxes.

Which would basically mean you paying the employer portion of FICA/Medicare tax, or paying both employer/employee if you don't deduct. and, if required Federal and/or state unemployment.

So either pay below the threshold, or hire a company. Or be lucky and don't run for office.

From the IRS site:

You have a household employee if you hired someone to do household work and that worker is your employee. The worker is your employee if you can control not only what work is done but how it is done. If the worker is your employee, then it does not matter whether the work is full time or part time nor that you hired the worker through an agency or from a list provided by an agency or an association. It also does not matter whether you pay the worker on an hourly, daily, weekly or by the job.

Example. You pay Betty Shore to babysit your child and do light housework 4 days a week in your home. Betty follows your specific instructions about household and childcare duties. You provide the household equipment and supplies that Betty needs to do the work. Betty is your household employee.

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/hiring-household-employees

Therefore, instead of telling your housekeeper exactly how to do things, just leave the house, tell him/her "Have at it!" and then he/she is (arguably) not an employee. Have a written contract with Betty and 1099 her at the end of the year. That's about all you can do. I knew a housekeeper and NO ONE ever W2ed her. NO ONE in 20 years of housekeeping. A couple of people 1099ed her and she never worked for them again LOL.

From what I remember in law school, the litmus test for an employee is that HOW they do their work is controlled by someone else. "HOW" can relate to: their hours, the tools they use, where they work, what they wear, etc. Obviously the housekeeper will be working in your home but you will not be telling her how many hours she will be on the job nor telling her what tools to use to complete the job. And if you're out of the house when she does it, you're not directly supervising either.

These would be my arguments at an audit and honestly I think it's a good enough argument to take in front of a tax judge if need be. And I'm sure this has all been litigated before.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

ptatohed — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 17:50:21 GMT

@Pppoolboy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
And just a friendly PSA...

Any individual whom you employ to provide services in your home whom you pay directly AND whose total payments in the calendar year meets the IRS household employment threshold, $2,700 currently (2024), must receive a W-2 from the employer (family) and the household employer must pay the payroll taxes.

Which would basically mean you paying the employer portion of FICA/Medicare tax, or paying both employer/employee if you don't deduct. and, if required Federal and/or state unemployment.

So either pay below the threshold, or hire a company. Or be lucky and don't run for office.
From the IRS site:

You have a household employee if you hired someone to do household work and that worker is your employee. The worker is your employee if you can control not only what work is done but how it is done. If the worker is your employee, then it does not matter whether the work is full time or part time nor that you hired the worker through an agency or from a list provided by an agency or an association. It also does not matter whether you pay the worker on an hourly, daily, weekly or by the job.

From what I remember in law school, the litmus test for an employee is that HOW they do their work is controlled by someone else.

It sounds like I may be my wife's employee!

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:01:13 GMT

@ptatohed wrote:
It sounds like I may be my wife's ~~employee~~!

Vassal <---

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

FicoMike0 — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:39:17 GMT

I wouldn't blame the cleaning lady if she answered you question about credit cards with a knuckle samich. You're not only too lazy to clean your own house, you're a cheap ba$hard too!

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Remedios — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 03:19:50 GMT

Hire an agency, at least they carry insurance should something go wrong, and something will go wrong.

I've tried a couple before I settled on one particular company, after a while I did ask for one specific person to be the one they send cause she's great ( prone to breaking 💩 I didn't know I hated) - she was doing extra things here and there so I "tip" her in cash, everyone is happy. Company (this one and others I tried) all take credit card payments but I don't think you'll do better than 2% if you're looking for cash back

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

IcyCool7227 — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 22:48:37 GMT

Kinda old thread of mine but I did want to update this. I did find a credit card in 2 versions that offers 5% for house cleaning services but it can only be purchased through Houzz and you only earn $25 Houzz reward dollars. It's issued by Comenity but it doesn't appear it takes debit cards for payment and doesn't appear in PatPal Bill Pay or even Plastiq to earn extra rewards for paying the bill.

Houzz Mastercard® Credit Card and Houzz Credit Card perks:

Earn 5% back in Houzz Reward Dollars (not straight cashback - $25 Houzz only certificates) on every Houzz purchase1
Earn $50 in Houzz Reward Dollars after you make your first purchase on Houzz2
No Annual Fee5

Houzz Mastercard Credit Card perks:

Earn an additional $50 in Houzz Reward Dollars after you spend $500 outside of Houzz in the first 90 days after opening your account3
Identity Theft Resolution Services4
Zero Liability Protection4
No Foreign Transaction Fees5

Houzz Credit Card perks:

6 months special financing on a purchase of $350 on a single item made with your Houzz Credit Card at Houzz6
12 months special financing on a purchase of $700 for a single item made with your Houzz Credit Card at Houzz6

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 23:18:36 GMT

@IcyCool7227 wrote:
Kinda old thread of mine but I did want to update this. I did find a credit card in 2 versions that offers 5% for house cleaning services but it can only be purchased through Houzz and you only earn $25 Houzz reward dollars. It's issued by Comenity but it doesn't appear it takes debit cards for payment and doesn't appear in PatPal Bill Pay or even Plastiq to earn extra rewards for paying the bill.

I see no house cleaning services through Houzz. Where I am missing it at?

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

IcyCool7227 — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 04:55:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@IcyCool7227 wrote:
Kinda old thread of mine but I did want to update this. I did find a credit card in 2 versions that offers 5% for house cleaning services but it can only be purchased through Houzz and you only earn $25 Houzz reward dollars. It's issued by Comenity but it doesn't appear it takes debit cards for payment and doesn't appear in PatPal Bill Pay or even Plastiq to earn extra rewards for paying the bill.
I see no house cleaning services through Houzz. Where I am missing it at?

https://www.houzz.com/professionals/house-cleaners/probr0-bo~t_27205

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 13:37:19 GMT

@IcyCool7227 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I see no house cleaning services through Houzz. Where I am missing it at?
https://www.houzz.com/professionals/house-cleaners/probr0-bo~t_27205

I see. I could not find that at all. BUT looking at the card more this morning the 5% rewards seem to only be for the shopping of the Houzz retail online store, and clearly excludes services.

https://www.houzz.com/rewards-terms#ccLink3

The Program is limited to earning Reward Dollars for Net Eligible Purchases. Net Eligible Purchases are purchases of goods for personal, family and household purposes using your Card and the Card(s) of your Authorized User(s), if any, minus any returns, refunds or credit adjustments, rounded to the nearest dollar. Transactions ending in .50 will be rounded to the nearest even dollar.

Reward Dollars are not earned on and the term "Net Eligible Purchases" does not include: services purchased through Houzz, returns, refunds, credit adjustments, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, charges that violate the terms of your Account Agreement

-----

EDIT: Or maybe it does since that was under the "credit card" section and not the "Mastercard" section.

Hell if I can tell. Clearly vague terms with a poor redemption anyways.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

unsungivy — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 23:49:25 GMT

Small chance of using the BofA Home Improvement category, depending how the vendor codes. They include pretty much all home service vendors when I checked. Plumbers, electricians, roofers, repair guys, lawn maintenance... so house cleaning may be possible.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

dfwxjer — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 20:48:54 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@CreditCuriosity wrote:
Cash and hire someone recommended vs a service is my advise coming from someone that has always had a cleaning lady in many states. Most dont pay taxes in the private field and in teory pass it onto you
And just a friendly PSA...

Any individual whom you employ to provide services in your home whom you pay directly AND whose total payments in the calendar year meets the IRS household employment threshold, $2,700 currently (2024), must receive a W-2 from the employer (family) and the household employer must pay the payroll taxes.

Which would basically mean you paying the employer portion of FICA/Medicare tax, or paying both employer/employee if you don't deduct. and, if required Federal and/or state unemployment.

So either pay below the threshold, or hire a company. Or be lucky and don't run for office.

Sure thing, I'm sure the house cleaners I hire are scrutinizing the amount of cash I give them over a calendar year.

Nice attempt to toss out useless knowledge though! I'm sure you patted yourself on the back.

Anyway, to the OP, as others have mentioned, offer to pay cash and see if you can get a discount. The cash discount for our cleaning service is better than any credit card could dream of. They seem to appreciate it as well.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

Thomas_Thumb — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:58:08 GMT

Cash is King for service with a smile.

Re: Best card for house cleaning services?

IcyCool7227 — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 01:17:32 GMT

Probably the best thing to do is to contact Houzz during business hours and verify that. I will post back with an update! This post is made now to let others know not to jump on the cleaning services bandwagon yet until I have an answer and not be disappointed when it doesn't credit the 5%!