I started taking care of my grandma who was diagnosed with dementia a while back. I moved out of my previous home and quit my job to care for her. In 2025 I didn't receive any official paperwork for my income as a live-in caregiver. I don't have a 1099 or W2 or anything else to indicate that she is my employer. I get paid in housing, transportation, food, medical expenses, water/electricity bills, and all other basic needs. In addition, I get $150 per week of spending money for extra things like clothes and hobbies. She pays for all of this; I live with and care for her basically 24/7.
How do I go about reporting this on my taxes? She's just an old woman and doesn't have any kind of business set up that would produce a W2 or 1099 or even calculate the exact amount I have gotten paid in via basic living expenses. I'm just her grandson who takes care of her. It's almost like a kid who lives with their parents and gets allowance, except I'm working for it by caring for a disabled woman and maintaining her home + health. This is the first I've had to think of it in finance terms. The most I can accurately calculate is how much I get paid weekly (the $150).
How to file taxes as a live-in caregiver for a family member
byu/opalescnt intax
Posted by opalescnt
1 Comment
Technically you should get a w2 from her.
If you want to bypass that you would file as self employed. No 1099 needed