Guides: Dependent Care FSA and babysitter questions, answered

Each guide answers one question a parent would type, cites the IRS page the answer rests on, and says how SitterSync handles it.

• My babysitter won't give me her Social Security number. Can I still get reimbursed?

  Usually, yes. For the child care tax credit, the IRS lets you file without it if you show you asked. For a Dependent Care FSA, it depends on your administrator. Here is how to handle both.

  Updated October 2026

• Do I need nanny payroll for a babysitter?

  Usually not. Payroll services exist for household employees you pay $3,000 or more in a year (the 2026 threshold). An occasional babysitter needs receipts and records, not payroll. Here is how to tell which one you have.

  Updated October 2026