Chapter 3
Taxable Wages

Cash wages you pay to employees for farmwork are subject to social security and Medicare taxes. If the wages are subject to social security and Medicare taxes, they are also subject to income tax withholding. You may also be liable for Federal unemployment (FUTA) tax, which is not withheld by you or paid by the employee. FUTA tax is discussed in section 10. Cash wages include checks, money orders, etc. Do not count the value of food, lodging, and other noncash items.

For more information on what payments are considered taxable wages, see Circular E.

Commodity wages. Commodity wages are not cash and are not subject to social security and Medicare taxes or income tax withholding. However, noncash payments, including commodity wages, are treated as cash payments if the substance of the transaction is a cash payment. These payments are subject to social security and Medicare taxes and income tax withholding.

Family members. Generally, the wages you pay to family members who are your employees are subject to social security and Medicare, and income tax withholding, and FUTA tax. However, certain exemptions may apply for your child, spouse, or parent. See the table, How Do Employment Taxes Apply to Farmwork?, on page 19.

Household employees. The wages of an employee who performs household services, such as a maid, babysitter, gardener, or cook, in your home are not subject to social security and Medicare taxes if you pay that employee cash wages of less than $1,300 in 2002.

Social security and Medicare taxes do not apply to cash wages for housework in your private home if it was done by your spouse or your child under age 21. Nor do the taxes apply to housework done by your parent unless:

• You have a child living in your home who is under age 18 or has a physical or mental condition that requires care by an adult for at least 4 continuous weeks in a calendar quarter; and
• You are a widow or widower, or divorced and not remarried, or have a spouse in the home who, because of a physical or mental condition, cannot care for your child for at least 4 continuous weeks in the quarter.

For more information, see Pub. 926, Household Employer's Tax Guide.

Wages for household work may not be a deductible farm expense. See Pub. 225, Farmer's Tax Guide.

Share farmers and alien workers. Social security and Medicare taxes do not apply to wages paid to share farmers or to alien workers admitted under section 101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act on a temporary basis to perform agricultural labor (H-2(A) workers).

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