I just did this too. The fein takes 10 min to get online.

Wow....Great advice!

You have to get an FEIN (and a corresponding state ID number) in order to remit employment taxes to the fed and unemployment etc. to the state agency, and in order to file W-3/W-2 next year. It takes very little time to get an employer tax ID, and can be done on-line. As for the employer name, you can just use parents' names; you don't have to incorporate. There just needs to be some name associated with the taxes that are withheld and paid. Take a look at IRS Publication No. 926, the tax guide for household employers - it lays out the steps in order.

Hi, we have hired a nanny and will be handling her withholdings and paying her taxes for her including employer tax. The software we are using seems to be calling for a new hire report, which in turn seems to require a FEIN (federal employer identification number) and company name. This seems more official (and annoying) than it should be. Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks very much.