If you’re an au pair on a J-1 visa earning money from a host family, you probably have one burning question: does your au pair agency handle your taxes? The answer is no—you do. While your agency may provide paperwork or general guidance, filing your federal and state tax returns is entirely your responsibility. The good news? Once you understand what the IRS expects from you, the process is straightforward, and most au pairs get money back.

Do au pair agencies file taxes for J-1 au pairs?

No. Your au pair agency does not file your tax return for you. Even if your agency placed you with a host family, helped arrange your W-2, or offered to “handle the paperwork,” the legal responsibility to file is yours alone. You are a J-1 nonresident alien employee who earned U.S. income, and the IRS expects you to file Form 1040-NR (or Form 1040, depending on your residency status) and report what you earned.

What your agency can do is provide you with a W-2 (the form showing your wages and withholding), offer tax guidance, or point you to resources. Some agencies partner with tax software or preparers to make filing easier for au pairs. But the return itself must be signed by you, and you are the person filing it with the IRS.

How au pair residency status affects which form you file

Whether you file Form 1040-NR or Form 1040 depends on your residency status under the IRS Substantial Presence Test—and that depends on your J-1 category and how long you’ve been in the U.S. This is where many au pairs get confused, so let’s walk through it.

J-1 au pairs (not to be confused with students) are in the “trainee or specialist” category. Under the Substantial Presence Test, you can exclude your physical presence in the U.S. for only 2 of the last 6 calendar years—not the 5-year exclusion that J-1 students get. Once you’ve completed 2 years on a J-1 au pair visa and the test is met, you become a resident alien for tax purposes and must file Form 1040 instead of Form 1040-NR.

The specific rules depend on your prior time in the U.S., your home country, and whether your country has a tax treaty with the United States. If this is your first au pair season, you are almost certainly a nonresident alien and will file Form 1040-NR. If you’ve been in the U.S. on a J-1 au pair visa (or other visa status) for more than 2 of the last 6 calendar years, check the Substantial Presence Test tool to confirm your status.

The most common au pair tax mistakes

Mistake 1: Assuming your agency will handle everything. Agencies are supportive, but they are not tax preparers, and they have no legal duty to file your return. Many au pairs delay filing because they think someone else will do it. Don’t wait—file early or you may miss the deadline and owe penalties and interest.

Mistake 2: Skipping the return because your paychecks had little or no withholding. As a nonresident alien, your host family employer may not have withheld federal income tax from your wages. This does not mean you don’t have to file. Filing lets you claim a refund on treaty benefits (if you qualify), recovery of any FICA taxes you were exempt from, or other deductions. Many au pairs are owed money and simply don’t file because they assume nothing was withheld.

Mistake 3: Mixing up W-2 wages with household employment rules. Au pair income is reported on a W-2, not a Form 1099. This is important because it means your host family withheld payroll taxes (or should have), and you have employer protections. Understand your exact wage amount and withholding before filing, so you can spot any errors.

Keep reading: start with our complete guide to J-1 visa taxes, see how to file a J-1 tax return step by step, and learn how to claim a J-1 FICA refund if Social Security or Medicare was withheld.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my host family file taxes on my behalf as a J-1 au pair?

No. Your host family is your employer and files a W-2 reporting what they paid you, but they do not file your personal tax return. You must file your own Form 1040-NR (or Form 1040) with the IRS. Your host family’s W-2 is just one document you need—you are responsible for the full return.

What if my au pair agency told me they’d file for me?

Some agencies offer tax filing services or partnerships, but even then, you are the one legally responsible. If an agency agrees to prepare and file on your behalf, they should have you review and sign the return before it goes to the IRS. Never sign a blank return or assume it’s been filed without confirmation. Request a copy of the filed return for your records.

Do I file Form 1040-NR or Form 1040 as an au pair?

If this is your first au pair season, you file Form 1040-NR because you are a J-1 nonresident alien. If you have been in the U.S. on a J-1 au pair visa for 2 or more of the last 6 calendar years and meet the Substantial Presence Test, you become a resident alien and file Form 1040 instead. Use the Substantial Presence Test tool to confirm which applies to you.

Can I claim the J-1 treaty benefit to reduce or eliminate FICA taxes?

Some countries have tax treaties with the U.S. that allow J-1 workers—including au pairs—to be exempt from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes. If you qualify, you can ask your host family to stop withholding FICA during your employment, or claim a refund on your tax return if you were withheld by mistake. Treaty benefits vary by country, so confirm whether your home country has one by checking the treaty list or asking your au pair agency.

What happens if I don’t file and just leave the U.S.?

Leaving the U.S. without filing does not erase your tax obligation. The IRS can pursue unpaid taxes overseas, and an unfiled return can complicate future U.S. visa applications or immigration plans. File before you leave, even if you believe you owe nothing—it’s faster and cleaner than dealing with the IRS later.

This is general information, not personalized tax advice. Your exact situation depends on your visa history, treaty eligibility, and paystubs. Use the calculator to estimate your refund based on your own details, and consult a qualified tax preparer if you have questions about your specific return.

You file your own tax return as a J-1 au pair—that responsibility is yours, not your agency’s or host family’s. The good news is the process is clear once you know your residency status and have your W-2. Whatever specific questions come up about au pair taxes, the fastest way to your real refund number is answering a few quick questions in the tax calculator and seeing what you’re owed.