If a household employee earns less than the required threshold, what form does the employer need to provide?

When a household employee earns less than the established threshold, the employer is not required to provide any tax forms, which makes the answer accurate. The threshold for reporting household employee wages typically relates to the amount that necessitates tax reporting and withholding obligations. If the employee's earnings fall below this threshold, the employer does not need to issue a Form W-2 or any other tax form. Thus, in such cases, it is indeed acceptable for the employer to not provide a form at all, as the reporting requirements are not triggered.

Form W-2 is meant for reporting wages for employees earning above the threshold, while Form 1099 is usually used for independent contractors rather than household employees. Form 944 is a type of employer tax return used for certain employers but is not applicable here if the employee's earnings are under the threshold. Recognizing these distinctions helps clarify why no reporting obligation exists when thresholds are not met.