New minimum wages, obligation of digital payments and INPS contributions: what changes for domestic work and mistakes to avoid in order not to pay fines
April 10th will be the first test for more 900 thousand Italian families struggling with domestic work. This year, in fact, a double revolution has started for the management of babysitters, housekeepers and carers. Between the obligation of digital payments and the increase in minimum wages, the management of domestic work becomes more complex and the risk of errors increases significantly. With so many families involved and management still largely entrusted to the “do it yourself” of employers, the real issue is not intentional evasion, but involuntary irregularity: incorrect calculations, missed deadlines or errors in payments which can quickly turn into sanctions and administrative problems.
Domestic work 2026: what really changes
For domestic workers, the new national collective agreement has been in force since 1 January and we have moved on to the complete digitalisation of INPS payments. On the economic front, the renewal of the contract introduces progressive increases in minimum wages until 2028. The first tranche is already operational: +40 euros gross per month for domestic workers which translates into an average increase of around 83 euros per month for the family, or almost one thousand euros more per year. In detail, a BS level worker (caregiver for a self-sufficient person or babysitter or housekeeper) goes from a minimum wage of 7.10 euros to 7.45 euros per hour. And the increases will continue in the coming years, with further adjustments also linked to Istat inflation. And at the same time the administrative management changes. Goodbye toINPS paper bulletins for most employers. Contributions must be paid exclusively via digital channels: INPS portal, dedicated apps, pagoPA system or home banking. The paper version survives only temporarily, and only for those over 76 who already have active contracts. Alongside the economic and bureaucratic aspects, the new contract also introduces greater protections for workers. The value of certified training is recognized, with an additional paycheck increase for those who obtain professional qualifications. They are also entering for the first time paid leavewith a defined annual number of hours, and new possibilities for absence to assist family members with disabilities. On the parenting front, compulsory motherhood remains but also makes its debut parental leavealbeit unpaid. Finally, some economic items such as food and accommodation are clarified, making the domestic work relationship more transparent and structured.
Deadline 10 April: practical guide and mistakes to avoid
And so we arrive at the first test bench. Contributions for the first quarter of 2026 must be paid by April 10th. To avoid errors and irregularities, just pay attention to some steps. Baze, a company that deals with bringing domestic workers into compliance by helping families find the right collaborators, has developed 5 practical tips for families
The first is always check your contract and pay slip to the new minimums: it serves to avoid the risk of paying incorrect contributions for incorrect amounts. With the new contractual minimums coming into effect, first quarter 2026 payrolls must be updated accurately. Even minimal differences compared to the correct amounts can result in contributions paid incorrectly, with the risk of having to subsequently regularize the position.
The second piece of advice is Don’t wait until the last day. The April 10th it is not a flexible deadline: payments must be made by that date and any delay entails penalties and interest calculated day by dayfurther impacting already increased costs in 2026.
Third, familiarize yourself with the INPS portal in advance: this avoids blocks, access difficulties or errors in generating the pagoPA alert. Accessing the INPS Payment Portal is now mandatory for managing contributions. Here the employer must generate the pagoPA notice by correctly entering his tax code and the code of the domestic work relationship. Once the notification has been obtained, payment can be made online or via bank, post office or other enabled channels.
Fourth, carefully check the codes of the employment relationship: incorrectly entered data can make the payment invalid or not associated with the worker.
In the end, retain and archive all receipts: without proof of payment, in case of checks there is a risk of disputes even in the case of payments made correctly. The digital system allows you to download and reprint payments made, but it is up to the employer to archive the documentation correctly. In the event of checks or disputes, the receipt represents the only valid proof of payment.
Bonuses and discounts: how to reduce costs
Some support measures remain for employer families. The main one is the tax deduction of social security contributionswhich allows you to deduct up to 1,549.37 euros per year. This is not a direct refund, but a reduction in the IRPEF taxable amount which can lighten the overall tax burden. For those who assist non-self-sufficient people, there is also theaccompanying allowancewhich in many areas is accompanied by local contributions for the payment of carers.
