Mrs. Doubtfire is a heartwarming 1993 comedy about divorce, parenting, elaborate disguises, and—apparently—how not to comply with household employment law….

What the movie does not show is much in the way of employee onboarding. There’s no Form I-9. No payroll setup. No Social Security number. No new-hire reporting. No discussion of payroll taxes. Mrs. Doubtfire appears to be paid directly by Miranda, with everyone happily pretending that employment law doesn’t exist.

The costs of raising a family are a critical part of the financial picture for young couples and single parents.  Considering that over 100 million households in the United States have a child under 18, it is hardly surprising that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) contained several provisions that provide tax breaks to parents.  If you have kids or are considering starting a family in the next few years, it’s worth knowing how you can make the most of these rules.