I really need help here. I was hired last year in 2020 for four months to take care of a 91 year old man. By the end I was paid quite a lot, but didn't know until now that I was supposed to pay quarterly taxes, and I never got an ITIN number. I have no idea what to do, or I messed up. I can't reach the IRS due to high call volume and have nobody to help. I can't really afford to pay someone to do my taxes.
(Or possibly one of the Computer programs would guide you through the process. )
This is one of the very reasons that on this forum the majority of people when a question comes up about hiring a caregiver we stress the importance of doing everything "legally" and paying taxes and following proper guidelines. And when people ask about being hired we stress the importance of making sure taxes are taken out.
A ITIN is a tax processing number that is only available for resident and nonresident aliens or others who can not get a Social Security Number. If you have a SS# that would be the number you would use.
One thing you might do just to avoid more complications later is get the basic tax forms and complete them as well as you can, just to get an idea of how much tax you might owe. Then find the correct form to request an extension, and file it with an estimated amount. Then you have an option to find someone to help you but at least you've paid something to stave off action for nonpayment of taxes.
The worst that will happen will be you will have a penalty, but it shouldn’t be too bad if it was only a few months.
https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/do-i-need-to-file-a-tax-return
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf (see pages 8-11)