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What Is IRS Form 1099? It Reports Payments Other Than Regular Salaries, Wages or Tips

What Is IRS Form 1099? It Reports Payments Other Than Regular Salaries, Wages or Tips

IRS Form 1099 is the IRS form for filing taxes. It is used by companies to report payments made other than salaries, regular wages or tips which are reported through W-2 form. The 1099 form is generated by the payer and must be sent to the payee by January 31st of each year, to reflect transaction amount from the previous year. 

There are many types of 1099 forms, the one used depends on what the payment was for. 

Who gets the IRS form 1099?

The most common form a company issues IRS Form 1099-MISC. A business is required to fill it out for anyone they have paid $600 or more in a calendar year who is not an employee. For example, if a company has paid 50 different contractors over $600  then they are required to fill out and provide form 50. 

It applies to payment made for:

  • Rent
  • Freelance Workers
  • Attorney Payments
  • Cash prizes and awards
  • Other income payments
  • Medical and Healthcare payments
  • Crop insurance proceeds
  • Fishing boat proceeds
  • Cash payments for purchase of fish from commercial fisher
  • Cash paid to an individual, estate, partnership from a notional principal contract. 

If a company withholds any taxes on contractor payment, regardless of the amount paid then a 1099-MISC form must be issued. The forms need to be sent out by 31st January to the recipients of the money. 

To file form 1099-MISC you can find it here

Other often used IRS 1099 forms are:

  • 1099-K

This form is required third party payment processors must file when the sales volume is greater than $20,000 and 200 transactions in a year. PayPal is An example of a third party payment processor. It is also required for credit, debit and stored value card transactions (prepaid cards) 

  • 1099-R

1099-R form is required when distribution is greater than $10 have been made from the following:

  • Annuity
  • IRA (Individual Retirement Account) 
  • Pension Plan
  • Retirement plan
  • Insurance Contract
  • Survivor Income Benefit Plan
  • Charitable Gift Annuity
  • Profit-sharing plan 

This form is also required for permanent and total disability payments (under a life insurance contract) 

  • 1099- INT

This form is for interest earned in savings and checking accounts, as well as interest paid on treasury bills and saving bonds. The amount earned must be greater than $10.00 

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What is the difference between 1099 and W2:

A W-2 form is a form that a company must fill out for each of its employees. This form reflects salaries, wages and tips. The W-2 form is sent by the company to both the IRS and the employee, and lists the amount of income a person has earned, plus all the taxes withheld including payments to Social Security and Medicare. The information from the form allows an employee to calculate his own personal income taxes and to know if he owns any money or if he should be receiving a refund.

IRS Form 1099 is a form company generates for payments to everyone. There are no deductions listed on this form, because the person receiving this form is not an employee. 

Can I get a tax refund with 1099 form?

A 1099 form is a document to report income, which may increase taxes owing or result in a refund. The 1099 firm can help taxpayers to complete their personal income tax return. 

How much money do you have to make to get IRS Form 1099?

This depends on the type of income one is receiving. Whether the company issues form 1099 or not, it does not change whether the individual or business should report it or not. All money earned must be reported to the IRS. 

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How do I send form 1099 to the IRS?

All versions of form 1099 except 1099-QA should be filed electronically using the FIRE system. FIRE stands for “Filing Information Returns Electronically”. 

The use of FIRE is required by law when a company files 250 or more information returns form for a calendar year. Paper is still an option if you are filing less than 250 forms, however the IRS encourages the use of  FIRE for all filers. 

You may check the website here for more information on FIRE systems. 

When filing for IRS form 1099, companies must also fill out the form 1096. The form 1096 consists of a summary tax report to show the total number of forms being submitted, total amount being reported and the total tax withheld. 

Form 1099-QA applies to people with disabilities with an ABLE (Achieving A Better Life Experience) account and it must be filed on paper.