How to Find Your 1099 Form and What to Do If It’s Missing

Form 1099s are crucial tax documents for individuals who receive income outside of traditional employment. They ensure all earnings are properly accounted for when filing tax returns. Understanding how to locate these forms, and what steps to take if they are missing, is a necessary part of tax preparation.

Understanding Your 1099 Forms

Form 1099s are tax documents used to report various types of non-employment income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Unlike a Form W-2, which reports wages from an employer, 1099s are issued by different entities, such as financial institutions, clients, or government agencies. These forms help the IRS track income that has not been subject to typical payroll tax withholding.

Numerous types of 1099 forms exist, each designed to report specific categories of income. For example, Form 1099-NEC reports nonemployee compensation, commonly received by independent contractors and freelancers for payments of $600 or more. Form 1099-DIV reports dividends and distributions from investments. Interest income from banks and other financial accounts is reported on Form 1099-INT.

Other common forms include Form 1099-B for proceeds from broker and barter exchange transactions, Form 1099-R for distributions from pensions, IRAs, and annuities, and Form 1099-G for certain government payments like unemployment compensation. These forms are generally sent to both the recipient and the IRS, helping ensure that reported income matches the agency’s records.

Methods for Locating Your 1099

Most 1099 forms are mailed by the issuing entity by January 31 of the year following the tax year. Some investment-related forms, such as certain 1099-B statements, may have a later deadline, often mid-February.

Many financial institutions, brokerage firms, and online payment processors offer electronic access to 1099 forms through their secure online portals. Taxpayers can log into their accounts, navigate to the tax documents section, and download or print their forms.

If a 1099 form has not been received by the expected deadline, or if it has been lost, the first step is to contact the issuing entity directly. This could be a bank, brokerage firm, former client, or government agency. When contacting them, be prepared to provide identifying information such as your account number or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) to facilitate the request for a duplicate. It is important to request a copy of the original form rather than a newly issued one to avoid potential IRS discrepancies.

Seeking Assistance from the IRS

If you are unable to obtain your 1099 forms directly from the issuer, the IRS can provide assistance. One valuable resource is the IRS tax transcript, specifically the wage and income transcript. This transcript provides data from information returns reported to the IRS, including various 1099 forms.

You can request a wage and income transcript free of charge through the IRS “Get Transcript” service online, by mail using Form 4506-T, or by calling the IRS automated phone line. Information for the current tax year may not be fully available until later in the tax season, often by late May or June.

Should an issuer refuse to provide a 1099 or send an incorrect form, report this to the IRS. The IRS may contact the issuer to request the missing form. Even if you do not receive a physical 1099 form, you are still obligated to report all taxable income accurately on your tax return. You can use other records, such as bank statements or personal ledgers, to determine your income and fulfill your tax obligations.