How to Prepare Form 1099-MISC for Freelancers, Contract Workers
This article provides information to answer the most common questions about preparing and submitting Form 1099-MISC as a year-end report. Form 1099-MISC is titled "Miscellaneous Income." This form is provided by employers to contract workers (independent contractors and other non-employees), with information these contract workers must use to complete their federal and state income tax returns. The information provided on Form 1099-MISC includes non-employee compensation, federal and state income taxes withheld, and medical and health care payments.
Must I Submit Form 1099-MISC for a Small Amount of Payment?
You must provide Form 1099-MISC to individuals and businesses who you paid $600 or more during the past year, $10 or more of royalties paid, and direct sales of $5,000 or more of consumer goods for resale.
What payments do not require a 1099-MISC?
You only need to prepare 1099-MISC forms for payments made by cash or check. William Perez, Guide to Tax Planning, says you do not need to give 1099-MISC forms for payments made by credit card or other third-party processor, because these payments have been recorded.
Who Must I Give Form 1099-MISC to?
Form 1099-MISC must be provided to any "non employee" to whom you paid $600 or more during 2011. This includes:
In addition, payments to certain kinds of corporations must be reported, including medical and health care payments (box 6) and attorneys fees (box 7).
Still confused? Check out this article with more details on who should receive Form 1099-MISC.
I'm confused about whether to use Form 1099-MISC or Form W-2. Help!
Form W-2 is given to employees, while Form 1099-MISC is given to non-employees. Read more about the difference between Form 1099-MISC vs. Form W-2
Which Form 1099 Do I Use?
There are several IRS forms labeled "1099." The 1099 form applicable for contractors or businesses you paid is "Form 1099-MISC."
When is Form 1099-MISC due?
Form 1099-MISC must be provided to contractors no later than January 31 each year. You can send the form by mail or provide it online for downloading. Then, you must submit all 1099-MISC forms for all contractors to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), by the end of February each year. Along with Copy A of all the 1099-MISC forms you provided to non-employees, you must submit a Form 1096transmittal form to the IRS which totals all information from all 1099 forms.
How do I get copies of 1099 forms?
You can find 1099-MISC forms at your local office supply store, through a payroll service or online payroll software program, business tax program, or directly from the IRS. You cannot use 1099-MISC copies downloaded from the Internet. Copy A of the 1099-MISC form is in a specific color of red ink and cannot be duplicated.
How do I complete Form 1099-MISC?
This step by step guide guide to completing Form 1099-MISC can help make the process easier.
How do I submit Form 1099-MISC? Can I submit Form 1099-MISC online?
You can submit all Form 1099-MISC along with the transmittal form 1096 to the IRS by mail or online, using the Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system.
What if I submit Form W-2 late?
You may be subject to late filing penalties if you submit 1099-MISC and 1096 forms after the due dates. The amount of the penalty is determined in part by how late you file, the size of your business. Remember that using a payroll service provider does not relieve you of the responsibility to ensure that the 1099 forms are filed correctly and on time. If your failure to file is intentional, the penalty is at least $100 per form, with no maximum.
What if I make an error in Form 1099-MISC?
If you make an mistake in completing a W-2 form, and the error is discovered before you submit the form to the IRS at the end of February, just correct the mistake. That's why there is a one-month time between providing forms to contractor workers and submitting them to the IRS.
If you discover an error after you have submitted the form to the IRS, you must submit a corrected 1099-MISC form. To correct a 1099-MISC form, check the "corrected" box at the top, and don't forget to change Form 1096 if the correction affects totals on this form.
Must I Submit Form 1099-MISC for a Small Amount of Payment?
You must provide Form 1099-MISC to individuals and businesses who you paid $600 or more during the past year, $10 or more of royalties paid, and direct sales of $5,000 or more of consumer goods for resale.
What payments do not require a 1099-MISC?
You only need to prepare 1099-MISC forms for payments made by cash or check. William Perez, Guide to Tax Planning, says you do not need to give 1099-MISC forms for payments made by credit card or other third-party processor, because these payments have been recorded.
Who Must I Give Form 1099-MISC to?
Form 1099-MISC must be provided to any "non employee" to whom you paid $600 or more during 2011. This includes:
- Payments for rental property expenses
- Payments to a physician, physicians' corporation, or other supplier of health and medical services. Issued mainly by medical assistance programs or health and accident insurance plans
- Payments for services performed for a trade or business by people not treated as its employees. Examples: fees to subcontractors or directors and golden parachute payments
- Fish purchases paid in cash for resale
- Crop insurance proceeds
- Gross proceeds paid to attorneys.(Box 14) (Due to IRS February 15th).
In addition, payments to certain kinds of corporations must be reported, including medical and health care payments (box 6) and attorneys fees (box 7).
Still confused? Check out this article with more details on who should receive Form 1099-MISC.
I'm confused about whether to use Form 1099-MISC or Form W-2. Help!
Form W-2 is given to employees, while Form 1099-MISC is given to non-employees. Read more about the difference between Form 1099-MISC vs. Form W-2
Which Form 1099 Do I Use?
There are several IRS forms labeled "1099." The 1099 form applicable for contractors or businesses you paid is "Form 1099-MISC."
When is Form 1099-MISC due?
Form 1099-MISC must be provided to contractors no later than January 31 each year. You can send the form by mail or provide it online for downloading. Then, you must submit all 1099-MISC forms for all contractors to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), by the end of February each year. Along with Copy A of all the 1099-MISC forms you provided to non-employees, you must submit a Form 1096transmittal form to the IRS which totals all information from all 1099 forms.
How do I get copies of 1099 forms?
You can find 1099-MISC forms at your local office supply store, through a payroll service or online payroll software program, business tax program, or directly from the IRS. You cannot use 1099-MISC copies downloaded from the Internet. Copy A of the 1099-MISC form is in a specific color of red ink and cannot be duplicated.
How do I complete Form 1099-MISC?
This step by step guide guide to completing Form 1099-MISC can help make the process easier.
How do I submit Form 1099-MISC? Can I submit Form 1099-MISC online?
You can submit all Form 1099-MISC along with the transmittal form 1096 to the IRS by mail or online, using the Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system.
What if I submit Form W-2 late?
You may be subject to late filing penalties if you submit 1099-MISC and 1096 forms after the due dates. The amount of the penalty is determined in part by how late you file, the size of your business. Remember that using a payroll service provider does not relieve you of the responsibility to ensure that the 1099 forms are filed correctly and on time. If your failure to file is intentional, the penalty is at least $100 per form, with no maximum.
What if I make an error in Form 1099-MISC?
If you make an mistake in completing a W-2 form, and the error is discovered before you submit the form to the IRS at the end of February, just correct the mistake. That's why there is a one-month time between providing forms to contractor workers and submitting them to the IRS.
If you discover an error after you have submitted the form to the IRS, you must submit a corrected 1099-MISC form. To correct a 1099-MISC form, check the "corrected" box at the top, and don't forget to change Form 1096 if the correction affects totals on this form.