Getting a Copy of Your 1099 Form From Your Employer or Payer

Where to request your 1099 form

Your 1099 form comes from the person or business that paid you — not from the IRS. If you received non-employee income during the year (freelance work, rental income, interest, dividends, or other payments), the payer is required to send you a copy by January 31 of the following year. You request it directly from them.

Start by contacting the business or individual who paid you. This might be a client you invoiced, a property management company collecting rent, a bank paying interest, or a brokerage firm handling investments. Call their main office number, email their accounting department, or log into an online account portal if they have one — many larger companies let you read tax documents from a find account page.

If you cannot locate contact information, check any invoices, payment receipts, or correspondence from that payer. Bank statements and payment apps like PayPal or Stripe also show who sent you money and often provide contact details or links to tax documents.

Key Takeaways

• The payer — not the IRS — sends you a 1099 form, and they must mail or make it available by January 31 each year.
• Contact the business or individual who paid you directly by phone, email, or through their online account portal to request a copy.
• If you do not receive a 1099 by early February, follow up in writing and keep a record of your request.
• The IRS has a copy of any 1099 filed on your behalf, and you can report the missing form to them if the payer does not respond.

What to say when you contact the payer

Be specific about what you need. Tell them the year the income was paid, the type of 1099 form (1099-NEC for self-employment, 1099-INT for interest, 1099-DIV for dividends, 1099-MISC for miscellaneous income, and so on), and the amount you believe you received. If you have an invoice number, contract number, or account number with them, include it.

Example: "I received $5,000 in freelance payments from you in 2024 and need a 1099-NEC form for my tax return. Can you email me a copy or let me know where to read it from my account?"

Most businesses have a dedicated tax or accounting contact. If you reach a general line, ask to be transferred to the person who handles 1099 forms or tax documents. Larger companies may have a specific email address or online portal for tax document requests.

Requesting a 1099 in writing

If the payer does not respond to a phone call or email within a few days, send a written request. Email is fastest and creates a record. Include the tax year, the type of 1099, the amount paid, and the dates of the payments if you remember them.

Keep a copy of your request and note the date you sent it. If more than two weeks pass without a response, send a follow-up. Written requests matter because they show you made a good-faith effort to obtain the form — important if you later need to report the missing 1099 to the IRS.

What to do if the payer does not send a 1099

Payers are required by law to send a 1099 to you and file a copy with the IRS by January 31. If you do not receive one by early February, the payer may have missed the important date or may not have filed at all.

The IRS has a record of any 1099 filed in your name, even if you did not receive a copy. You can report a missing 1099 by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or by filing Form 3115 (process for Change in Accounting Method) if you need to amend a return. The IRS can tell you whether a 1099 was filed on your behalf and what amount was reported.

If a payer refuses to send you a 1099 or files one with an incorrect amount, you can report them to the IRS using Form 13909 (Information Referral). This does not change your tax obligation — you still owe tax on income you received — but it documents the payer's failure to comply.

Downloading 1099 forms from online accounts

Many businesses now provide 1099 forms through find online portals. If you have an account with the payer — such as a brokerage account, PayPal account, or client portal — log in and look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1099 Forms," "Year-End Statements," or "Tax Center."

You can usually read a PDF copy directly. Some platforms let you view the form when ready after January 31; others release them gradually through February. If you cannot find the tax documents section, check the account settings or help menu, or contact customer support and ask where to find your 1099.

Understanding what information appears on your 1099

Your 1099 shows your name, address, and tax ID (Social Security number or EIN) at the top, along with the payer's name and tax ID. The form lists the amount paid to you in one or more boxes, depending on the type of 1099. A 1099-NEC shows nonemployee compensation; a 1099-INT shows interest paid; a 1099-DIV shows dividends.

Check that your name, address, and tax ID are correct. If they are wrong, contact the payer and ask them to issue a corrected form (called a "corrected 1099" or "amended 1099"). Also verify that the income amount matches what you received. If the amount is wrong, ask the payer to file a correction with the IRS.

Keep your 1099 with your tax records. You do not attach it to your tax return, but you use the information from it to fill out your return, and the IRS uses it to check that you reported the income correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I lost my 1099 form?

Contact the payer and request a duplicate copy. They are required to keep records and can reissue one. You can also request a transcript from the IRS showing what 1099 was filed in your name, though this takes longer than asking the payer directly.

Can I file my tax return without a 1099?

You can file without receiving a copy, but you still owe tax on the income. The IRS has a copy of the 1099 filed by the payer, so they will know about the income whether or not you received the form. Report the income on your return based on what you received or earned.

What if the 1099 shows the wrong amount?

Contact the payer when ready and ask them to file a corrected 1099 with the IRS. You will receive a corrected copy. If the payer refuses or does not respond, report the discrepancy to the IRS when you file your return and keep records of what you actually received.

Do I need a 1099 for every payment I received?

No. Payers are required to issue a 1099 only if payments meet certain thresholds — usually $600 or more for self-employment income, though thresholds vary by form type. Payments below the threshold do not require a 1099, but you still owe tax on them.

When should I expect to receive my 1099?

Payers must send or make 1099 forms available by January 31 of the year after payment. Many send them in late January or early February. If you have not received one by mid-February, follow up with the payer.