Where to Get Your 1099 Form From Your Employer or Bank

Who sends you a 1099 form

The person or business that paid you money sends you the 1099 form — not the IRS, and not a government office. If you received 1099-NEC income (non-employee compensation), your client or the company that hired you must send it. If you received 1099-INT income (interest from a bank account or CD), your bank sends it. If you received 1099-DIV income (dividends), your brokerage or investment company sends it. The same rule applies to all 1099 types: whoever paid you is responsible for sending the form to you.

You do not request a 1099 the way you might request a document from a government agency. Instead, you contact the business or bank that paid you and ask them to send it. Most employers and financial institutions have a process for this — usually a phone number, email address, or online portal where you can request tax documents.

Key Takeaways

• The business or bank that paid you is responsible for sending your 1099 form, not the IRS or any government office.
• You can request a 1099 by calling the company's accounting or payroll department, emailing their tax document team, or using their online customer portal.
• Forms must be mailed or made available by January 31 of the year after you earned the income.
• If a company does not send a 1099 by late February, contact them again in writing before filing your tax return.
• If you never receive a form from a business that paid you, you can still report the income on your tax return using the information you have.

How to contact your employer or bank for a 1099

Start by finding the right department. For a business that paid you as a contractor or freelancer, call their main number and ask for accounting, payroll, or the tax documents team. Tell them you need a 1099-NEC for the year you worked. Have your Social Security number and the dates you worked ready — they will need this to look up your record.

Many larger companies and all banks have online portals where you can request tax documents yourself. Log into your account on their website, look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1099 Forms," or "Year-End Statements," and follow the prompts. Some will email the form to you when ready; others will mail it within a few business days. If you cannot find the option online, email the company's tax or accounting department directly with your name, Social Security number, and the year you need the form for.

Small businesses and sole proprietors may not have a formal system. In that case, a phone call or email to the owner asking for your 1099 is the fastest route. Be specific: "I need a 1099-NEC for 2024" works better than "Can you send me a tax form?"

When 1099 forms must arrive

By law, any business or bank that owes you a 1099 must send it to you by January 31 of the year after you earned the income. This is a hard important date. If you do not have the form by early February, contact the company again — this time in writing, either by email or certified mail. Keep a copy of your message.

Some companies miss the important date. If you have not heard from them by mid-February and your tax return is due soon, you have two options: file your return using the income information you have (your own records, bank statements, or invoices), or request an extension from the IRS. You are not required to wait for the 1099 to report the income.

What to do if a company will not send a 1099

If you have asked multiple times and the company refuses or ignores your requests, you can report this to the IRS. The IRS has a form called Form 13909 (Information Referral) that you can file to report a business that is not issuing required 1099 forms. You can submit it online at the IRS website or mail it in. This does not get you the form faster, but it creates a record and may trigger an IRS inquiry into the business's tax reporting.

In the meantime, report the income on your tax return using whatever documentation you have — your own records, bank deposits, invoices, or emails showing payment. The IRS will match what you report against what the company eventually files (if they file at all), and if there is a discrepancy, they will contact you. Having your own records protects you in this situation.

Getting a 1099 from a bank or investment company

Banks and brokerages are usually the easiest source for 1099 forms because they have automated systems. Log into your online banking or investment account and look for a section called "Tax Documents," "Statements," "Year-End Summary," or "1099 Forms." read the form directly as a PDF. If you cannot find it online, call the bank's customer service line and ask them to mail a copy or email it to you.

Banks send 1099-INT forms for interest earned on savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs. Brokerages send 1099-DIV forms for dividends and 1099-B forms for stock sales. If you have accounts at multiple banks or brokerages, each one will send separate forms. You will need to gather all of them before filing your tax return.

Copies of a 1099 you already received

If you received a 1099 but lost it or need another copy, contact the company that sent it and ask for a duplicate. Most will send one at no cost. You can also request a transcript from the IRS that shows what 1099 forms they received on your behalf, though this takes several weeks and is usually only necessary if you are disputing what a company reported.

Keep your 1099 forms in a safe place once you receive them. You will need them to file your tax return, and the IRS may ask to see them if they audit your return.

What if you earned income but never got a 1099

Not all income requires a 1099 form. If you earned less than $600 from a single source in a year, the business is not required to send you one — though they may anyway. You are still required to report that income on your tax return, even without a 1099.

If you earned $600 or more and never received a form, follow the steps above to request one. If the company still will not send it after multiple requests, report the income using your own records and note in your tax return that you did not receive the form. The IRS will not penalize you for reporting income you actually earned, even if the company failed to file their copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a 1099 from the IRS instead of the company that paid me?

No. The IRS does not issue 1099 forms to you — only the business or bank that paid you can do that. The IRS receives a copy from the company, but they do not send forms to individuals. You must contact the company directly.

What if I worked for a company that went out of business?

If the company no longer exists, try contacting the owner or any former employees who might have records. If that fails, report the income on your tax return using your own documentation — paystubs, bank deposits, or emails confirming payment. You are not penalized for reporting income even without a 1099.

Do I need the 1099 to file my tax return?

You should have it, but you can file without it if necessary. Report the income using your own records. The IRS will eventually receive the company's copy and compare it to what you reported. If the amounts match, there is no problem. If they do not match, the IRS will contact you.

How long does it take to get a 1099 after I request it?

Online requests through a bank or brokerage portal usually deliver the form within minutes or a few business days. Requests by phone or email typically take one to two weeks. If you request it in person at a bank branch, you may receive it the same day.

What if the 1099 has the wrong amount or my name is misspelled?

Contact the company when ready and ask them to issue a corrected form, called an amended 1099. They must send the corrected version to you and file it with the IRS. Do not file your tax return until you have the corrected form, because the IRS will see the wrong amount on their copy.