Where to Get Your 1099 Forms From Your Employer or Service Platforms

Your employer or the company that paid you sends your 1099

The person or business that paid you for work is responsible for sending you a 1099 form. If you worked as a contractor, freelancer, or gig worker, the company that hired you must mail or email you a copy by January 31st each year. If you worked multiple jobs or gigs, you may receive several 1099s — one from each payer.

You do not request a 1099 from the IRS. You get it from whoever paid you the money. If a company paid you $600 or more during the year, they are required by law to send you a 1099. Some companies send them even for smaller amounts, so you may receive one even if you earned less.

The form shows how much you were paid and what type of work you did. The payer keeps a copy and also sends one to the IRS, so the IRS knows about your income before you file your tax return.

Key Takeaways

• Your payer — the employer, platform, or client who paid you — sends your 1099 by January 31st, not the IRS.
• You receive a separate 1099 from each company that paid you $600 or more in a calendar year.
• If you do not receive a 1099 by early February, contact the payer directly to ask for it.
• Keep all 1099s you receive and report the income on your tax return, even if you disagree with the amount.
• If a payer sends a corrected 1099, it will be marked as a duplicate or correction, and you should use the new version.

How to find the payer's contact information

Look for the company's website, invoice records, or past payment confirmations. Most platforms and employers list a tax or accounting contact on their site, often under "Tax Documents" or "1099 Information." You can also check your email for payment receipts or account statements — these usually show the legal business name and contact details.

If you worked through a gig platform like DoorDash, Uber, Instacart, or Fiverr, log into your account and look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1099," or "Year-End Statements." Most platforms let you read or request your 1099 directly from your dashboard. If the option is not visible, search the platform's help center for "1099" or "tax documents."

What to do if you have not received your 1099 by mid-February

Contact the payer by phone or email and ask for your 1099. Give them your full name, the year you worked, and the amount you believe you were paid. Many companies have a dedicated tax or payroll team that handles these requests. If you worked through a platform, use the in-app support or help center first.

If the payer says they will not send one because you earned under $600, ask them to send it anyway — some companies do this as a courtesy, and having the document helps you keep accurate records. If they refuse and you earned less than $600 from that source, you can still report the income on your tax return based on your own records (bank deposits, invoices, or payment confirmations).

If it is now March or later and you still have not received a 1099 from a payer who owes you one, you can file your tax return without it. Report the income based on your own records, and keep a note of which payer did not send the form. The IRS may contact you later if the amounts do not match, but you can explain that you did not receive the 1099.

Understanding the different 1099 types you might receive

The most common form is the 1099-NEC (nonemployee compensation), used for independent contractors and freelancers. If you drove for a rideshare company, did freelance writing, or worked as a consultant, you will likely receive a 1099-NEC.

A 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income) covers other types of payments, such as rental income, prize winnings, or payments from a lawsuit settlement. You may receive this if you rented out a room or property.

A 1099-K is issued by payment processors like PayPal, Square, or Stripe if you received payments through their platform. This form tracks credit card and digital payment transactions. You may receive both a 1099-K and a 1099-NEC from the same payer if they use a payment processor.

The type of 1099 does not change how you report the income — you still add it to your tax return. But knowing which form you received helps you understand what the payer reported to the IRS.

Keeping copies of your 1099s for your records

Save every 1099 you receive, whether by mail or email. Keep them in a folder with your other tax documents for at least three years. The IRS can audit your return up to three years after you file, so having the original forms protects you if questions come up.

If you receive a corrected 1099 (marked as a duplicate or correction), keep both the original and the corrected version. Use the corrected version on your tax return — it shows the payer caught an error and reported the right amount to the IRS. Destroy or clearly mark the original as superseded so you do not accidentally report the income twice.

What happens if the 1099 amount is wrong

If the 1099 shows an amount that does not match what you were actually paid, contact the payer when ready and ask them to issue a corrected 1099. Explain the discrepancy and provide your records (bank statements, invoices, or payment confirmations) as proof. Most payers will correct it if you can show the error.

If the payer refuses to correct it or does not respond, you have two choices. You can report the income based on your own records on your tax return and keep documentation of your attempt to get the correction. Or you can report the amount on the 1099 and file an amended return later if the payer eventually sends a correction. Either way, keep records of all communication with the payer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my 1099 before January 31st?

Some payers send 1099s early, but January 31st is the legal important date. If you need the form sooner for a loan process or other reason, contact the payer and ask if they can send it early. Many will, but they are not required to.

What if I worked for a company but they say I was an employee, not a contractor?

If you received a W-2 instead of a 1099, the company classified you as an employee. Report the W-2 income on your tax return, not a 1099. If you believe you were misclassified as an employee when you should have been a contractor, you can file Form SS-8 with the IRS to ask them to make a information, but this is a separate process from getting your 1099.

Do I need to report 1099 income if I lost money that year?

Yes. Report all 1099 income on your tax return, even if your business expenses exceeded what you earned. You can deduct those expenses to show a loss, which may reduce your overall tax or create a loss you can carry forward to future years.

What if I received a 1099 for work I did not do?

Contact the payer when ready and explain the error. Ask them to issue a corrected 1099 showing zero income, or to confirm they sent it to the wrong person. Get written confirmation of the correction. If the payer does not correct it, you can still file your return reporting only the income you actually earned and include a note explaining the discrepancy.

Can I read my 1099 from the payer's website instead of waiting for it in the mail?

Yes. Most employers and platforms let you read your 1099 from your account dashboard once it is ready, usually in late January. You can print it or save it as a PDF. A downloaded copy is valid for your records and for filing your tax return.