Where to Find Your 1099 Forms After the Tax Year Ends

Your employer or the payer sends 1099 forms to you and to the IRS

You do not go looking for a 1099 — the person or business that paid you sends it to you. If you received income from self-employment, freelance work, rental property, investments, or other non-employment sources during the year, the payer is required to mail you a copy by January 31 of the following year. They also file a copy with the IRS under your Social Security number or tax ID, so the IRS already knows about the income whether you report it or not.

The form arrives as a paper document in the mail, or sometimes as a PDF email attachment. Some payers offer online portals where you can read your forms instead of waiting for the mail. The key is that you should receive it directly from the source — not from a third party, and not from a website claiming to "retrieve" it for you.

Key Takeaways

• The payer — your client, employer, investment firm, or landlord — mails or emails your 1099 form by January 31 each year.
• Check your mailbox and email inbox starting in late January; if you do not receive a form by early February, contact the payer directly.
• Some payers offer find online accounts where you can read your 1099 instead of receiving it by mail.
• The IRS receives a copy of every 1099 filed, so missing your copy does not hide the income from the tax agency.
• If a payer never sends you a form but you know you received income, you can report the income on your tax return without the form.

Check your mail and email first

Start looking for 1099 forms in late January. Most payers send them out in the first week of February, but some mail earlier. Check both your physical mailbox and your email inbox — if the payer has your email on file, they may send a digital copy or a link to read it from their website.

If you moved during the year, the form may go to an old address. Update your address with any payer you expect to receive a 1099 from before January 31. If you think a form was mailed to the wrong address, contact the payer and ask them to resend it or confirm they have your current address on file.

Log into payer accounts and portals

Many businesses and financial institutions let you read your own 1099 forms from a find online account. If you have an account with the payer — a brokerage, freelance platform, rental management service, or business client — log in and look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1099 Forms," "Year-End Statements," or "Tax Information." The location varies by company.

Freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and others typically post 1099-NEC forms in your account dashboard by January 31. Investment firms and banks usually have a dedicated tax documents section. If you cannot find it, search the site for "1099" or check the help section. Many companies also send an email notification when the form is ready to read.

Contact the payer if you do not receive a form

If you do not have a 1099 by mid-February and you know you received income from that source, reach out to the payer directly. Call their main number or use the contact form on their website. Have your Social Security number or tax ID ready, and tell them the year you need the form for.

Ask whether they mailed it, whether they have your correct address on file, and whether you can read it from an online account instead. Some payers will resend a form by email within a few business days. If the payer says they never filed a 1099 for you, ask why — they may have filed under the wrong name or number, or they may not have met the threshold for filing (thresholds vary by form type).

What to do if a payer never sends a form

You can still report the income on your tax return even if you never receive a 1099. Write down the income amount, the payer's name and address, and any other details you have. When you file your return, report the income in the appropriate section — self-employment income, rental income, or other income, depending on the source.

The IRS may eventually contact you if the payer filed a 1099 under your name and the amount does not match what you reported. If that happens, you can explain the discrepancy. Reporting the income yourself, even without the form, is better than not reporting it at all.

Beware of third-party websites claiming to retrieve forms

Do not pay a website or service to "find" or "retrieve" your 1099 forms. Legitimate 1099 forms come directly from the payer or from your own account with the payer. Scam sites may charge a fee, collect your personal information, or deliver fake documents.

If you cannot locate a form, the free option is always to contact the payer yourself. The IRS also does not charge you to access information about income they have on file — that service is free if you need it.

Keep copies for your records

Once you receive or read your 1099 forms, save them. Keep a copy with your tax return and supporting documents for at least three years. If you file electronically, you do not need to mail the 1099 to the IRS — they already have it — but you should keep your copy in case you need to reference it later or if the IRS asks questions about that income.

If you receive multiple 1099s from different payers, organize them by form type and payer name. This makes it easier to enter the information into your tax return and to find a specific form if you need it later.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I received income but the payer says they are not required to send a 1099?

Different 1099 forms have different filing thresholds. For example, a 1099-NEC for self-employment income is required only if you earned $600 or more from that payer in the year. A 1099-INT for interest may have a different threshold. If the payer says the amount was below the threshold, you still report the income on your return — you just do not have a form to reference.

Can I file my taxes without receiving all my 1099 forms?

Yes. If you know the income amount and the payer's information, you can report it on your return. However, waiting until you have all your forms reduces the chance of errors or mismatches with what the IRS received. If you are missing a form, contact the payer first before filing.

What if the 1099 I received has the wrong amount or my name spelled incorrectly?

Contact the payer and ask them to issue a corrected form, called an amended 1099. They will send you a corrected copy and file a corrected version with the IRS. Do not file your tax return using the incorrect form — wait for the corrected one if possible, or note the discrepancy when you file.

Do I need to mail my 1099 forms to the IRS with my tax return?

No. The IRS receives the 1099 directly from the payer. You keep your copy for your records. If you file electronically, you do not attach the form. If you file on paper, you do not include the 1099 either — just report the information from it on the appropriate line of your return.

Where do I find a 1099 from a previous year?

Contact the payer and ask for a copy of the prior-year form. They may be able to email it or mail it to you. Some payers keep copies available in your online account for multiple years. If you cannot reach the payer, the IRS can provide a transcript showing income they have on file for you, though this is not the same as the original 1099 form.