Where To Find Your 1099 Forms From Your Employer or Bank

Your employer or payer mails 1099 forms by January 31

The organization that paid you — your employer, your bank, a brokerage, or a client if you're self-employed — is required to send you a copy of your 1099 form by January 31 each year. This is the form that reports the income you earned to both you and the IRS. You should receive it in the mail at the address they have on file for you.

If you haven't received your 1099 by early February, contact the payer directly. Call their payroll department, customer service line, or the person who hired you. They can tell you whether the form was mailed, resent to a different address, or is still being processed. Many organizations mail forms in batches, so yours may arrive a few days after others.

Keep the 1099 forms you receive — you'll need them when you file your tax return. The IRS also receives a copy, so the income reported on your 1099 will be cross-checked against what you report on your return.

Key Takeaways

• Your payer must mail you a 1099 form by January 31 of the year after you earned the income.
• Contact the payer's payroll or customer service department directly if you don't receive your form by early February.
• You can request a duplicate or corrected form (called a 1099-X) if your original form was lost or contains errors.
• The IRS receives its own copy of your 1099, so the income reported must match what you report on your tax return.
• Different types of income use different 1099 forms — 1099-NEC for self-employment, 1099-INT for interest, 1099-DIV for dividends.

Requesting a duplicate 1099 if yours was lost or damaged

If you lost your 1099 or it arrived damaged, call the payer and ask for a duplicate copy. Most organizations can print and mail a replacement within a few business days. Have your account number or Social Security number ready when you call — they'll need it to look up your records.

If the payer no longer has copies available (this sometimes happens late in tax season), ask them to provide the information in writing or email. You can use that written confirmation to file your return, though the IRS prefers the official form. Keep whatever documentation you receive.

Correcting errors on your 1099

If your 1099 shows the wrong amount, wrong name, or wrong tax ID number, contact the payer when ready. They will issue a corrected form called a 1099-X. This corrected form must be sent to you and the IRS, and it will replace the original in the IRS's records.

Do not file your tax return using the incorrect 1099. Wait for the corrected form, or contact the payer in writing to document the error. If you file before the correction arrives and the IRS later receives the corrected form, the discrepancy can trigger an audit notice. Getting it right the first time is simpler.

Finding 1099s from banks and investment accounts

Banks, brokerages, and investment firms often let you read your 1099 forms from your online account before they mail the paper copy. Log into your account, look for a section labeled "Tax Documents," "1099 Forms," or "Year-End Statements," and read the PDF. This is usually available by mid-January.

If you can't find the read option in your account, call the institution's customer service line. They can email you the form or confirm the mailing address they have on file. Some smaller banks and credit unions mail forms only by paper, so allow extra time if you're waiting for the physical copy.

What to do if a payer says they didn't issue you a 1099

Some payers issue 1099 forms only if you earned above a certain threshold — often $600 for self-employment income (1099-NEC) or $10 for interest income (1099-INT). If you earned less than the threshold, the payer may not have sent a form, but you still owe tax on that income and should report it on your return.

If you earned above the threshold and the payer claims they didn't issue a form, ask them to check their records. Request written confirmation of the amount you were paid. You can then report that amount on your tax return even without the official form. Keep the written confirmation for your records in case the IRS asks questions later.

Tracking multiple 1099s from different payers

If you received income from more than one source — a W-2 job plus freelance work, or interest from multiple banks — you'll receive a separate 1099 for each payer. Create a straightforward list as forms arrive: the payer's name, the form type (1099-NEC, 1099-INT, etc.), and the amount reported. This makes it easier to enter all your income correctly on your tax return.

Store all your 1099 forms in one folder, either physical or digital. You don't have to send the forms to the IRS when you file — the IRS already has copies — but you do need them for your own records and to verify the amounts you're reporting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I moved and my 1099 was mailed to my old address?

Contact the payer with your new address and ask them to resend the form. If the form was already mailed, the post office may forward it to your new address if you filed a change-of-address form. Call the payer's customer service line — they can remail when ready rather than waiting for postal forwarding.

Can I file my tax return without receiving my 1099?

You can file using the income amount you know you earned, but the IRS will also receive a copy of your 1099 from the payer. If the amounts don't match, the IRS will send you a notice. It's better to wait for the form or request a copy from the payer before filing.

Do I need to send my 1099 forms with my tax return?

No. The IRS receives its own copy directly from the payer. You keep your copies for your records. However, if you're filing by mail (rather than electronically), some tax software or preparers may ask you to include them, so check your specific filing instructions.

What if I received a 1099 for income I didn't earn?

Contact the payer when ready and explain the error. Ask them to issue a corrected 1099-X showing zero income, or to confirm in writing that the form was sent in error. Report this to the IRS if the payer doesn't correct it — you can include a note with your return explaining the discrepancy.

How long should I keep my 1099 forms?

Keep them for at least three years after you file your return. The IRS can audit returns from the past three years, and you'll need the 1099 to prove the income you reported. If you're self-employed or have complex finances, keeping them longer is safer.