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1099-INT Reporting Threshold: When Do You Need to File?

1099-INT Threshold

Table of Contents

What Is Form 1099-INT and Who Must File?

Form 1099-INT reports payments of $10 or more in interest from a savings account, Treasury bond, or tax-free bond. It also reports any federal income tax from interest payments or backup withholding, regardless of the minimum amount for 1099-INT reporting.

Banks, credit unions, lenders, investment firms, partnerships, and certain businesses that pay interest payments during a business or trade are required to file 1099-INT.

The interest can be paid either in cash or non-cash form (such as gift cards or merchandise for account-opening bonuses). When the interest is paid in non-cash form, the value of that item or FMV must be reported.

Payer tip: If your business pays interest, even for a one-time transaction, and it’s not part of payroll, you may need to file under 1099-INT filing requirements.

The IRS Reporting Threshold for 1099-INT Explained

The 1099-INT reporting threshold is $10 or more for interest payments paid to a payee during a calendar year, even if they’re not explicitly mentioned as interest. This includes interest added to a person’s bank or credit union account, interest from savings and loan groups, life insurance companies, or loans, notes, and bonds, as well as amounts from checking or savings accounts, CDs, Treasury bonds, and certain insurance or escrow accounts.

Interest from complex investments such as WHFIT, REMIC, FASIT, or CDOs is also reported if they reach the minimum 1099-INT filing requirements or if backup withholding or foreign withholding tax applies.

The 1099-INT $10 rule applies to the total amount paid to one individual or entity under a single TIN, which means you must add up all interest paid across multiple accounts. Non-cash interest, like a $15 gift card for opening an account, is counted toward the $10 minimum.

Interest Paid In a Calendar Year Is 1099-T Filing Required? Reason
$5 from a small savings account No Amount does not reach the minimum amount for 1099-INT reporting
$10 bonus + accrued interest Yes Amount reached 1099-T reporting requirement
$25 multiple CDs or interest accounts Yes Aggregated payment amount is above the 1099-T filing requirement

Don’t let small interest payments slip through the cracks. IRS thresholds apply across all accounts and products.

Special Situations: When You Must File 1099-INT Regardless of Amount

Knowing when to file 1099-INT can sometimes go beyond just meeting the $10 threshold. Certain exceptions apply.

Backup withholding

If you withheld any federal income tax (usually 24%) for missing/incorrect TINs or due to an IRS notice, you need to file a 1099-INT, regardless of the interest amount paid. The IRS requires filing in these cases even if the interest is less than $10. Using the real-time TIN Match feature by Tax1099 to verify TINs with IRS records is highly recommended to avoid backup withholding 1099-INT.

Other scenarios

You must also file if any portion of the interest is subject to U.S. tax (such as certain foreign recipients).

You also need to report if the interest paid in the course of your trade or business is $600 or more in cases of delayed death benefits from life insurance companies, interest on damages received in lawsuits, interest on state or federal tax refunds, or interest related to certain financial contracts with nonperiodic payments.

Document all notices and communications regarding backup withholding. The IRS may require proof of compliance.

What Counts as Reportable Interest?

You must report the following payments if the interest income IRS threshold is met during the calendar year.

  • Interest from banks, credit unions, and similar institutions on accounts like savings, checking, or CDs.
  • Interest from bonds, notes, or other debt instruments, including accrued interest on bonds sold between payment dates. This includes interest from U.S. savings bonds or Treasury securities.
  • Payments from business, escrow, or trust accounts, such as those tied to real estate transactions.
  • Interest earned through complex investment structures like WHFITs, REMICs, FASITs, or CDOs.
  • Interest paid as part of a business loan is paid during a business transaction.
  • Promotional bonuses or non-cash items, such as gift cards awarded for opening accounts, are reported at fair market value.

What’s not reportable on 1099-INT

1099-INT filing requirements do not apply for the following types of payments:

  • Interest paid to most corporations does not require a 1099-INT, except for certain exceptions such as some trusts, estates, or attorneys.
  • Unless you engage in lending as a business, interest on personal loans is not reportable on 1099-INT.
  • Interest credited to IRAs, qualified plans, and other tax-deferred retirement accounts is not reported.

Examples

  1. If your business paid $12 interest on an escrow account for a real estate transaction, you’ll need to report it to the IRS since it meets the minimum amount for 1099-INT reporting.
  2. If a $20 store gift card was awarded to a recipient for opening a new checking account, the total value must be reported on 1099-INT if it exceeds the $10 reporting threshold.

How to Calculate the 1099-INT Reporting Threshold

To determine if the payments are above the 1099-INT reporting threshold, you need to:

Calculate the total interest paid to each recipient by aggregating all payments made to their TIN over a single calendar year. This includes interest from all accounts and sources for that recipient.

Include non-cash interest payments in the total interest calculation. These could be promotional items such as gift cards or merchandise. Use the FMV of those items.

For example, you pay $7 from one account and $4 from another account to the same recipient (same TIN), the total interest paid is $11. Since the interest payment is $10 or more, above the minimum amount for 1099-INT, the form must be filed and transmitted to the IRS, with copies sent to the recipient.

Most business accounting software solutions and banking platforms generate annual interest summaries or reports that help users track interest payments. You can integrate your accounting platform with Tax1099 to help verify and ensure the interest income is correctly captured and reported to the IRS.

Year-end best practice tip: Run a report before January 31 to catch last-minute changes or missed accounts.

Common Pitfalls in 1099-INT Filing & How to Avoid Them

Missing threshold filings

Smaller interest payments, like $5 from one account and $6 from another, might not seem reportable. But if it’s to the same TIN, you need to aggregate all the interest payments. In this case, the total aggregate exceeds the 1099-INT $10 rule ($5 + $6), so it needs to be reported.

Not reporting backup withholding

If the recipient gave you the wrong TIN or didn’t give one at all, filing 1099-INT becomes mandatory even if the payment amount is below the reporting threshold.

Incorrect recipient info

Filing with incorrect TIN or name increases the risk of IRS audits and can trigger backup withholding. Always validate recipient data before filing.

Filing for exempt recipients

Reporting interest payments paid to exempt recipients like a registered C-Corp not only wastes resources and time with unnecessary filing, but also creates unnecessary records and confuses the IRS.

Mistaking non-reportable payments

Not all interest payments require 1099-INT reporting. Interest on personal loans, interest credited to IRAs or 401(k)s are a few interest payments that should not be reported on 1099-INT.

Avoid Common Mistakes in 1099-INT With Tax1099

Tax1099, an IRS authorized e-filing platform, streamlines 1099-INT filing process and keeps filing compliant with IRS requirements using:

  • Real-time TIN Matching to validate TIN and name combinations before submission.
  • Automated reminders and customizable filing checklists to help stay on schedule.
  • Validations on forms before e-filing to detect missing data, formatting issues, and threshold compliance.

Real-Life Scenarios

$9.50 Interest Paid (No Backup Withholding)

If the total interest paid to a payee by a bank is $9.50, the bank or payer is not required to file Form 1099-INT for this recipient. And since the payee provided accurate TIN, there is no backup withholding.

$15 in Interest Paid (No Withholding)

If a bank pays a payee $15 in interest payments, the bank will be required to file 1099-INT and send a recipient copy to the payee since the interest paid exceeds the $10 threshold.

$4 Interest, $1 Withheld

If backup withholding is triggered because a payee did not provide a TIN, 1099-INT filing becomes mandatory even if the interest payment is $4 (below the minimum amount for 1099-INT).

$6 from Savings, $6 from CD—Same Person

A recipient receives multiple interest payments from different accounts ($6 from Savings and $6 from CD). The total amount will trigger 1099-INT reporting since all the accounts are under the same TIN.

Interest Paid to a Corporation

Interest payments made to corporations do not require a 1099-INT filing, except in certain cases such as payments to certain partnerships, estates, or trusts.

$20 Gift Card for New Account

If a $20 gift card was provided to a recipient in connection with account opening, it must be treated as an interest payment and will require a 1099-INT filing.

 

FAQs

1: If I pay less than $10 in total interest, do I need to file 1099-INT?

No, you do not need to file Form 1099-INT if the total interest paid to a recipient is less than $10, unless backup withholding applies.

2: Is non-cash interest (like a $15 gift card) reportable?

Yes, if the non-cash interest payments. like a $15 gift card, is tied to an account, the fair market value (FMV) of the item must be reported on 1099-INT.

3: Do I aggregate across all accounts for each recipient?

Yes, you must aggregate all accounts and products made to a single recipient under one TIN. If the total exceeds $10, you must file Form 1099-INT.

4: What are the 1099-INT deadlines?

The 1099-INT deadlines are:

  • Furnishing recipient copies: January 31 (Feb 2 for 2025TY)
  • 1099-INT paper filing: February 28 (March 2 for 2025TY)
  • 1099-INT e-filing: March 31
5: What are the penalties for missing a required 1099-INT?

The penalties for missing a required 1099-IN are:

  • Up to 30 days late: $60 per form
  • 31 days late through Aug 1: $130 per form
  • After Aug 1 or not filed: $330 per form
  • Intentional Disregard: $660 per form
6: Does backup withholding always trigger a filing, even for $1?

Yes, backup withholding can be triggered even if the interest payment is just $1.

7: What if I’m unsure if a payment is “interest”?

To determine whether a payment is in interest or not, check whether the payment represents taxable interest income or credited to a third party. If in doubt, consult the IRS instructions for Form 1099-INT.

Stay compliant—know the $10 1099-INT rule, aggregate all interest by recipient, and file on time with Tax1099 for a smooth, penalty-free tax season.