Common Mistakes to Avoid While Filing Form 1099-NEC

Form 1099 NEC is one of the important 1099 forms for businesses. When any organization pays $600 or more to a non-employee (individual or business) who is not on its payroll, they are required to file a 1099 NEC form. Non-employees include Freelancers, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, sole proprietors, and service providers.

 

Key Takeaways

• If you’ve hired an independent contractor, you’ll have to prepare a 1099.
• Improperly filed Form 1099s can lead to significant penalties for your business.
• There are two types of 1099 errors to be corrected: type 1 and type 2, each requiring specific correction procedures.

Form 1099-NEC Filing Information

Businesses should provide the following information during the filing of 1099 NEC forms: 

• Payer information, which consists of business name, address, and TIN (taxpayer identification number). 
• Details of the payee (name, address, and taxpayer identification number). 
• In box 1 of the 1099-NEC form, enter the amount you have paid to the non-employee. 
• In box 4, provide information regarding whether you withheld any federal income tax from the payments made for the services.
• Box 5 of 1099-NEC contains information on whether you have any withholding of any state income tax.

Common 1099-NEC Filing Mistakes to Avoid

Businesses can ensure smooth and penalty-free reporting by avoiding these common 1099-NEC Filing Mistakes.

1. Filling Out Wrong Information:

Businesses should be careful while entering the required 1099-NEC information. 

• • Errors in TINs can result in rejected forms or IRS penalties. Always verify the recipient’s TIN through IRS TIN matching tools before filing.
  • Only non-employee compensation of $600 or more is reported on Form 1099-NEC. Avoid including payments meant for other 1099 forms, such as rent or dividends.
  • Ensure your business name and Employer Identification Number (EIN) on the 1099-NEC match what’s registered with the IRS to avoid processing issues.
  • Some 1099-NEC forms might feature inaccurate payment amounts. This can occur due to oversight, manual errors, or system issues during the payment aggregation or issuance process.
    Note: Double-check your records to be sure you are using the appropriate amounts for the correct year and the correct vendor.

2. Missing the Deadline:

This is one of the biggest mistakes businesses make while filing 1099-NEC. All businesses must file it with the IRS by January 31. Filing after the IRS deadline or failing to submit required copies to recipients can lead to significant penalties.
The best way to avoid issues with 1099 filing is to start preparing early. Review your vendor information before year-end to be sure you have all the Form W-9s and other information required to file these forms.

Here’s the filing cycle schedule of Form 1099-NEC:

Filing Type	Due Date
Recipient Deadline	Friday – January 31, 2025
E-file Deadline	Friday – January 31, 2025
Paper Filing Deadline	Friday – January 31, 2025

 

3. Reporting the Incorrect Form:

Although each Form 1099 has its own specific reporting requirements, there are several filing requirements that apply uniformly to each of these forms. For instance, 1099-MISC is used to report all the miscellaneous payments while 1099- NEC form is dedicated to report payments ($600 or more) to non-employees for their service. A simple mistake on the form can be time-consuming and costly. You have to remember that 1099 is not just one form but includes a series of forms that are primarily used for informational filings.

Each 1099 form has a different purpose:

1. 1099-A is used to report Acquisition or Abandonment of Secured Property
2. 1099-B is used to report the Proceeds from Broker, and Barter Exchange Transactions 
3. 1099-C is used to report Cancellation of Debt
4. 1099-CAP is used to report Changes in Corporate Control and Capital Structure
5. 1099-DIV is used to report Dividends and Distributions
6. 1099-G is used to report Certain Government Payments
7. 1099-H is used to report Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Advance Payments
8. 1099-INT is used to report Interest Income
9. 1099-K is used to report Merchant Card and Third-Party Network Payments
10. 1099-LTC is used to report Long-Term Care and Accelerated Death Benefits
11. 1099-MISC is used to report Miscellaneous Income
12. 1099-NEC is used to report Nonemployee Compensations
13. 1099-OID is used to report Original Issue Discount
14. 1099-PATR is used to report Taxable Distributions Received from Cooperatives
15. 1099-Q is used to report Payments from Qualified Education Programs (Under Sections 529 and 530)
16. 1099-R is used to report Distributions from Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, and more.
17. 1099-SA is used to report Distributions from an HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA

So, be careful when reporting with your 1099 forms. Fortunately, we have curated a guide for you to check which 1099 form you need to file.
You can also check if you are required to file a Form 1099 or other information return here.

 

4. Filing a paper return when filing electronically is required:

Effective January 1, 2024, the IRS issued new regulations notably reducing the threshold for the number of returns required to be electronically filed. The threshold was reduced from 250 to 10 and required filings to be aggregated. So, if you are required to file more than 10 forms, you should either e-file with the IRS using the FIRE system or IRS-authorized e-filing platform like Tax1099. 

 

5. Formatting errors in key fields

Correctly formatting names, addresses, and other essential information impacts how accurately the IRS processes your forms. Since these documents are machine-read, even minor formatting errors can lead to misinterpretation. To ensure your forms are processed correctly:

• Follow the exact format specified by the IRS for each field
• Use capital letters for names and addresses
• Avoid special characters or punctuation unless specifically required
• Double-check the formatting of taxpayer identification numbers and payer names

You can avoid these formatting errors completely if you file 1099-NEC online. E-filing platforms like Tax1099 have an in-built error review system that flags common mistakes before submission. This ensures that your forms are accurate and compliant with IRS requirements.

You can avoid these common 1099-NEC filing mistakes and ensure that no penalties or IRS notices come your way.

 

How Do You Correct a 1099-NEC Form After it Has Been Filed?

Unlike a Form W-2 correction form, Form W-2c, there is no separate 1099 correction form. It is the same form as the original 1099 with the “CORRECTED” box checked.

Type 1 Errors:

• Wrong payment amount. 
• Incorrect code or checkbox. 
• Wrong name or address for the payee (but the correct Taxpayer Identification Number). 
• Submitting a form when it wasn’t necessary (in this case, the corrected form would show all reported amounts to $0.00 which will signal the IRS to void your submission)
   

Type 2 Errors: 

• Incorrect Taxpayer Identification Numbers for the payee and payer. 
• Incorrect information for the payer. 
• Incorrect information for the payee. 
• Preparing the wrong form.

Want to rectify 1099 Forms?
With Tax1099, you can file your 1099 Corrections online effortlessly, retransmit the form to the IRS in minutes and avoid heavy penalties. 

 

How to File a Corrected 1099 with Tax1099?  

STEP 1: Login to Tax1099 and select “New Form” from the Dashboard.

STEP 2: Choose the TY, Form Type and check the box labeled ‘corrected’ at the top of the form.

STEP 3: Enter the corrected information and review it.

STEP 4: Submit your corrected Form 1099 to the IRS.

STEP 5: Request Employee Copies (eDelivery/Postal). 

If you’re still uncertain, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and our customer service team will be happy to assist you. 

 

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