Where to request your 1099 form

Your 1099 form comes from the person or business that paid you — not from the IRS or a government office. If you received self-employment income, freelance payments, rental income, or other non-wage earnings during the year, the payer is responsible for sending you a copy by January 31st of the following year.

Start by contacting the payer directly. Call their accounting or payroll department, email the person who hired you, or log into your account on their website if they have a client portal. Many larger platforms — like Stripe, PayPal, or Uber — let you read your 1099 straight from your account dashboard under a section labeled "Tax Documents" or "1099 Forms".

If you worked with multiple payers, you will need to reach out to each one separately. Keep a list of every business or person who paid you more than $600 during the year, because those are the ones legally required to send you a 1099.

Key Takeaways

  • Your 1099 comes from the payer — the business or person who paid you — not from the IRS, and they must send it by January 31st.
  • Contact the payer's accounting department by phone, email, or through their online account portal to request your form.
  • Many digital payment platforms let you read your 1099 directly from your account without calling anyone.
  • If you do not receive your 1099 by early February, follow up with the payer again before filing your taxes.
  • Keep records of all payments you received, because you may need to report income even if a payer does not send you a form.

What to do if you haven't received your 1099 by February

The important date for payers to send you a 1099 is January 31st, but forms sometimes arrive late or get lost in the mail. If you have not received yours by early February, contact the payer again — this time in writing if possible, so you have a record of your request. Email works, or send a letter to their accounting department asking for the form and requesting a response by a specific date.

Give the payer a reasonable window — usually five to ten business days — to respond. If they still do not send it after that, you have a few options. You can file your tax return without the form and report the income based on your own records, or you can contact the IRS to report that the payer failed to send the form.

Getting a 1099 from a business that no longer exists

If the business that paid you has closed or you cannot locate them, you will still need to report that income on your tax return. Use whatever documentation you have — bank statements, payment records, invoices, emails confirming the work — to reconstruct the amount you were paid.

Report the income under "Other Income" on your tax return and note that you do not have a 1099 form. The IRS understands that some businesses shut down or disappear, and they care more about you reporting the income than about having the official form.

Understanding what information appears on your 1099

A 1099 form shows the total amount a payer sent you during the calendar year. The most common type is the 1099-NEC (for non-employee compensation), which reports freelance work, consulting fees, and other self-employment income. You may also receive a 1099-MISC (miscellaneous income), a 1099-INT (interest), a 1099-DIV (dividends), or other specialty forms depending on what kind of payment you received.

The form includes the payer's name and tax ID number, your name and Social Security number or tax ID, and the total amount paid in Box 1. Make sure the amount matches your records. If it does not, contact the payer when ready and ask them to send you a corrected form — called a 1099-X — before you file your return.

Downloading 1099s from online payment platforms

If you use PayPal, Stripe, Square, DoorDash, Uber, Etsy, or similar platforms, log into your account and look for a section called "Statements," "Tax Documents," "1099 Forms," or "Year-End Tax Information." Most platforms let you read a PDF of your 1099 directly without contacting anyone.

The timing varies by platform. Some make forms available in late January, while others release them closer to the important date. If you cannot find the option in your account, check the platform's help center or FAQ — they usually have a step-by-step guide for downloading tax documents. If the form still is not available by mid-February, contact the platform's support team.

Keeping records in case you need to prove your income

Even if you receive a 1099, keep your own copies of all payments you received — bank statements, PayPal transaction histories, invoices, emails confirming payment, or deposit receipts. These records protect you if there is ever a question about your income, and they help you file accurately if a payer sends you a form with the wrong amount.

If you received income that was not reported on a 1099 — for example, cash payments or informal work — you are still required to report it on your tax return. Your own records are your proof that you earned it.

What happens if a payer reports the wrong amount

If your 1099 shows an amount that does not match what you actually received, contact the payer and ask them to issue a corrected form. The corrected form is called a 1099-X, and it will have the same box numbers but with the correct amounts filled in.

Do not file your tax return using the incorrect amount. Wait for the corrected form if possible, or contact the payer in writing to document the discrepancy. If you file before receiving the correction, the IRS may send you a notice later asking why your reported income does not match what the payer reported. Having your own records and a written request for correction protects you in that situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have my 1099 before I file my taxes?

You should have it, but you can file without it if the payer is late. Report the income based on your own records — bank statements, invoices, or payment confirmations. If the payer eventually sends a 1099 with a different amount, you may need to file an amended return, so it is worth waiting a few weeks if you can.

What if I received less than $600 from a payer?

Payers are not required to send you a 1099 for amounts under $600, but you still have to report that income on your tax return. Keep your own records and include it when you file.

Can I get a 1099 for work I did last year if I never received one?

You can request one from the payer, but they are only required to send it during the year it was earned. If it has been more than a year, contact them anyway — some will issue a corrected or late form. If they refuse, report the income based on your records and note on your return that you do not have a 1099.

What if the 1099 has my name spelled wrong or the wrong address?

Ask the payer to send you a corrected form. A small error like a misspelled name usually will not cause problems, but it is better to have it match your tax return exactly. If the payer will not correct it, file your return with the income reported correctly and keep a copy of your request for correction in case the IRS asks questions.

Where do I report my 1099 income on my tax return?

That depends on the type of 1099. Self-employment income from a 1099-NEC usually goes on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business). Interest and dividends go on Schedule B. Other types have their own schedules. Your tax software will ask you what kind of income it is and put it in the right place automatically.