How to Fill Out 1099 Forms
Step-by-step instructions for reporting every type of 1099 income on your federal tax return, with the correct forms, schedules, and line numbers for each.
Receiving a 1099 form means the IRS has also received a copy, so you must report the income correctly on your tax return. This guide walks through exactly where and how to report each major type of 1099 income with the correct IRS forms and line numbers.
If you need to identify which 1099 forms you have, start with our 1099 Form Guide. For self-employment guidance, see Estimated Tax Payments.
1099-NEC: Nonemployee Compensation
Report on Schedule C (Profit or Loss From Business), line 1. Enter the total amount from Box 1 of your 1099-NEC. You can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses on Schedule C lines 8-27 to reduce your taxable self-employment income. The net profit from Schedule C line 31 flows to Schedule SE (Self-Employment Tax) and Form 1040 line 3.
1099-INT and 1099-DIV: Interest and Dividends
If your total interest and dividends exceed $1,500, report on Schedule B. List each payer and amount from your 1099-INT and 1099-DIV forms. Transfer the total interest to Form 1040 line 2b and dividends to line 3b. Tax-exempt interest from 1099-INT Box 8 is reported on Schedule B but not taxed. Qualified dividends from 1099-DIV Box 1b are taxed at capital gains rates.
1099-B: Broker Transactions
Report on Form 8949 and Schedule D. Each transaction from your 1099-B needs to be listed on Form 8949: short-term (held 1 year or less) in Part I, long-term in Part II. Include the description, date acquired, date sold, proceeds, cost basis, and gain/loss. Aggregate totals transfer to Schedule D.
1099-K: Payment Card Income
Report business income from 1099-K on Schedule C line 1 along with your other business income. If you receive a 1099-K for non-business transactions (splitting rent, personal gifts), contact the payment platform to have it corrected or follow IRS safe harbor guidance for reporting personal amounts as nontaxable.
1099-R: Retirement Distributions
Report on Form 1040: IRA distributions on line 4a, pensions and annuities on line 5b. Use the gross distribution from Box 1 and taxable amount from Box 2a. If Box 2b is checked showing taxable amount not determined, the full amount may be taxable. Check Box 7 for the distribution code to identify early distributions, rollovers, or normal distributions.
1099-G: Government Payments
Report unemployment compensation on Form 1040 line 7. State income tax refunds from 1099-G Box 2 are reported on Form 1040 line 1 if you itemized deductions in the prior year. Agricultural payments and taxable grants are reported on Schedule F or Form 1040 as applicable.
For help calculating self-employment tax on your 1099-NEC income, use our Self-Employed Tax Calculator. See our full 1099 Form Guide for descriptions of every 1099 variant.
Businesses that hire independent contractors should obtain an EIN before filing Form 1099-NEC or other information returns with the IRS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule C line 1. Deduct business expenses on Schedule C to reduce taxable income. Also file Schedule SE for self-employment tax.
Schedule B if over $1,500 total. Interest to Form 1040 line 2b, dividends to line 3b. Under $1,500, report directly on Form 1040.
Form 8949 then Schedule D. Short-term sales in Part I, long-term in Part II. Include cost basis and proceeds for each transaction.
Business 1099-K income on Schedule C line 1. Personal transfers may need correction with the payment platform.
IRA distributions on Form 1040 line 4a, pensions on line 5b. Use Box 2a for taxable amount. Check Box 7 for distribution code.
Unemployment on Form 1040 line 7. State tax refund on line 1 if you itemized last year.
All reporting instructions verified against current IRS form instructions for the 2025 tax year.