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1099-MISC, Independent Contractors, and Self-employed

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I received a Form 1099-MISC instead of a Form W-2. I'm not self-employed, I do not have a business. How do I report this income?

If payment for services you provided is listed in box 7 of Form 1099-MISC, you are being treated as a self-employed worker, also referred to as an independent contractor. You do not necessarily have to "have a business," but simply perform services as a nonemployee to have your compensation treated this way. The payer has determined that an employer-employee relationship does not exist in your case. That determination is complex, but is essentially made by examining the right to control how, when, and where you perform those services. It is not based on how you are paid, how often you are paid, nor whether you work part-time or full-time. There is no statutory definition of an employee, but from common law three basic areas have been identified:

  • behavioral control,
  • financial control, and
  • type of relationship.

For more information on employer-employee relationships, refer to Chapter 2 of Publication 15-A (PDF), Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide. If you think that you were, or are, an employee and you would like the IRS to issue a determination, you may submit Form SS-8 (PDF), Determination of Employee Work Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding.

Unless you have requested a determination by filing Form SS-8, you generally have to report your nonemployee compensation on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship), or Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business. You also need to complete Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, and pay self-employment tax on your net earnings from self-employment, if you had net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more. This is the manner by which self-employed persons pay into the social security and Medicare trust funds. Employees pay these payroll taxes, as well as income tax withholding, through deductions from their paychecks. Generally, there are no tax withholdings on this income. Thus, you may have been subject to the requirement to make quarterly estimated tax payments. If you did not make estimated tax payments, you may be charged an underpayment of estimated tax penalty.

References:

I thought I was an employee and thought my employer was withholding tax from my pay. My former employer sent me a Form 1099-MISC and didn't withhold any taxes. Is there a procedure to have the situation reviewed and possibly make the former employer pay the taxes due? What can I do?

You can ask the IRS to make a determination as to whether an employer-employee relationship exists by filing Form SS-8 (PDF), Determination of Employee Work Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding. If the IRS finds that an employer incorrectly treated an employee as a nonemployee, the employer will be liable for the social security and Medicare tax withholding that he or she failed to withhold and pay. (There are some exceptions to this noted in Publication 15-A (PDF), Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide.)

Holding the employer liable for the tax that was not withheld does not relieve you from the liability for your share of social security and Medicare taxes. To pay your portion, attach Form 4137 (PDF), Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income, to your individual income tax return and report the employee share of social security and Medicare on page 2 of Form 1040. Cross out the word "Tip" and insert the word "Wages" at the top of the Form 4137 and also at the top of Schedule U, U.S. Schedule of Unreported Tip Income, which is attached to the bottom of Form 4137. Also notate on the Form 4137 that a Form SS-8 has been filed. You may call us at 1 800-829-1040, the toll-free information number if further clarification of the procedure is necessary.

References:

  • Publication 15 (PDF), Circular E, Employer's Tax Guide
  • Publication 15-A (PDF), Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide
  • Form 4137 (PDF), Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income
  • Form SS-8 (PDF), Determination of Employee Work Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding
  • Tax Topic 762, Independent contractor vs. employee

The instructions for Form 1099-MISC, Box 7, say if you are not self-employed, call the IRS for information about how to report any social security and Medicare taxes. I need to know how do I report social security and Medicare taxes if I received income reported on a Form 1099-MISC, but was not self-employed?

You need to use Form 4137 (PDF), Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income. Cross out the word "Tip" and insert the word "Wages" at the top of the form and also at the top of Schedule U, which is attached to the bottom of the form. Follow the instructions on Form 4137 to compute your share of your social security and Medicare taxes. Attach Form 4137 to your Form 1040. You may call us at 1 800-829-0922 if further clarification of the procedures is necessary.

You may want to file Form SS-8 (PDF), Determination of Employee Work Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding. This form requests the IRS to make an official determination of whether or not you were an employee. To make this determination, the IRS will need information from you and your employer.

References:

  • Form 4137 (PDF), Social Security and Medicare Tax on Unreported Tip Income
  • Form SS-8 (PDF), Determination of Employee Work Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding

I received a Form 1099-MISC for an employee bonus. How do I report it?

Employee bonuses should be reported on Form W-2, not on Form 1099-MISC. Contact your employer and ask them to issue the correct form. If they will not issue you a Form W-2 for the bonus, complete Form 4852 (PDF), Substitute for Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. The bonus amount is reported on Line 7 on your Form 1040 or 1040A or line 1 of Form 1040EZ (PDF).

References:

I am self-employed. How do I report my income and how do I pay Medicare and social security taxes?

You are a sole proprietor if you are the sole owner of a business that is not a corporation. Report your income and expenses from your sole proprietorship on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship), or on Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business.

If the total of your net profit from all businesses is $400 or more, you must pay into the Social Security system by filing Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax. For more information on this, refer to Publication 533 (PDF), Self-Employment Tax.

The Federal tax system is based on a pay-as-you-go plan. Tax is generally withheld from your wages or salary before you get it. However, tax is generally not withheld from self-employment income. Thus, you may be required to make estimated tax payments. Publication 505 (PDF), Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax, provides information on making estimated tax payments.

References:

My son is a newspaper carrier. I would like to know if this income is subject to social security tax and if I must file a Schedule C for him?

Your son may be liable to pay into the Social Security system by paying self-employment tax. However, if your son is under the age of 18 he exempt from self-employment tax. Persons engaged in the trade or business of delivering or distributing newspapers or shopping news (including any services directly related to such delivery or distribution) are considered by statute as nonemployees and are treated as self-employed for all Federal tax purposes, including income and employment taxes.

Independent contractors report their income on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship), or you may qualify to use Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business. See Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, which must be filed if net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. If your child is a newspaper carrier under the age of 18, he is exempted from self-employment tax. See Publication 533 (PDF), Self-Employment Tax. This form is used to figure your social security and Medicare tax which is based on your self-employment income.

References:

What is the difference between a Form W-2 and a Form 1099-MISC?

Both of these forms are called information returns. The Form W-2 is used by employers to report wages, tips and other compensation paid to an employee. The form also reports the employee's income tax and Social Security taxes withheld and any advanced earned income credit payments. The Form W-2 is provided by the employer to the employee and the Social Security Administration. A Form 1099-MISC is used by a person engaged in a trade or business to report payments made in the course of such trade or business to another person or business who is not an employee. The form is required when payments of $10 or more in gross royalties or $600 or more in rents or services are paid. The form is provided by the payor to the IRS and the person or business that received the payment.

References:

How do you determine if a person is an employee or an independent contractor?

The determination is complex, but is essentially made by examining the right to control how, when, and where the person performs services. It is not based on how the person is paid, how often the person is paid, nor whether the person works work part-time or full-time. There is no statutory definition of what an employee is, but from common law three basic areas have been identified:

  • behavioral control,
  • financial control, and
  • type of relationship.

For more information on employer-employee relationships, refer to Chapter 2 of Publication 15-A (PDF), Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide. If you would like the IRS to determine whether services are performed as an employee or independent contractor, you may submit Form SS-8 (PDF), Determination of Employee Work Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding.

Unless you have requested a determination by filing Form SS-8, you generally have to report your nonemployee compensation on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship), or Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business. You also need to complete Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, and pay self-employment tax on your net earnings from self-employment, if you had net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more. This is the method by which self-employed persons pay into the social security and Medicare trust funds. Generally, there are no tax withholdings on this income. Thus, you may have been subject to the requirement to make quarterly estimated tax payments. If you did not make timely estimated tax payments, you may be assessed a penalty for an underpayment of estimated tax. Employees pay into the social security and Medicare trust funds, as well as income tax withholding, through payroll deductions.

References:

I received a Form 1099-MISC with an amount in box 7, (nonemployee compensation). What forms and schedules should be used to report income earned as an independent contractor?

Independent contractors report their income on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship), or you may qualify to use Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business (Sole Proprietorship). You should also be aware of Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, which must be filed if net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. This form is used to figure your social security and Medicare tax which is based on your net self-employment income. You may also need to file Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estate & Trust, if you do not make estimate tax payments.

References:

If I am an independent contractor, am I considered self-employed?

Generally, an independent contractor is considered self-employed. Refer to Chapter 5, Business Income, of Publication 334 (PDF), Tax Guide for Small Business, for a definition and examples of income from self-employment. Refer to Chapter 2, Employee or Independent Contractor, of Publication 15-A (PDF), Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide, for more information on independent contractors.

References:

I work as an independent contractor, but I do not own a business and do not perform services in the name of a business. Can I file my tax return without filing Schedule C or Schedule SE?

The income you earn as an independent contractor generally will be considered income from self-employment and you will need to file Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship), or you may qualify to use Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business. You will also need to file Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, if you had net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more.

References:

What, if any, quarterly forms must I file to report income as an independent contractor?

There are no quarterly income reporting requirements for Federal income tax purposes. However, because you will have no withholding taken from your income, you may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments. You use Form 1040ES (PDF), Estimated Tax for Individuals.

You need to be aware that there may be state and local requirements for estimated tax payments. You can start looking for information at How to Contact Us. You may want to go to your state's individual Web site for additional information. To access the state you need go to our Alphabetical State Index.

References:

I made several thousand dollars moonlighting as an independent contractor. What taxes do I need to pay?

You are responsible for Federal income tax and self-employment taxes on your income as an independent contractor. Self-employment taxes are your contributions to Social Security and Medicare. Your self-employment income and expenses will be reported on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business, or you may qualify to use Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business. You will also need to use Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, to compute and report your social security and Medicare tax, if you had net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more. Since there is no withholding on your self-employment income, you may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments. This is done using a Form 1040ES (PDF), Estimated Tax for Individuals.

References:

I received a Form 1099-MISC from a company that paid all employees this way. Will my income go on line 21 of Form 1040 as Other Income or on Schedule C?

Since your income was reported to you on a Form 1099-MISC, the company has treated you as an independent contractor and your income is treated as self-employment income. You will need to report that income, and any related expenses, on Form 1040, Schedule C (PDF), Profit or Loss from Business, or you may qualify to use Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ (PDF), Net Profit from Business. You will also need to use Form 1040, Schedule SE (PDF), Self-Employment Tax, to compute and report your Social Security and Medicare tax, if you had net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more. You may also need to make quarterly estimated tax payments. You would use Form 1040ES (PDF), Estimated Tax for Individuals, for this.

If you feel that you were an employee and not self-employed, you can file Form SS-8 (PDF), Determination of Employee Work Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes. This will enable the IRS to make a determination as to whether you are an employee or an independent contractor. To do this the IRS will need information from you and your employer.

For information about determining whether you are an employee or an independent contractor, please see Chapter 2 of Publication 15A (PDF), Employer's Supplemental Tax Guide.

References:

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