What is Form 1099-MISC?
Form 1099-MISC reports miscellaneous income payments — rents of $600+, royalties of $10+, fishing boat proceeds, medical and health care payments, attorney gross proceeds, crop insurance, prizes and awards, and other miscellaneous compensation that doesn't fit on 1099-NEC.
Full explanation
Form 1099-MISC is the catch-all information return for miscellaneous payments that don't fall under 1099-NEC's "non-employee compensation" bucket. It covers rent paid to a landlord, royalties paid to a creator, prizes and awards, crop insurance proceeds, gross proceeds paid to an attorney, and several smaller categories.
Thresholds vary by box: $600 for rents and attorney gross proceeds; $10 for royalties; etc. Each box on the form has its own threshold and its own filing rule. The IRS instructions for Form 1099-MISC are the authoritative reference if you're not sure which box applies.
Recipient copies (Copy B) are due to the recipient by January 31. The IRS copy is due February 28 if filing on paper or March 31 if filing electronically — a different deadline from 1099-NEC, which is a common source of confusion.
Common scenarios: paying $12,000 in commercial rent for the year, paying a musician royalties for use of their song, paying $750 to an attorney for a settlement, giving a $1,500 prize at a customer-appreciation event. Each of these triggers a 1099-MISC filing in different boxes.
Frequently asked questions about Form 1099-MISC
When is a 1099-MISC required?
Different thresholds per box. The most common: $600+ for rents (Box 1), $600+ for prizes/awards (Box 3), $600+ for attorney gross proceeds (Box 10), $10+ for royalties (Box 2). Check the IRS Form 1099-MISC instructions for the precise list.
What is the deadline for filing 1099-MISC?
Recipient copy: January 31. IRS copy: February 28 (paper) or March 31 (electronic). The split deadline differs from 1099-NEC, which has January 31 for both copies.
Can the same payment be on both 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC?
No — the same payment goes on exactly one form. Use 1099-NEC for non-employee compensation for services. Use 1099-MISC for everything else (rents, royalties, prizes, attorney gross proceeds, etc.).