Issue Number: FS-2024-07
Inside This Issue
If a taxpayer sold goods or services in 2023 and received payments through certain payment apps or online marketplaces or accepted payment cards, they could have received a third party reporting document Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions.
Following feedback from taxpayers, tax professionals and payment processors, and to reduce taxpayer confusion, the IRS announced Notice 2023-74, which delayed the new federal law $600 reporting threshold for tax year 2023 on Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions. The previous reporting thresholds remained in place for 2023, which are more than $20,000 in payments and over 200 transactions. Taxpayers could have still received forms below the threshold.
It’s important to know that regardless of if a taxpayer received a Form 1099-K or not, they must report their income. This includes payments they receive in cash, property, goods, digital assets or foreign sources or assets.
The Form 1099-K should not report personal payments like gifts and reimbursements.
What to do when filing taxes
It’s important to understand why an individual received a Form 1099-K. Taxpayers can then use it with their other tax records when it’s time to file their return. The form provides the gross amount of payment card/third party network transactions and may include a combination of different kinds of total payments received.
It’s important to note, just because a payment is reported on a Form 1099-K does not mean it’s taxable.
Taxpayers should review the form or forms, determine if the amount is correct, and determine any deductible expenses associated with the payment they may be able to claim when they file their taxes.
Selling personal items at a loss
If an individual sold items at a loss, which means they paid more for the items than for what they sold them, there is not a tax liability. They’ll be able to zero out the payment on their tax return by reporting both the payment and an offsetting adjustment on a Form 1040, Schedule 1. This will ensure if they received these forms, they don’t have to pay taxes they don’t owe.
Selling personal items at a gain
If an individual sold items at a gain, which means they paid less than for what they sold it, they will have to report that gain as income, and it’s taxable.
See IRS.gov What to do with Form 1099-K for specific instruction on how to report personal item sales.
What to do with a Form 1099-K received in error
People may get a Form 1099-K when they shouldn’t have if it:
- Reports personal payments from family or friends like gifts or reimbursements.
- Doesn’t belong to them.
- Duplicates a Form 1099-K or other information reporting form they already received.
If this happens:
- Contact the issuer immediately – see “Filer” on the top left corner of Form 1099-K to find out the name and contact information of the issuer.
- Ask for a corrected Form 1099-K that shows a zero amount.
- Keep a copy of the original form and all correspondence with the issuer for your records.
- Don’t wait to file taxes. File even if a corrected Form 1099-K is unavailable.
What to do with an incorrect Form 1099-K
If the payee Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or gross payment amount is incorrect taxpayers should request a corrected form from the issuer.
- See “Filer” on the top left corner of Form 1099-K to find the name and contact information of the issuer. If a taxpayer doesn’t recognize the issuer, they should contact the Payment Settlement Entity (PSE) identified on the bottom left corner of the form above their account number.
- Keep a copy of the corrected Form 1099-K with other tax records, along with any correspondence from the issuer or PSE.
- Don’t contact the IRS. The IRS can’t correct a Form 1099-K from an issuer.
Don’t wait to file taxes. To file a tax return, take these steps:
- If the Payee Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is incorrect report payments from the Form 1099-K and any sources of income on the appropriate tax return you normally file.
- If the gross payment amount is incorrect report the amount from your incorrect Form 1099-K on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), Additional Income and Adjustments to Income.
More Information
See What to do with Form 1099-K for more information on how to report an incorrect Form 1099-K.
See Understanding Your Form 1099-K and Form 1099-K FAQs for more information.