The 1099 forms you are most likely to get
- Form 1099-NEC: pay for work you did as a contractor, not an employee. For payments made in 2026, a business must send you one if it paid you $2,000 or more. Before 2026 the limit was $600.
- Form 1099-K: money you got for goods or services through a payment app or online marketplace. For 2026, the app must send one if you got over $20,000 in more than 200 transactions. You may still get one for less.
- Form 1099-MISC: other payments, like rent, prizes or awards. Many of these limits also went from $600 to $2,000 for 2026. A few types have different limits.
- Form 1099-INT and 1099-DIV: bank interest and dividends.
- Form 1099-B and 1099-DA: sales of stocks (1099-B) or crypto and other digital assets (1099-DA) through a broker.
No 1099? You still report the money
The $2,000 and $20,000 limits only decide who must send a form. They do not make income tax free. If a client paid you $1,500 in 2026, you may not get a 1099-NEC, but you still report the $1,500. Keep your own records of every payment.
When your 1099 forms should arrive
Most 1099 forms for 2026 are due to you by January 31, 2027. That date is a Sunday, so the deadline moves to Monday, February 1, 2027. Broker forms like 1099-B and 1099-DA can come later, around mid February. Wait until you have all your forms before you file.
What to do if a 1099 is missing or wrong
- Missing: check the app or client website first. Many gig apps post the form in your account. If it is not there, ask the payer for it.
- Wrong amount or wrong name: ask the payer for a corrected form. The IRS gets a copy of every 1099, so a wrong form can lead to an IRS letter later.
- Either way, report the real amount you were paid, using your own records.
Self-employment tax in plain words
When you work for yourself, nobody takes out Social Security and Medicare from your pay. You pay it yourself with your tax return. This is the self-employment tax.
- The rate is 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare.
- You owe it if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more. Net means income minus business expenses.
- For 2026, the Social Security part applies to the first $184,500 of your combined wages and self-employment earnings.
- You can deduct half of the self-employment tax on your return.
Want a rough number? Try our free self-employment tax calculator.
How 1099 income fits on your return: Schedule C
If you drive, deliver, clean or do other work for yourself, your income and expenses usually go on Schedule C. Your profit from Schedule C is what you pay income tax and self-employment tax on. Every real business expense you can prove lowers that profit.
Mileage and common expenses for 2026
For 2026 the IRS set two business mileage rates:
- 72.5 cents per mile for business miles from January 1 to June 30, 2026.
- 76 cents per mile for business miles from July 1 to December 31, 2026.
Keep a mileage log with the date, miles and reason for each trip. An app is fine. Other common expenses for gig workers include the business part of your phone bill, app or platform fees, delivery bags, cleaning supplies, and business tolls and parking. Keep the receipts.
Quarterly estimated taxes
You generally need to pay estimated tax during the year if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file. The 2026 due dates are:
- April 15, 2026
- June 15, 2026
- September 15, 2026
- January 15, 2027
You can skip the January 15, 2027 payment if you file your 2026 return by February 1, 2027 and pay everything you owe. The IRS posts the 2027 dates each year on Form 1040-ES.
Sources: irs.gov Instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC, irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k, irs.gov/businesses/gig-economy-tax-center, irs.gov/tax-professionals/standard-mileage-rates, irs.gov self-employment tax, irs.gov estimated taxes, irs.gov Form 1040-ES (2026).
General information, not tax advice for your situation. Last reviewed: October 2026.