What is the difference between 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC?

Michael Toney Updated by Michael Toney

What is the difference between 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC? 

Form 1099-MISC 

1099-MISC is used to report various types of income (such as rents, royalties and fishing boat proceeds) that are not reportable on other existing 1099 forms such as:

  1. 1099-DIV (for dividend payments),
  2. 1099-INT (for interest payments),
  3. 1099-R (for retirement plan payments).   
Form 1099-NEC 

Form 1099-NEC is for reporting non-employee compensation (payments to independent contractors). 

Form 1099-NEC existed in the early 1980s. However, beginning in 1983, non-employee compensation (payments to independent contractors) was reported in box 7 on Form 1099-MISC. 

In 2017, the filing deadline for non-employee compensation was changed from February 28 (for paper-filed 1099-MISC) and March 31 (for electronically filed 1099-MISC) to January 31. 

This caused enormous confusion because 1099-MISC suddenly became one form with two different filing deadlines—January 31 for 1099-MISC that reported non-employee compensation and February 28 (if paper-filed) or March 31 (if efiled) for reporting other kinds of income such as rents and royalties. 

in 2020, the IRS reintroduced Form 1099-NEC (Non-Employee Compensation). The IRS required independent contractor payments to be reported on this form (due January 31) rather than 1099-MISC (due February 28 if paper-filed or March 31 if efiled). 

How did we do?

West Virginia Form WV/IT-103 - Withholding Year End Reconciliation

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