Preparing Income Taxes - Including the Many Different Kinds of IRS Form 1099

There are two classes of income information thatAccount will include all three information forms in
tax authorities like the Internal Revenue Serviceone document.
(IRS) use to track income; IRS Form W-2 andForm 1099-R, Distributions from Pensions,
IRS Form 1099. The IRS W-2 family of formsAnnuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs,
report wages, salaries, tips and, most important,Insurance Contracts, etc. reports distributions of
various federal, state, and voluntary tax$10 or more from an individual retirement
withholdings. There are however, many forms ofarrangements (IRAs) or other annuity, pension, or
compensation and fund distribution that are notprofit-sharing plan. See IRS Form 5498, IRA
considered wages or salary. The large number ofContribution Information if you have made
different 1099 forms are used to report all thiscontributions to individual retirement arrangements
tax-relevant information. Attach a copy of IRS(IRAs). In 2002 the "special" education IRA was
Form 1099 to your tax return when the formrenamed a Coverdell Education Savings Account
shows any taxes withheld from reported(ESA). Distributions are reported on the Form
compensation or distributions. Here is a list of1099-Q, Payments from Qualified Education
some of the more common informationPrograms. See IRS Form 5498-ESA, Coverdell
documents:ESA Contribution Information, if you maintain a
Income classified as non-employee orCoverdell Education Savings Account (ESA).
miscellaneous revenue, or any form ofDistributions from tax deductible health (medical)
compensation paid to independent contractorssavings accounts (HAS) used for medical
(like consultants, home care workers, artists, etc.)expenses are reported on Form 1099-SA,
is reported on a 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income.Distributions From an HAS, Archer MSA, or
These forms also report money paid forMedicare Advantage MSA. Code "W" in Box 12a
contract-for-hire work, to leased workers, oron the form indicates distributions from Health
general contractor payments. CompensationSavings Accounts and Archer Medical Savings
reported on this IRS form will often have noAccounts. IRS Form 1099-LTC, Long-Term and
taxes withheld.Accelerated Death Benefits show gross long-term
Form 1099-INT, Interest Income is used whencare benefits and accelerated death benefits paid.
more than $10 (or at least $600 of interest paidUse IRS Form 8853, Archer MSAs and
in the course of a business activity) of interest isLong-Term Care Insurance Contracts to report
reported for income purposes, when federalthese distributions.
taxes are withheld from funds and when foreignReporting debt income generated from the
taxes are paid. It is probably the most commoncancellation of a taxpayer's recourse debt is very
1099 form received by individual taxpayers. It isimportant and can have significant effects on
also reports taxable income related to interestyour tax liability. Form 1099-A, Acquisition or
from, for example savings accounts and penaltiesAbandonment of Secured Property, reports
related to early withdrawal of funds from IRA.information arising from foreclosure, repossession,
Box 2 shows interest or principal forfeitedor an abandonment of secured property. These
because of early withdrawal penalty. Box 4 showsfinancial acts are treated as either the exchange
the amount of federal tax withheld. Box 3 showsor sale of property. They can result in a capital
interest received from US Saving Bonds,gain and taxable income. A Form 1099-C,
Treasury bills, notes, or bonds.Cancellation of Debt document resulting from, for
Similar to a Form 1099-INT, Form 1099-DIV,example, bankruptcy or cancellation of consumer
Dividends and Distributions, is provided bydebt, can also show potentially taxable income
investment, mutual funds, and brokeragefrom the forgiven debt.
companies, to report taxable income and any taxForm 1099-OID, Original Issue Discount is issued
withholdings from ordinary and qualified dividendswhen an original issue discount on US Treasury
paid to the holder of record during the tax year.obligations is received on maturation of the issued
The 1099-DIV also reports capital gains, foreignpaper, usually from transactions related to
tax, investment expenses, and liquidationmortgages served by the Federal Housing
distributions. When a barter exchange isAuthority. Box 6 shows the amount of the
substituted for monetary payment in a financialdiscount received on US Treasury obligations. Box
transaction, the value of the payment for the4 shows the amount of federal tax withheld. Any
goods or services is reported on a Form 1099-B,early withdrawal penalty and investment
Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchangeexpenses may also be indicated on the
Transactions. Oftentimes a broker's Statement ofinformation form.