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    IRS Form 1099-MISC

    Form 1099-MISC: Miscellaneous Information

    Report various types of miscellaneous income including rents, royalties, prizes, awards, medical and health care payments, and attorney fees.

    Filing Deadline

    February 28 (paper) or March 31 (electronic)

    Payment Threshold

    $600 (most payments), $10 (royalties)

    Payment Types

    Rents, prizes, medical payments, etc.

    Overview

    Form 1099-MISC is used to report various types of miscellaneous income payments made in the course of your trade or business. This includes rents, royalties, prizes and awards, other income payments, medical and healthcare payments, crop insurance proceeds, and payments to attorneys.

    Starting in 2020, nonemployee compensation (previously Box 7) is reported on Form 1099-NEC instead. Form 1099-MISC now focuses on other types of business payments that don't have their own specific 1099 form.

    Who Must File

    Required Filers

    • Paid at least $10 in royalties or broker payments in lieu of dividends
    • Paid at least $600 in rents, prizes and awards, or other income payments
    • Paid at least $600 for medical and health care services
    • Paid at least $600 to an attorney (including corporations)
    • Made direct sales of at least $5,000 of consumer products for resale

    Exceptions & Notes

    • Payments to corporations (except medical, health care, and attorney payments)
    • Personal payments not made in a trade or business
    • Payments for merchandise, freight, storage, or similar items
    • Nonemployee compensation (use Form 1099-NEC)

    Form Structure & Instructions

    Here's what information is required in each section:

    Payment Information Boxes

    Different types of miscellaneous income payments

    Box 1
    Rents
    Rent payments of $600+ for real estate, machinery, equipment, or other property
    Box 2
    Royalties
    Royalty payments of $10+ for use of property, copyrights, patents, or oil/gas interests
    Box 3
    Other Income
    Other types of income not reported elsewhere, including prizes, awards, punitive damages, Indian gaming profits
    Box 4
    Federal Income Tax Withheld
    Backup withholding or other federal income tax withheld
    Box 5
    Fishing Boat Proceeds
    Cash and fair market value of proceeds from fishing boat sales
    Box 6
    Medical and Healthcare Payments
    Payments of $600+ to physicians, healthcare providers, or suppliers
    Box 8
    Substitute Payments
    Payments in lieu of dividends or interest from securities lending
    Box 9
    Crop Insurance Proceeds
    Payments from crop insurance for damaged or destroyed crops
    Box 10
    Gross Proceeds to Attorney
    Total gross proceeds paid to an attorney in connection with legal services
    Box 11
    Fish Purchases for Resale
    Cash paid for fish or other aquatic life for resale
    Box 12
    Section 409A Deferrals
    Deferrals under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan
    Box 13
    NQDC Income
    Income earned on nonqualified deferred compensation
    Box 14
    Nonqualified Deferred Comp.
    Distributions or other events under nonqualified deferred compensation plans

    Important Filing Notes

    Later Deadline Than 1099-NEC

    Form 1099-MISC is due February 28 (paper) or March 31 (electronic), which is later than Form 1099-NEC's January 31 deadline.

    Attorney Payments (Box 10)

    Payments to attorneys of $600+ must be reported even if paid to a corporation. Report total gross proceeds including amounts paid to others.

    Different Thresholds

    Most payments require $600 threshold, but royalties only require $10. Direct sales require $5,000 for consumer products sold for resale.

    Medical Payments

    Medical and health care payments in Box 6 must include all payments to the provider, not just the portion that's tax-deductible to the recipient.

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