What happens if I miss the 1099 filing deadline?

If you miss a 1099 filing deadline, the IRS can charge penalties per form, and the amount depends on how late you file and whether the IRS thinks the failure was intentional.

Possible consequences

• Late-filing penalties: The penalty increases the longer the return is late.
• Late recipient copies: If you also miss sending the 1099 to the contractor/payee on time, that can create separate issues.
• Intentional disregard: If the IRS believes you intentionally failed to file, the penalties are much higher.
• State penalties: Some states have their own filing deadlines and penalties.

2024/2025 general IRS penalty tiers for information returns like 1099s

These are typically:

• Up to 30 days late: smaller penalty per form
• 31 days late through Aug. 1: larger penalty per form
• After Aug. 1 or not filed: highest penalty per form
• Intentional disregard: much higher, and no maximum in many cases

(Exact amounts can change by tax year due to inflation adjustments.)

What to do now

• File as soon as possible
• Send the recipient copy immediately if you haven’t already
• Document the reason for the delay
• If the issue was due to reasonable cause, you may be able to request penalty relief

If you want, I can tell you the exact current IRS penalty amounts for the 1099 form year you missed, or help you figure out which 1099 deadline applies (MISC, NEC, etc.).