Here's what most business owners want to know: what's the magic number? How much can I pay a freelancer, contractor, or consultant before I'm stuck dealing with tax forms?
The number you're looking for is $600. Pay someone $599.99 for business services throughout the year, and you're in the clear—no Form 1099 needed. Hit exactly $600, and the IRS wants paperwork.
But here's where it gets tricky. That $600 threshold doesn't apply to everyone. The person's business structure matters. How you paid them matters. What you paid them for definitely matters. I've seen business owners confidently skip filing 1099s because they thought the corporate exemption applied, only to get hit with penalties later. I've also seen people waste hours preparing forms for payments that never needed reporting in the first place.
Let's clear up the confusion so you can stay compliant without overthinking every contractor payment.
For 2026, the magic number hasn't changed: $600 or more in total payments during the calendar year triggers reporting requirements for most business payments to contractors.
Notice I said "total payments"—not per invoice or per project. If you hire a photographer who bills you $200 in March, $150 in July, and $300 in November, you've hit $650 total. You'll need to issue a 1099 even though no single payment reached $600.
Two distinct forms handle different payment categories. The IRS brought back Form 1099-NEC in 2020 after a 37-year hiat...