Tax deadlines 2027
1099-NEC and W-2 due date for 2027: February 1, 2027
Form 1099-NEC reports what you paid contractors during 2026. Form W-2 reports what you paid employees. Both land at the start of the year, which is the worst time to find out your records are incomplete.
The date
Monday, February 1, 2027 is the date the IRS calendar lists for filing Form 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation paid in 2026, and for giving employees their copies of Form W-2. January 31, 2027 is a Sunday, and a due date that lands on a weekend or legal holiday moves to the next business day, so the date is Monday, February 1, 2027.
Dates checked October 26, 2026 against IRS Publication 509 (2027), early release draft. IRS early release draft of Publication 509 (2027). The final version can change a date. Confirm every date with the IRS and, for New Jersey, the NJ Division of Taxation before you rely on it. For recipient copies, extensions and corrections, read IRS Publication 1099, General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
Who gets a 1099-NEC
You generally file one for each person or unincorporated business you paid for services in the course of your business, once the payments reach the reporting threshold. For payments made in 2026 the threshold is $2,000, up from $600 before; confirm the current figure in the IRS instructions. Payments made by credit or debit card or through a payment app are generally reported by the payment processor on Form 1099-K, so they usually do not go on your 1099-NEC. Payments to corporations are generally not reported, with exceptions your CPA can confirm.
What to have ready in your books
- A W-9 for every contractor. Name, address and tax ID, collected before the first payment, not in January.
- Payments by method. Split what you paid by check or bank transfer from what went on a card. Only the first group normally belongs on a 1099-NEC.
- Vendor names that match. "ABC Design", "A.B.C. Design LLC" and "ABC" as three vendors split one contractor's total and can push each below the threshold in your reports.
- Classification. Confirm that the people you treat as contractors are contractors. New Jersey applies its own ABC test.
- Payroll that agrees with the books. W-2 totals should match your payroll reports and your quarterly filings. See the year-end payroll checklist.
To see who crosses the line, paste your payments into the free 1099 contractor payment tracker, or answer a few questions in Do I need to send a 1099?
Questions
Is the 1099-NEC threshold still $600?
For payments made in 2026 the threshold is $2,000. Confirm the current figure in the IRS instructions for Form 1099-NEC, because the amount can change for later years.
What if I paid a contractor by credit card?
Card and payment-app payments are generally reported by the processor on Form 1099-K, so they usually are not included on your 1099-NEC. Keep the records anyway.
What if I miss the date?
The IRS charges penalties for late or incorrect information returns, and the amount depends on how late you are. Ask your CPA about your situation, and file as soon as you can.
Can you file my 1099s?
MCC Solutions is not a CPA firm. Tax returns, elections and legal questions stay with your CPA, enrolled agent or attorney. Our part is getting the books accurate and organized so they can do that work faster.
MCC Solutions is not a CPA firm. Tax returns, elections and legal questions stay with your CPA, enrolled agent or attorney. Our part is getting the books accurate and organized so they can do that work faster.