Free template
Free 1099 contractor tracker for Excel
Keep every contractor, every payment and every W-9 in one place, so January is a check, not a hunt.
What is inside
- Vendors tab One row per contractor with business type and whether you have a W-9. It does not ask for tax ID numbers.
- Payments tab Date, vendor, amount and how you paid: check, bank transfer, cash, or card or payment app.
- Summary tab Totals per vendor, the total without card payments, and a result: likely 1099-NEC, below threshold, or usually not reported.
How to use it
- List each contractor on the Vendors tab. Mark whether their W-9 is on file.
- Log each payment on the Payments tab and pick how it was paid.
- Set the tax year and threshold at the top of the Summary tab.
- Before the filing date, read the Summary result, collect any missing W-9s, and hand the list to your CPA.
Using it in Google Sheets
- Open Google Sheets and choose File, then Import, then Upload, and pick the downloaded file.
- Choose "Replace spreadsheet" or "Insert new sheet(s)".
- Check the formulas and the dropdown lists after the import. Most carry over, but Google Sheets handles a few functions and formats differently.
Things to watch
- The threshold. For payments made in 2026 the IRS reporting threshold for Form 1099-NEC is $2,000. Confirm the current amount in the IRS instructions, and change the cell if it differs.
- Card payments. Payments by card or payment app are generally reported by the processor on Form 1099-K, so the Summary leaves them out of the reportable total.
- Corporations. Payments to corporations are generally not reported, with exceptions. The sheet flags them and leaves the call to your CPA.
- Do not store tax IDs here. Keep W-9s in a secure folder and record only whether you have one.
- Classification. A tracker cannot tell you whether someone is a contractor. New Jersey applies its own ABC test.
Questions
When are 1099-NECs due?
For 2026 payments the IRS calendar lists February 1, 2027. See the 1099-NEC and W-2 due date page for the details and the source.
What counts toward the threshold?
Payments for services to a person or unincorporated business in the course of your business, other than card and payment-app payments, generally count. Your CPA confirms which apply.
Can I use it in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the file to Google Sheets, then check the dropdowns and the Summary formulas.
Does it file the form?
No. It is a screening and record-keeping tool. Your CPA or tax software files the forms.
Want a fuller version with worked examples? See 1099 vs W-2 Simulator in the store. This free template stays free either way.
Want more than a template? See Solopreneur Multi-State Payroll & Tax Calendar Model.
Want every toolkit? The toolkit membership includes all of them, with a lower rate if you pay yearly.
Related: 1099-NEC and W-2 due date, 1099 contractor payment tracker (in your browser), Do I need to send a 1099?, NJ ABC test guide, or all free templates.
These templates track your own numbers. They are not tax, legal or accounting advice, and MCC Solutions is not a CPA firm. Ask your CPA how rules apply to you.