IRS Link to Form — Found Here

The 1099-MISC form is filed by the payer, which is the business (whether for-profit or not-for-profit) making the distributions or payments to an individual who is operating in a non-employee capacity as independent contractor.

This form is also used to report rental income, royalties, and Indian gaming profits.

Independent contractors are often used by businesses for various kinds of labor. These arrangements might be temporary or long-standing, but the business and worker have agreed that the contractor is not an employee, and does not have employee benefits.

The 1099-MISC form is used by the business to report the earnings of these contractors to both the IRS and the contractor. The employee and the IRS will receive the form by January 31 (as of 2016 and the PATH rules). The independent contractor will be responsible for paying taxes on the 1099 income, since the employer cannot be responsible for withholding in this arrangement.

The contractors are sometimes known as “1099 employees” and this part of the workforce is part of what’s sometimes called the “1099 economy.” Otherwise employees might be known as “W-2 Employees,” who have their taxes withheld and by their employer.