Web Development » UpWork » Do I Need to Issue 1099 for UpWork?

Do I Need to Issue 1099 for UpWork?

Last updated on January 28, 2023 @ 11:31 am

As an employer, you’re required to provide a 1099-MISC form to any freelancer or contractor you pay $600 or more in a calendar year. You don’t have to provide a 1099-MISC to corporations or LLCs.

If you use an online platform like Upwork to pay your freelancers, the platform will typically take care of issuing 1099s for you. For example, if you paid a total of $600 or more to a single freelancer through UpWork last year, UpWork will send them a 1099-MISC form by January 31st.

The same is true for other online platforms like Fiverr and PeoplePerHour.

If you use PayPal to pay your freelancers, PayPal will also typically take care of issuing 1099s for you. For example, if you paid a total of $600 or more to a single freelancer through PayPal last year, PayPal will send them a 1099-MISC form by January 31st.

So in most cases, you don’t have to worry about issuing 1099s for payments made through online platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, or PayPal. However, there are a few exceptions:

PRO TIP: 1099s are only required for payments made to contractors, not to employees. Upwork does not issue 1099s.

If you made payments totaling $600 or more to multiple freelancers through UpWork last year: In this case, UpWork will not issue 1099s for you.

Instead, you’ll need to issue 1099s yourself. Here’s how:

  1. Get the necessary information from your freelancers:

In order to issue a 1099-MISC form, you’ll need the following information from each of your freelancers:

  • Name
  • Address (including city, state, and ZIP code)
  • Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  1. Obtain the necessary forms from the IRS:

You can obtain the necessary forms by visiting the IRS website or by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-3676.

  1. Fill out and file the forms with the IRS:

Once you have the necessary information and forms from your freelancers and the IRS, you can fill out and file the forms with the IRS.

In most cases, you won’t have to worry about issuing 1099s for payments made through online platforms like UpWork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, or PayPal. However, there are a few exceptions:

If you made payments totaling $600 or more to multiple freelancers through UpWork last year: In this case, UpWork will not issue 1099s for you. Instead, you’ll need to issue 1099s yourself.

Madison Geldart

Madison Geldart

Cloud infrastructure engineer and tech mess solver.