Filing a 1099 form generally does not increase a tax refund; rather, it typically decreases it by adding taxable income, unless taxes were already withheld. A 1099-NEC (self-employment) or 1099-R (retirement) usually increases taxable income, potentially reducing the refund or increasing the amount owed.
Is it increasing your state or federal refund? In general, a 1099-R distribution would decrease or not affect your return unless you had taxes withheld.
First of all, you don't receive regular paychecks and you also don't receive a W2 at the end of the year. Instead, you should receive 1099-NEC forms from each client that has paid you over $600. So, you might be wondering “Can I get a tax refund with a 1099?”. The short answer is–typically no.
If the question, “How can I get the biggest tax refund?” is still on your mind. Remember these things—staying organized, choosing the right filing status, and claiming credits and deductions can help you get a bigger refund from the IRS.
Disadvantages of being paid as a 1099 contractor
Tax responsibilities: Independent contractors are responsible for paying their own taxes, including self-employment taxes. This requires you to keep more meticulous records and potentially pay quarterly tax to the IRS.
A 1099 significantly affects taxes because you're considered self-employed, meaning you pay both income tax and the full self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security & Medicare), as there's no employer to split it with. This usually means setting aside 25-35% of your income, and you'll likely need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties, though business expense deductions can lower your taxable amount.
Top self-employment tax deductions
These include writing off business expenses, deducting self-employment tax from income tax, utilizing the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction, and deducting health insurance and retirement contributions. Additionally, high earners might benefit from forming an S corporation to save on FICA taxes.
1099 workers are taxed at a 15.3% self-employment rate. Normally, this 15.3% is split equally between employers and employees. However, self-employed workers are both the employer and the employee, so they're on the hook for both halves.
Yes, 1099 employees can get a tax refund, depending on their situation. For example, if you have certain withholdings and business expenses, you may get a tax refund.
Will the IRS catch a missing 1099? The IRS knows about any income that gets reported on a 1099, even if you forgot to include it on your tax return. This is because a business that sends you a Form 1099 also reports the information to the IRS.
Your 1099 independent contractor deductions lower the amount you'll ultimately have to pay in taxes as a self-employed contractor.
2025 Guide. The IRS can catch a missing 1099 form as they receive copies from payers. If you forget to report it, you risk penalties and interest on unpaid taxes. To avoid this, report all income, even if you don't receive a 1099.
Key Takeaways
If a business intentionally disregards the requirement to provide a correct Form 1099-NEC or Form 1099-MISC, it's subject to a minimum penalty of $660 per form (tax year 2025) or 10% of the income reported on the form, with no maximum.
To avoid the 22% tax bracket (or any higher bracket), focus on reducing your taxable income through strategies like maxing out 401(k)s and HSAs, deferring bonuses, tax-loss harvesting, smart charitable giving, and strategic asset location, understanding that higher rates only apply to income within that bracket, not your entire income.
New 1099 rules under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) increase the reporting threshold for Form 1099-NEC/MISC from $600 to $2,000 for payments made after December 31, 2025 (Tax Year 2026), with inflation adjustments starting in 2027, while also reverting the Form 1099-K threshold for third-party payment networks to the original $20,000 and 200+ transactions for tax years 2025 and 2026. These changes reduce the filing burden for many businesses, though all income remains taxable and must be reported by recipients.