How long does a 1099-C stay on your credit report?

Asked by: Corene Pollich  |  Last update: June 4, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (52 votes)

This information can remain on your credit report for up to seven years. If you are able to get your debt completely canceled, you then no longer have any responsibility for the amount owed. But the creditor must report the canceled amount or settled debt to the IRS using the Form 1099-C cancellation of debt.

Does a 1099-C hurt your credit?

The IRS requires 1099-C forms because forgiven debt contributes to your gross income. Receiving and filing a 1099-C form won't affect your credit score positively or negatively. Certain forgiven debts, such as mortgage forgiveness, are exempt from 1099-C requirements.

Can a creditor still collect after issuing a 1099-C?

If a creditor continues to attempt to collect the debt after you receive a 1099-C, the debt may not have been canceled and you may not have income from a canceled debt. Verify your specific situation with the creditor.

What is the statute of limitations on a 1099-C?

While there is no specific statute of limitations for canceled debt, the IRS requires creditors to file Form 1099-C the year following the calendar year when the debt was discharged. In addition, the IRS has a three-year limit to assess extra taxes or for taxpayers to correct returns related to forgiven debt.

Do I have to pay taxes on a 1099-C cancellation of debt?

According to the IRS, nearly any debt you owe that is canceled, forgiven or discharged becomes taxable income to you. You should receive a Form 1099-C, "Cancellation of Debt," from the lender that forgave the debt.

IRS Form 1099C Cancellation of Debt

18 related questions found

What is the 36 month rule for 1099-C?

The 36-month non-payment rule, as set forth in Reg. Section 1.6050P-1(b)(2)(iv), established a rebuttable presumption that an identifiable event has occurred, resulting in a requirement to file a Form 1099-C, if a creditor does not receive payment on a loan within a 36-month testing period.

Can a 1099-C be reversed?

If the individual who has received a Form 1099-C that they believe is mistaken as to the amount or characterization of the debt, and if that individual notifies the IRS during the examination, then it is possible to reverse the normal burden of producing evidence.

What is the tax rate for a 1099-C?

How Are Taxes for Debt Settlement Calculated? How much will you owe in taxes from your debt settlement? That depends on your overall taxable income. Your income, including amounts listed on your 1099-Cs, gets taxed at the normal progressive rate, which ranges from 10% to 37%.

Does a 1099 expire?

In most cases the 1099 statute of limitations is three years. Those three years begin on the due date of the return or the date on which it was filed – whichever is later. So, if you file your employees' 2020 1099-misc on time, on January 31, 2021, the statute of limitations will expire on January 31, 2024.

How do I challenge a 1099-C?

Contact your creditor or debt collector if you believe your 1099-C form is incorrect. Explain the discrepancy and ask for a corrected 1099-C to be filed with the IRS. You should also request an updated copy. If that doesn't work, contact the IRS and issue a Form 1099-C complaint.

What happens if I get a 1099-C after I file my taxes?

Regardless of whether or not the 1099-C will increase your taxable income, you should be aware that the IRS receives a copy of this form as well, so you should fill out an amended tax return to reflect the changes. If you're claiming one of the allowed exclusions, you still need to tell the IRS why.

How do I remove a charge-off without paying?

To initiate a dispute:
  1. Write a dispute letter to each credit bureau reporting the inaccurate information.
  2. Clearly explain the error and provide any supporting documentation.
  3. Request that the charge-off be removed or corrected.

How much tax do you have to pay on forgiven debt?

The law requires that you report all taxable canceled debt as income on your tax return, even if the amount is less than $600 and you didn't receive a Form 1099-C. Canceled debt is taxed at same rate as your ordinary income, which can be anywhere from 10% to 37% depending on your total taxable income.

How to get your debt cancelled?

Debts may be canceled in a variety of ways, including through negotiations between the creditor and the debtor, debt relief programs, and personal bankruptcy. Debts forgiven by a creditor are generally considered taxable income.

What is a 1099-C after Chapter 7?

A 1099-C is generated by a financial institution, such as a lender, after a qualifying event. A qualifying event occurs when the entity has written-off or cancelled a debt in excess of $600. Cancelling the debt requires the bank to send you the 1099-C regardless of whether you received a discharge in bankruptcy.

Does the IRS forgive debt?

Yes, after 10 years, the IRS forgives tax debt.

After this time period, the tax debt is considered “uncollectible”. However, it is important to note that there are certain circumstances, such as bankruptcy or certain collection activities, which may extend the statute of limitations.

What are the new 1099 rules for 2024?

As of January 2024, you are no longer able to electronically file using your legacy transmitter code using the FIRE system. Effective for returns required to be filed on or after Jan. 1, 2024 (2023 year-end), you must file Forms 1099 electronically if you have 10 or more information returns (down from 250).

Can a 1099 be terminated?

Contractors aren't considered employees, so as long as you follow the agreed upon contract, you can let them go as needed and they cannot sue for wrongful termination. 1099 employees, however, can sue for breach of contract, if you don't respect the contract terms and conditions.

Is there a time limit on 1099?

Deadline to have paper forms mailed to the IRS for 1099-NEC forms is January 31st, 2025. Deadline to have paper forms mailed to the IRS for 1099-MISC forms is February 28th, 2025.

Is 1099-C considered earned income?

If you receive a 1099-C, you may have to report the amount shown as taxable income on your income tax return. Because it's considered income, the canceled debt has tax consequences and may lower any tax refund you are due.

Can I use TurboTax if I have a 1099-C?

If your debt is canceled or forgiven, you'll receive Form 1099-C (Cancelation of Debt). Note: If you received a 1099-C for your main home and another 1099-C for something else (like a credit card, car loan, or second mortgage) you won't be able to use TurboTax, as we don't support this.

Where does 1099-C go on tax return?

Generally, data from a Form 1099-C, Cancelled debt (box 2) is reported on Form 1040, line 21 for 2017 and prior. But for 2018, 2019 and 2020, it is reported on 1040 Schedule 1 Line 8, for 2021 on 1040 Schedule 1 line 8z, using Wkt 7.

How to not pay taxes on 1099-C?

If you qualify for an exception, you can omit the forgiven amount from gross income and file IRS Form 982 to report the exclusion.

What happens if you owe the IRS more than $25,000?

If you owe the IRS more than $25,000, it's important to understand what can happen next and what actions you can take. The IRS escalates its collection efforts when the amount owed exceeds $25,000, which can result in severe penalties such as asset seizure, bank levy, wage garnishment, and even passport revocation.