1099 & contractor compliance
If you pay contractors, January 31 is a hard deadline. We make sure you have every W-9, every payment tracked and every form filed on time.
What this service is — and why it matters
Every business that pays independent contractors has year-end reporting obligations: 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC forms to the contractor and to the IRS, and in many states a state copy too. Missing or late forms carry per-form penalties that add up quickly.
The hard part isn’t filing — it’s having the information. Chasing W-9s in January from contractors who finished work months ago is where things go wrong. We collect W-9s before the first payment, check names and taxpayer IDs, and track payments through the year.
We also watch for classification risk. When a contractor starts to look like an employee — set hours, your equipment, ongoing role — we flag it before it becomes a payroll tax problem.
Everything we handle for you
One named preparer, a second-preparer review, and year-round answers to your questions.
W-9 collection
A W-9 requested and checked before the first payment, stored securely with the vendor record.
TIN matching
We check contractor names and taxpayer IDs to reduce mismatches and backup-withholding notices.
Payment tracking
Payments tracked through the year against the current federal reporting threshold, including payment method rules.
Form preparation and e-filing
1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms prepared, e-filed with the IRS and states where required, and delivered to contractors.
Classification review
A review when a contractor’s role changes, so you know where the line is before it’s crossed.
Corrections
Corrected forms filed when a contractor reports an error.
Want to know what this would cost for you? We’ll give you a fixed quote after a free 30-minute review.
Book a reviewThis is a good fit if…
Best for: agencies, practices and owners with a bench of freelancers.
- You pay freelancers, consultants, locum physicians or subcontractors
- You scramble for W-9s every January
- You’ve received a penalty notice for late or incorrect 1099s
- You’re not sure whether someone should be a contractor or an employee
- You pay contractors in several states
Four steps, start to finish
- Step 1
Free review
We review who you pay, how, and what you filed last year.
- Step 2
Onboard contractors
We set up W-9 collection and bring existing contractors up to date.
- Step 3
Track all year
Payments are tracked as you go; we flag missing information early.
- Step 4
File in January
Forms are prepared, reviewed with you, filed and delivered before the deadline.
What we’ll ask you for
Don’t have everything? That’s normal. Bring what you have to the review and we’ll tell you what else we need — and we can pull much of it from the IRS directly.
- A list of contractors you paid this year and last
- W-9s you already have
- Access to your accounting or payment records
- How you pay contractors (check, ACH, card, payment apps)
Flat fee, quoted up front
No hourly meter. After your free review we send a fixed quote, and we tell you before doing any work outside it.
Or compare our all-in-one plans →Covers up to 10 contractors, then $20 per additional form. W-9 collection and tracking included.
Book a free reviewCommon questions
When are 1099s due?
Forms 1099-NEC are due to contractors and the IRS by January 31. Other 1099s have different deadlines. We work backward from those dates so everything is ready early.
Do I need to send a 1099 to every contractor?
Not always. It depends on the amount paid, the type of payee (many corporations are exempt) and how you paid. Payments by card or through some payment platforms are reported by the platform instead. We sort that out for each contractor.
What if a contractor won’t send a W-9?
You may be required to apply backup withholding to their payments. Collecting the W-9 before the first payment avoids the problem entirely.
Can you run payroll for employees too?
Yes, for owners and small teams as part of our S corp and entity work. Ask on your review and we’ll scope it.
Read up first
The 1099 season checklist for businesses that pay contractors
Collect W-9s early, track payments all year, and know the new $2,000 threshold. A practical checklist for the first 1099 season under the 2026 rules.
Sep 4, 2026 · 6 min readEmployee or contractor? Getting worker classification right
Whether someone is an employee or a contractor depends on the working relationship, not the label in the contract. How the IRS, the Labor Department and states decide, and what a mistake costs.
Aug 3, 2026 · 6 min readHiring your first employee: the payroll taxes and filings you just signed up for
Your first W-2 hire brings registrations, withholding, deposits and a calendar of federal and state filings. What’s required for 2026, what it costs, and where first-year penalties come from.
Sep 28, 2026 · 8 min readOne firm for all of it
Talk it through with a preparer
A free 30-minute review with a CPA or enrolled agent. We look at your last return and what’s changed, answer your questions, and send a fixed quote. No obligation.