1099-MISC has my last name misspelled - will this cause filing issues?

This is actually a pretty common issue, so don't worry too much! Since your Social Security number is correct on the 1099-MISC, that's the most important identifier the IRS uses to match income to your tax return. The misspelling of your last name shouldn't cause your return to be rejected. That said, it's still a good practice to reach out to the company that issued the form and ask them to correct it. They can issue a corrected 1099-MISC (it will be marked as "CORRECTED" on the form). But even if you don't get the corrected form before you file, you can still proceed with filing your taxes using the information from the incorrect form. When you file, just make sure to use your correct name spelling on your tax return. The key matching element is the SSN, not the exact spelling of your name.

I went through something similar last tax season. After struggling to get a corrected form from my client, I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me understand how to handle mismatched information on tax documents. They analyze your documents and tell you exactly what to do in these situations. For my case, they confirmed that since my SSN was correct, I could proceed with filing without waiting for a corrected form. They also provided documentation explaining why this approach was valid according to IRS guidelines, which gave me peace of mind. The system is super easy to use - you just upload your docs and get detailed advice specific to your situation.

Just wanted to update everyone. I tried the taxr.ai service mentioned above after struggling with my own 1099 issues. I had three different 1099s with various errors (one with a misspelled name like OP and others with incorrect addresses from when I moved). The system actually gave me detailed explanations for each document about whether the errors would impact processing. It showed me exactly what parts of the forms the IRS uses for matching and which discrepancies could trigger problems. Definitely saved me from unnecessarily requesting corrected forms for issues that wouldn't matter. I've already filed my taxes successfully with the guidance they provided. No rejections or issues so far, and I feel much more confident that everything will process smoothly.

If you're still having trouble getting a straight answer from the company that issued your 1099, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year where I needed clarification from the IRS about a name discrepancy on my forms, but couldn't get through their phone lines after trying for days. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The IRS agent confirmed that the SSN is what matters most, not the name spelling, and explained exactly what I needed to do to document the discrepancy.

I need to apologize for my skepticism and update everyone. After my frustrated comment above, I decided to try Claimyr anyway since I was desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my complicated 1099 situation with multiple errors. Honestly, I'm shocked - it actually worked exactly as described. Got a call back in about 15 minutes saying they'd secured a place in line, and I was talking to an IRS representative shortly after. The agent confirmed what others here have said - the SSN is the critical matching element, and name misspellings generally don't cause issues as long as you report the income correctly. Saved me literally days of frustration trying to get through on my own. I've already requested a corrected 1099 from my client but will file anyway since the deadline is approaching.

Has anyone had experience with the company refusing to issue a corrected 1099-MISC? My old employer is being difficult about fixing mine which has both a name misspelling AND incorrect amount.

I work in payroll and deal with this all the time. For a name misspelling where the SSN is correct, it's honestly not worth the hassle of getting a corrected form. The IRS systems primarily match on the tax ID number. Now, if the AMOUNT is wrong (like the person above mentioned), that's a different story and needs correction. But for just a name spelling error? Don't stress it. Report the income correctly and move on.

I had this exact same issue two years ago with a 1099-NEC that had my last name spelled "Johnson" instead of "Johnston" - just missing one letter. I was stressed about it too, but it turned out to be a non-issue. I ended up filing with my correct name spelling on the return and reported the income exactly as shown on the form. No problems whatsoever - my return processed normally and I got my refund without any delays or questions from the IRS. The key thing everyone's mentioned is absolutely right - the SSN is what matters for their matching system. I did reach out to the company for a corrected form initially, but they were slow to respond and I didn't want to delay my filing. In the end, it wasn't necessary anyway. If you're planning to file in the next couple weeks like you mentioned, I'd say go ahead and file with the misspelled form. Just make sure to use your correct legal name on your tax return and report all the income shown. You can still request a corrected form for your records if you want, but don't let it hold up your filing.

I've dealt with this exact situation multiple times as a tax preparer, and I can confirm what others have said - a misspelled last name on your 1099-MISC won't cause filing issues as long as your SSN is correct. The IRS matching system is primarily based on your Social Security Number, not the exact spelling of your name. When you file your return, use your correct legal name as it appears on your Social Security card, but report the income exactly as shown on the 1099-MISC (even with the misspelled name). You don't need to delay your filing to wait for a corrected form. If you want to request one for your records, that's fine, but it's not necessary for tax filing purposes. The most important thing is that you report all the income shown on the form and that your SSN matches. I've never seen a return rejected or flagged solely because of a name spelling discrepancy when the SSN was correct. File with confidence using your correct information!