Contractor won't give me my 1099-NEC - what are my options?

This is unfortunately a common issue with difficult contractors. The good news is you still have options to file accurately. Since you kept records of your payments in a separate account, you can use your bank statements to determine exactly how much you were paid. When a contractor doesn't provide a 1099-NEC, you're still legally required to report that income on your tax return. The IRS actually expects this - they know not all payers follow the rules. You'll report this on Schedule C as self-employment income. Be as accurate as possible with the amount based on your records, and keep documentation of your attempts to obtain the 1099-NEC from your former employer. Keep in mind that if he does eventually file the 1099-NEC with the IRS, they'll expect to see that same income on your return. If the amounts don't match, it could trigger questions, which is why using your bank statements is important for accuracy.

I went through something similar last year with a client who ghosted me when tax time came around. I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to do until I found this AI service called taxr.ai that helped me sort everything out. The website basically analyzed my situation and gave me step-by-step guidance on how to handle missing 1099s. What really helped was that https://taxr.ai walked me through creating a paper trail of my attempts to get the 1099-NEC. It also helped me calculate my exact income from the scattered records I had and showed me how to document everything properly for the IRS. They have tools specifically for independent contractors dealing with difficult clients who don't provide proper documentation.

I was really worried about using an AI for something as serious as taxes, but after my contractor ghosted me on providing my 1099s, I was desperate. I decided to try taxr.ai based on the recommendation here and I'm actually blown away by how helpful it was. The system helped me document all my attempts to get the 1099-NEC (which I needed for proof), calculated my income accurately from the partial records I had, and gave me specific instructions for filling out Schedule C correctly. What really surprised me was how it walked me through creating a paper trail that would protect me if questions came up later. I filed three weeks ago using their guidance and already received my refund without any issues! I was so stressed about potentially getting in trouble for filing without the official 1099, but everything went smoothly. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation.

Your situation sounds frustrating. After reading about what you're going through, I wanted to share something that helped me when I had IRS issues that needed direct resolution. After weeks of trying to call the IRS myself and getting nowhere, I used a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual human at the IRS in about 15 minutes. I was skeptical at first, but https://claimyr.com actually works - they navigate the IRS phone system for you and call you back when they've got an agent on the line. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c In your case, the IRS might be able to give you guidance on exactly what to do when a contractor refuses to issue a 1099-NEC, and possibly even take action against the contractor. Having an actual conversation with an IRS agent made a huge difference in resolving my issue.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about a missing form situation similar to yours, so I decided to give it a try anyway. I'm honestly shocked - the service actually worked exactly as described. I tried calling the IRS for THREE WEEKS with no success (always disconnected after waiting forever). With Claimyr, I got connected to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes. The agent was able to confirm exactly what I needed to do about my missing forms situation and even put notes in my file about the issue. For situations like yours where you need official guidance, being able to actually speak to someone makes all the difference. I wasted so much time trying to handle this myself when I could have just used this service from the beginning.

You might want to file Form 8919, "Uncollected Social Security and Medicare Tax on Wages" if you believe you were misclassified as an independent contractor when you should have been an employee. The way you described the relationship (him treating you like you couldn't leave, expecting you to work for what he felt was fair) suggests possible misclassification. This form lets you report your income without paying the full self-employment tax that independent contractors normally pay. There's a specific code to use for when you requested a 1099 but didn't receive one. This could save you significant money if you qualify.

Have you thought about sending a demand letter through certified mail? I did this when my former client wouldn't send my 1099. I basically wrote a formal letter stating I was requesting the legally required tax document, mentioned the IRS requirement that businesses must provide these forms, and gave a deadline of 14 days. I sent it certified mail so I had proof they received it. My guy still ignored it, but when I filed my taxes, I showed my CPA the certified mail receipt as proof I tried to get the form. I ended up reporting the income based on my own records, and my CPA said the documented attempt to get the 1099 showed good faith effort on my part.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and wanted to share what I learned from calling the IRS directly about missing 1099s. The agent told me that you absolutely should file your return even without the 1099-NEC - in fact, waiting could result in late filing penalties if you miss the deadline. The key is to be as accurate as possible with your income reporting. Since you kept everything in a separate account, that's going to be your best documentation. Report the income on Schedule C and keep detailed records of everything - your bank statements, any correspondence with the contractor requesting the 1099, copies of invoices or work agreements. One thing the IRS agent emphasized is that contractors who fail to provide required tax documents can face penalties. You might want to report the non-compliance using Form 8919 or contact the IRS directly about the contractor's failure to issue the 1099-NEC. Sometimes a call from the IRS gets these situations resolved quickly. Don't let this difficult contractor delay your refund any longer, especially with three dependents. File based on your records and let the IRS sort out any issues with the contractor separately.

You've already received some great advice here, but I want to emphasize something important - don't let this contractor's behavior delay your tax filing any longer. Based on what you've described, you have solid documentation with your separate bank account records, and that's exactly what the IRS expects in situations like this. Since you mentioned estimating around $13,000 from January through June, I'd recommend gathering every piece of evidence you can: bank statements (even from your closed account - the bank should provide these), any invoices you sent, email confirmations of payments, or even text messages discussing payment amounts. The more documentation you have, the better. Here's what I'd do in your situation: 1) Send a final certified mail request for the 1099-NEC with a specific deadline, 2) Calculate your exact income from your bank records, 3) File your return using Schedule C to report the self-employment income, and 4) Keep all documentation of your attempts to obtain the proper forms. The IRS understands that not all employers follow the rules, and they have procedures in place for exactly these situations. Your substantial refund with three dependents shouldn't be held hostage by one difficult contractor who's clearly trying to make your life difficult. File accurately based on your records and let the IRS deal with his non-compliance separately.