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KhalilStar

What should I do about receiving a CP2100A IRS notice for incorrect 1099 filings?

I just received a CP2100A notice from the IRS for our real estate brokerage firm regarding the 2023 tax year. Since I'm the only one with any tax background (though pretty limited - I worked at a tax preparation office for about 18 months and only dealt with IRS notices during the last 3 months), I've been tasked with handling this. I want to make sure I'm understanding this notice correctly. It looks like most of our 1099s had correct information except for one where there was a typo in one digit of a contractor's SSN. I double-checked against their W9 form. The bigger issue seems to be that my predecessor filed everything as 1099-MISC instead of 1099-NEC for all our property inspection contractors. The CP2100A notice seems to indicate these contractors reported their income on 1099-NECs, which conflicts with our 1099-MISC filings. If I'm reading this correctly, it seems like we don't need to take any immediate action for 2023, but we need to make sure we file correctly (using 1099-NEC) for 2024. The IRS certainly has a talent for making simple things sound incredibly complicated! Am I interpreting this notice correctly? Any guidance would be appreciated!

You're mostly on the right track! A CP2100A notice is essentially the IRS flagging a mismatch between what you reported and what they have on file. The notice serves two purposes: 1) to inform you of the discrepancy and 2) to prompt you to correct future filings. For the SSN typo, you should keep that W9 on file in case the IRS follows up, as it shows you made a good faith effort based on the information provided to you. Regarding the 1099-MISC vs 1099-NEC issue, you're correct that for appraisal/inspection services, 1099-NEC is the proper form since 2020 when the IRS split non-employee compensation from the MISC form. This change was specifically designed for independent contractors providing services. While there's no need to file corrected returns for 2023 unless the IRS specifically requests it in a follow-up notice, you should: 1. Update your records for future filings 2. Document your understanding of the notice and your plan to file correctly going forward 3. Keep this documentation with the CP2100A notice The key thing is to ensure your 2024 filings use the correct form (1099-NEC) for these contractors.

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KhalilStar

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Thanks for clarifying! I thought I was understanding it correctly, but the IRS language is so convoluted. So just to be sure - for the one contractor with the SSN typo, I don't need to file a corrected 1099-MISC for 2023? And for all the contractors, I just need to make sure we use 1099-NEC instead of 1099-MISC for 2024 going forward? And one more question - should I respond to the CP2100A notice in any way, or just keep it on file?

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For the contractor with the SSN typo, you generally don't need to file a corrected return unless the IRS specifically requests it in a follow-up notice. The CP2100A is more of a "heads up" than a demand for immediate correction of past filings. For all contractors providing services, yes, you'll need to use 1099-NEC instead of 1099-MISC for 2024 and future years. The IRS split these forms specifically to separate non-employee compensation from other miscellaneous payments. You typically don't need to respond to a CP2100A notice unless it explicitly requests a response. Just document your understanding internally, keep the notice on file, and ensure future compliance. If the IRS needs further action, they'll send a follow-up notice with specific instructions.

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Kaiya Rivera

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After getting a similar notice a few years ago, I stumbled upon this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much stress. I uploaded the CP2100A notice and it gave me a clear breakdown of what I needed to do - and more importantly, what I DIDN'T need to do. It explained everything in plain English instead of IRS-speak. For my situation, it confirmed I just needed to file correctly going forward and didn't need to submit corrected forms since it was just a form-type issue, not incorrect dollar amounts. Their system also helped me track which contractors needed 1099-NECs vs 1099-MISCs for future reference. Might be worth checking out if you're feeling uncertain about interpreting these notices!

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Does taxr.ai handle other IRS notices too? I got something called a CP2000 recently and I'm completely lost on what to do with it.

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Noah Irving

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How accurate is this service? I'm always skeptical about these tax tools since they sometimes give generic advice that doesn't apply to specific situations. Did it actually save you from having to call the IRS or hire a professional?

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Kaiya Rivera

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Yes, they handle a wide range of IRS notices including CP2000 notices. Those are actually one of their specialties since CP2000s are usually about income mismatches that their system can compare against your filed return. Regarding accuracy, I was initially skeptical too, but it was surprisingly specific to my situation. The analysis broke down exactly which contractors were affected and precisely what parts of the notice applied to my business. It even highlighted sections of the tax code relevant to my specific situation. It definitely saved me from calling the IRS (which I tried first - was on hold for over an hour before giving up) and was much cheaper than my accountant who wanted to charge me for 2 hours of work just to review the notice.

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Noah Irving

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I actually tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and was really impressed. I was initially skeptical (as you can see from my question above!), but uploaded my CP2100A notice that was similar to the OP's situation. The analysis confirmed I didn't need to file corrections for the prior year unless specifically requested, but needed to ensure proper filing going forward. It also explained WHY the 1099-NEC was the proper form for my contractors (something about Box 7 non-employee compensation being moved to its own form in 2020). What really sold me was when it flagged another potential issue I hadn't even noticed - one of my contractors had an EIN/name mismatch that would have triggered another notice next year. Saved me from future headaches for sure.

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Vanessa Chang

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I had a similar situation with a different IRS notice and spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at the IRS to confirm my understanding. Literally impossible to reach a human. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed exactly what the first commenter said - the CP2100A is mainly informational and you don't need to file corrections unless they specifically ask for it in a follow-up notice. They also confirmed that appraisers and inspection services should be on 1099-NEC going forward. Having that direct confirmation from the IRS gave me peace of mind since I was worried about penalties.

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Madison King

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How does this Claimyr thing actually work? Do they just call the IRS for you or what? Seems like it would be the same wait time either way.

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Julian Paolo

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Yeah right, nobody can get through to the IRS. I've tried calling dozens of times this filing season and just get the "due to high call volume" message before they hang up. No way this service actually works.

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Vanessa Chang

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They don't call the IRS for you - they use technology to navigate the IRS phone system and hold your place in line. When they're about to connect to an agent, they call you and connect you directly to the IRS representative. It's your call and your conversation, they just handle the hold time part. The way it works is that their system knows how to navigate all the prompts and which IRS departments are taking calls at different times of day. It's basically like having an expert who knows exactly when and how to call for the shortest wait times. I was honestly shocked when my phone rang and they told me an IRS agent was on the line.

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Julian Paolo

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I need to eat my words from my skeptical comment above. After seeing several positive mentions, I tried Claimyr for an unrelated tax issue (also couldn't get through to the IRS after multiple attempts). To my complete surprise, I got a call back within 35 minutes with an actual IRS representative on the line. The agent was able to answer my questions about a CP2100A notice my small business received (similar to OP's situation). The IRS confirmed that for these notices, unless they specifically request corrected returns, you just need to ensure future compliance. The agent also explained that the 1099-NEC vs MISC confusion is very common since the forms split in 2020, and they're seeing a lot of these notices this year. Definitely worth it to get official confirmation directly from the IRS rather than stressing about whether I was interpreting the notice correctly!

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Ella Knight

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Just to add to what others have said - I've been doing accounting for a small business for 15+ years and CP2100A notices are pretty routine. They're basically saying "hey, there's a mismatch, fix it going forward." For the SSN typo, technically you could file a corrected return, but unless the IRS specifically asks for it, it's generally not necessary for just a CP2100A. Do keep documentation showing you had the W9 on file though. The 1099-MISC vs 1099-NEC issue is super common. The IRS changed this in 2020, and a lot of accounting software didn't update properly. For anyone reading this - if you're paying for services (not goods), it's almost always going to be a 1099-NEC now.

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What's the difference between goods and services for these forms? We pay vendors for both - like we buy materials from some companies but also pay for installation from others. Do we need different forms?

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Ella Knight

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Great question! The basic distinction is that 1099-NEC is for services performed by non-employees (the "NEC" stands for Non-Employee Compensation), while 1099-MISC is now primarily for other types of payments like rent, prizes, awards, etc. If you're paying for both materials and installation from the same vendor, you would typically use the 1099-NEC if the service component is the primary purpose of the payment. For example, if you pay a contractor who provides both the materials and labor for a project, that would generally go on a 1099-NEC. However, if you're purchasing primarily goods with incidental services (like buying equipment with basic setup included), that might not require a 1099 at all if it's from a corporation or falls under other exemptions. Remember, payments to corporations are generally exempt from 1099 reporting requirements except in specific circumstances like attorney fees.

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Has anyone else noticed how the IRS sends these notices MONTHS after the filing deadline? By the time we get them, it's almost time to prepare for the next tax year anyway! For the 1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC issue, I learned the hard way last year when we had to amend 30+ forms. Our tax software defaulted to MISC and I didn't catch it in time. Complete nightmare!

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Jade Santiago

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Tell me about it! I got a CP2100A for 2022 filings in March 2024, just as I was finishing the 2023 filings. The timing is ridiculous. My advice - double check those 2024 1099s before you submit them next January. Set a calendar reminder now to verify you're using NEC vs MISC correctly. That's what I'm doing to avoid this whole mess again.

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As someone who's dealt with multiple CP2100A notices over the years, I can confirm that everyone here is giving solid advice. The key thing to remember is that these notices are more of a "friendly reminder" than a demand for immediate action. One thing I'd add - make sure to update your payroll/accounting software settings for 2024. Many systems still default to 1099-MISC because that's how it worked pre-2020. I had to manually change the settings in QuickBooks to ensure all service payments automatically generate 1099-NECs instead of 1099-MISCs. Also, for future reference, the IRS has a pretty clear guide on their website (Publication 15-A) that breaks down when to use which form. It's worth bookmarking since the rules can be tricky with mixed payments or different types of contractors. The SSN typo issue you mentioned is super common too - as long as you have the W9 showing you used the information provided by the contractor, you're covered. Just keep that documentation handy in case they follow up.

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Freya Larsen

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Thank you for mentioning Publication 15-A! I just looked it up and it's incredibly helpful - wish I had found this before panicking over the notice. The section on "Payments to Nonemployees" breaks down exactly when to use 1099-NEC vs 1099-MISC in plain language. One question about updating accounting software - do you know if there's a way to bulk update historical contractor classifications? I'm worried we might have other contractors who should have been on 1099-NEC but we've been filing as 1099-MISC for years. I'd hate to get more of these notices next year for the same issue. Also, is there a specific place in QuickBooks where you changed those default settings? I want to make sure I don't miss anything when setting up for 2024 filings.

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Zainab Ali

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I'm dealing with a similar CP2100A situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I run a small property management company and we've been filing all our maintenance contractors on 1099-MISC forms since I took over the business in 2021. Had no idea about the 2020 form changes. Just received our CP2100A notice last week and was completely overwhelmed by the language. Based on what everyone is saying here, it sounds like I just need to switch to 1099-NEC for 2024 and keep the notice on file? We have about 15 regular contractors for plumbing, electrical, HVAC repairs, etc. One quick question - for contractors who do both emergency repairs (services) and sometimes sell us parts/materials, should those still go on 1099-NEC or does the mixed payment complicate things? Most of our invoices show both labor and materials on the same bill. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - makes this so much less stressful when you realize it's a common issue and not some major compliance failure!

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Welcome to the club of CP2100A recipients! You're absolutely right that this thread has been super helpful - I was in the same boat a few months ago and felt completely overwhelmed by the IRS language. For your mixed payment situation (labor + materials on the same invoice), you'll generally still use 1099-NEC since the primary purpose is services. The IRS looks at the predominant nature of the payment - if you're hiring these contractors primarily for their services (repairs, maintenance) and the materials are incidental to completing that work, it stays on the NEC form. However, if you have some contractors where you're purchasing significant amounts of materials separately from services, you might want to ask them to break out those charges on separate invoices. This makes it cleaner for your records and reduces any potential confusion in future filings. The good news is that your situation sounds very straightforward - maintenance contractors providing services should definitely be on 1099-NEC forms going forward. Keep that CP2100A notice on file and make sure your 2024 filings use the correct forms. You've got this!

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Beth Ford

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I went through almost the exact same situation last year with our construction business! Got a CP2100A for filing all our subcontractors on 1099-MISC instead of 1099-NEC. The notice language is absolutely terrible - took me three reads to understand what they were actually asking for. What helped me was creating a simple spreadsheet to track which contractors should get which forms going forward. For anyone providing services (inspection, appraisal, repair work, etc.), it's 1099-NEC. For things like rent payments to landlords or prize payments, it stays on 1099-MISC. The SSN typo issue you mentioned is super common too. As long as you have that W9 showing you used the information the contractor provided, you're covered. I had two contractors with similar typos and the IRS never followed up after I kept the documentation on file. One tip that saved me time - I called my accounting software company to make sure they updated their default settings for 2024. Turns out they had a setting buried in the 1099 preferences that still defaulted to MISC for all contractor payments. Once I switched it to NEC for service payments, it made this year's filing much smoother. You're interpreting the notice correctly - no action needed for 2023, just fix it going forward for 2024!

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This is such a relief to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing! I was starting to worry that we had made some major compliance error, but it sounds like this 1099-MISC vs 1099-NEC confusion is really widespread. Your spreadsheet idea is brilliant - I'm definitely going to set something like that up to avoid this headache next year. It's frustrating that the IRS made this change in 2020 but so many businesses (and apparently accounting software companies) are still catching up. Quick question about your accounting software fix - do you remember which specific setting you had to change? I use QuickBooks and want to make sure I don't miss anything when I'm setting up for 2024 filings. I'd hate to go through this whole process again next year because of a default setting I overlooked. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's so helpful to know that others have navigated this successfully and that keeping the documentation on file really is sufficient for the SSN issues.

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Sofia Perez

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I'm going through something very similar right now! Just got my CP2100A notice yesterday for our small consulting firm and was completely panicked until I found this thread. We've been filing all our freelance consultants on 1099-MISC forms since 2021, and apparently they should have been on 1099-NEC. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - sounds like this is a really common issue that a lot of businesses are dealing with as everyone catches up to the 2020 form changes. I had no idea the IRS split these forms and our previous bookkeeper never mentioned it. Based on what everyone is saying, it sounds like I just need to keep the notice on file and make sure we use 1099-NEC for all our consultants in 2024, right? We don't need to go back and file corrected forms for 2023 unless they specifically ask for it in a follow-up notice? One thing that's been stressing me out is that we have about 20 different consultants we work with regularly, and I'm worried we might get more of these notices if other contractors reported their income differently than what we filed. Has anyone dealt with multiple CP2100A notices at once, and if so, is the approach the same for each one? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with IRS notices!

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You're absolutely right to feel reassured after reading through this thread - your situation is incredibly common! I'm new to dealing with IRS notices myself, but from what everyone has shared, it sounds like you've got the right understanding. Yes, you should just keep the CP2100A notice on file and switch to 1099-NEC for all your consultants in 2024. No need to file corrected forms for 2023 unless the IRS specifically requests it in a follow-up notice. Regarding multiple CP2100A notices - from what I've read in other tax forums, if you get additional notices for the same issue (1099-MISC vs 1099-NEC), the approach is the same for each one. Document them all, keep them on file, and ensure future compliance. The IRS processes these notices in batches, so it's not uncommon to receive several at once if you have many contractors. Your situation with 20 consultants actually makes me feel better about our smaller number of contractors! It sounds like this 2020 form change really caught a lot of businesses off guard. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's helpful to know others are navigating this same issue right now.

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Owen Devar

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I'm a newcomer to this community but have been lurking and reading through all the helpful responses here. I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through a similar CP2100A situation. I received my notice about 6 weeks ago for our small marketing agency - we had been filing our freelance graphic designers and copywriters on 1099-MISC forms instead of 1099-NEC. Like many others here, I had no idea about the 2020 form split and was initially terrified when I got the notice. After reading through IRS Publication 15-A (thanks to whoever mentioned that earlier!), I realized our situation was straightforward. The freelancers provide services, not goods, so they should definitely be on 1099-NEC forms going forward. What really helped me was creating a simple checklist for 2024 filings: 1. Update accounting software defaults to use 1099-NEC for service providers 2. Review all contractor classifications to ensure proper form selection 3. Keep the CP2100A notice filed with tax documents 4. Double-check all W9s are on file for documentation I also wanted to echo what others have said about the timing - getting these notices so late in the year when you're already thinking about the next filing season is frustrating, but it sounds like that's just how the IRS processes them. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this thread turned what could have been a stressful situation into a manageable compliance update!

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William Rivera

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Thanks for sharing that helpful checklist, Owen! As someone who's completely new to handling these types of IRS notices, having a step-by-step approach like that is exactly what I needed. I'm curious about your point regarding updating accounting software defaults - did you run into any issues when making that change? I'm worried that switching the default might affect other types of payments we make that should still use 1099-MISC forms (like equipment rentals or prize payments to contest winners). Also, for your freelance graphic designers and copywriters, did you have any contractors who do both creative services AND sell you stock photos or other digital assets? I'm trying to figure out how to handle those mixed payment situations for our 2024 filings. Your experience gives me confidence that this really is just a routine compliance update rather than a major problem. Thanks for taking the time to share your process!

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Malik Johnson

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I just went through this exact situation with my small real estate agency last month! Got a CP2100A notice for filing property inspectors and appraisers on 1099-MISC instead of 1099-NEC forms. The IRS language is absolutely confusing - I must have read it five times before I understood what they were actually asking for. From my experience and what my tax preparer confirmed, you're interpreting the notice correctly. The CP2100A is essentially the IRS saying "heads up, there's a mismatch - fix it going forward." For 2023, you don't need to file corrected returns unless they specifically request it in a follow-up notice, which is rare for this type of form discrepancy. For the SSN typo, definitely keep that W9 on file as proof you used the information the contractor provided. The IRS recognizes good faith efforts based on documentation received. One thing that helped me avoid this issue for 2024 was going through my accounting software (I use QuickBooks) and updating the default 1099 settings. There was a preference buried in the contractor setup that still defaulted to 1099-MISC for all payments. I had to manually change it to automatically generate 1099-NEC for service providers. The timing of these notices is terrible - getting them almost a full year after filing when you're already preparing for the next tax season! But it sounds like this 1099-MISC vs 1099-NEC confusion is incredibly common as businesses are still catching up to the 2020 form changes. You're definitely not alone in dealing with this!

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Carmen Diaz

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Thanks for sharing your experience, Malik! It's really reassuring to hear from someone in the same industry who went through this exact situation. The real estate sector seems to be hit particularly hard by this 1099-MISC vs 1099-NEC confusion since we work with so many independent contractors for inspections, appraisals, and other services. Your point about updating QuickBooks settings is super helpful - I'm definitely going to dig into those preferences before we start our 2024 filings. It's frustrating that these software companies haven't made the 2020 form changes more obvious in their default settings. You'd think after 4 years they would have updated the defaults! The timing really is awful - getting these notices when you're already stressed about the upcoming filing season feels like the IRS is just piling on. But reading through everyone's experiences here has made me realize this is just a routine compliance issue rather than some major violation. Did your tax preparer mention anything about whether we might see more of these notices in the future as the IRS continues to process mismatched forms? I'm wondering if this is going to be an ongoing issue for the next few years as businesses catch up to the form changes. Thanks again for sharing - it really helps to know others have navigated this successfully!

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