The 1099 form is used to report income that you earned as an independent contractor or freelancer, rather than as a regular employee. It reports all payments made to you by a client or employer that total $600 or more during the year.

If you worked as an independent contractor for a healthcare agency, hospital, or another business that paid you $600 or more during the year, they are required to send you a 1099-NEC (Non-Employee Compensation) form. You should receive this form by January 31st of the following year.

If you earned $600 or more from a single payer but didn't receive a 1099 form, reach out to the payer. It's possible they made an error or missed sending it. Even if you don’t receive the form, you are still legally responsible for reporting that income on your tax return.

Yes. Even if you do not receive a 1099 form, you are still required to report all income earned, regardless of the amount. This includes income from all sources (direct payments, online platforms, or short-term contracts). Failure to report can result in penalties.

You’ll report 1099 income on Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business), which is part of your 1040 tax return. This allows you to account for income and business expenses.

As an independent contractor, you are eligible to claim a variety of business-related expenses, including:

• - Home office deduction (if applicable)
• - Nursing supplies (uniforms, scrubs, gloves, stethoscopes, etc.)
• - Professional memberships and continuing education
• - Transportation expenses (mileage, parking)
• - Cell phone and internet costs (if used for business purposes)
• - Malpractice insurance premiums
• - Tax preparation fees
• - Health insurance premiums (if you are self-employed)

These deductions reduce your taxable income, lowering your overall tax liability.

As an independent contractor, you are responsible for both the employee and employer portions of Social Security and Medicare taxes, known as self-employment tax. This is calculated on Schedule SE. The self-employment tax rate is 15.3% of your net earnings, but you can deduct the employer portion (7.65%) from your taxable income when filing.

Since taxes are not automatically withheld from your 1099 income, you may need to make quarterly estimated tax payments to avoid penalties. These payments are made to the IRS and cover both income tax and self-employment tax. To calculate your estimated tax payments, you can use Form 1040-ES, or consult with a tax professional for guidance.