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Check Your 1009s

Most of us earn our writing and photography income freelance and get 1099 income forms, rather than W-2s. I usually glance over them when they arrive to see if the figure reported to the IRS is what I have in check stubs. This year, one publisher made a huge mistake on my 1099. The company reported to the IRS that they paid me thousands of dollars more than they did. In fact, they still owe me the money they alleged paying in 2004. I called them to point out the error and was assured that a corrected 1099 would be issued. That was nearly two months ago. I've called or emailed weekly and have been told by various accounting people that the corrected form had been mailed. Meanwhile, I cannot file my taxes and get back all the money I overpaid in quarterly estimated payments.

Today, I contacted the IRS, after getting the run-around again from the publisher. The IRS is giving the company 10 days to issue a corrected 1099 or be fined. Meanwhile, the IRS is issuing me a form that I can use to file my taxes and get my refund.

My points are: check your 1099 forms carefully, don't accept excuses from the 1099 issuer and contact the IRS within 10 days of the error. I could have saved myself much grief by not being so patient (not wanting to alienate the publisher and hoping they would pay me promptly for the remainder that is owed me) and I could have had my refund by now. I could have been in Mexico soaking up the sun this week instead of watching the snow fall again this morning.

Collecting what the publisher owes me is another story. Stay tuned!
Doreen Howard

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