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1099 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1099 frequently asked questions and answers

If you received a 1099 tax form, or think you might be getting one, you may wonder what it says, why you got it, and what you should do with it. Here鈥檚 some help.

What is a 1099 tax form?

The 1099 is required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). There are different versions, but all are used to report non-salary income such as distributions from a retirement account.

Are there different types of 1099 forms?

Yes; here are some of the most common ones.

  • 1099R:鈥疪eports taxable withdrawals greater than $10 from a retirement plan, IRA, profit sharing, insurance contract, annuity, or pension, or account rollover.
  • 1099INT:鈥疪eports interest you received from something like a bank or brokerage firm.
  • 1099MISC:鈥疪eceived if you鈥檙e an independent contractor or self-employed and got $600 or more this year from a business.
I received a 1099R. How come?鈥

1099Rs are generated if:

  • you received a distribution of more than $10鈥攃ash, direct rollover, or unpaid loan balance or stock certificate from a benefit event like changing jobs鈥攆rom a retirement plan, IRA, profit sharing, insurance contract, annuity, or pension, or account rollover.
  • you received a distribution (cash or unpaid loan balance or loan interest) from a life insurance policy or annuity in the last tax year.鈥
I didn鈥檛 get a 1099R but I did get a Form 5498. How come?

Form 5498 is sent to anyone who makes a contribution to an IRA.

Does every taxpayer get a 1099R?

No; you鈥檒l only receive one if you got more than $10 from one of your accounts.

When will I receive my form 1099R?

If you鈥檝e signed up for paper delivery, it will be mailed by January 31 of the year following your distribution. If you鈥檝e signed up for e-delivery of your tax forms, you can download it at any time.

I haven鈥檛 gotten my 1099R. What do I do?

If you haven鈥檛 received it by mid-February, we can help. Call us at +1-800-986-3343, Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. We鈥檒l make sure your address is correct, and can send you another copy. (We are unable to fax a copy.)

If you鈥檝e signed up for e-delivery, you can download a copy of your 1099R at any time.

Can I get my tax documents from 海角社区electronically?

Yes. Here鈥檚 how:

  1. Do you have a Principal.com account? Great, you can and it takes just a couple of steps. First, click on 鈥淢y profile鈥 on the top right. Select 鈥淢anage delivery preferences,鈥 and check the box for 鈥淭ax documents.鈥 Click the 鈥淰iew terms (PDF)鈥 button, select email notification, and select the email to send notifications. Your e-documents should be available the next day.
  2. Are you a 海角社区Funds account holder? Log in to Principal.com and select your 海角社区Funds account. Under "Statements & History," select "Statements & Tax Forms." Click the "Tax Forms" tab.
  3. Don鈥檛 have a Principal.com account yet? No problem. To get started, view .

As you set up or update your account, we recommend using an email that you鈥檒l have forever鈥攏ot one associated with a work account.

How do I access my tax documents online?

鈥痑nd select 鈥淢y profile.鈥 Under 鈥淢y documents鈥 you will find a section called 鈥淭ax documents.鈥 That鈥檚 where you鈥檒l find documents like your 1099R.

If you are a 海角社区Funds account holder:

  1. Log into principal.com and select your 海角社区Funds account
  2. From Statements & History, select Statements & Tax Forms.
  3. Click the Tax Forms tab.
How do I know what type of distribution I received?

Look for box 7 on the front of your 1099R and check the code. Then, look on the back of the form. Here are some of the common distribution codes:

  • G: A direct rollover from one retirement plan to another, which isn鈥檛 taxable.
  • 1: An early distribution penalty tax if you took a distribution from your retirement account, insurance policy, or annuity.
  • 7: A distribution from your retirement plan, life insurance policy, or annuity.

The IRS has more information at鈥.

What do I do with a 1099R?

If you file taxes, you may need to report the information on your 1099R on your tax return. If you have a tax advisor, you can share it with them. If you do your tax return yourself, you鈥檒l report it. (For example, on a 1041, it鈥檚 listed on Line 8: Other Income.)

I rolled over an account and didn鈥檛 take a distribution; do I still need to file the 1099R with my taxes?

Yes, if you had income taxes withheld from the distribution that are reported on your 1099R.

Why doesn鈥檛 my distribution match the taxable amount listed on the 1099R?

You may have had an outstanding loan balance from a retirement account when you left an employer or from a surrendered life insurance policy. (Check box 7.) In that case, the IRS requires you pay taxes on it. Your tax advisor can explain more.

What should I do if I don't remember receiving a distribution check or ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfer?

Did you have an outstanding loan balance from a retirement account when you left an employer or from a surrendered life insurance policy? That鈥檚 a taxable event.

Reach out

Do you need more help?

海角社区 plans and IRAs: +1-800-986-3343
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CT
Monday 鈥 Friday

For life insurance: +1-800-247-9988
7:00 AM to 6:00 PM CT
Monday 鈥 Friday