How to Prepare for 1099 Season (Without the January Scramble).

If last year’s 1099 prep had you frantically emailing vendors for missing W-9s, let’s not do that again. With a little proactive bookkeeping, you can make this 1099 season smooth, simple, and stress-free. 

Set Up 1099 Tracking in QuickBooks 

Whether you're a small business or nonprofit, the first step is enabling 1099 tracking in your QuickBooks settings. This ensures your accounting service is ready to capture the right data from the start. 

Keep Vendor Info Organized 

As soon as you receive a W-9, enter the details into the vendor’s profile under Tax Settings. Then, use QuickBooks’ “attach” feature to store the W-9 right in their record. No more digging through inboxes in January. 

Attach Issued 1099s for Easy Access 

If you’re manually creating 1099s, attach a copy to each vendor’s profile. When they ask for a reprint next year (and they will), you’ll be ready. 

Run a Year-End Review 

Use the 1099 Wizard in QuickBooks to check for missing info. Catching gaps now means fewer surprises later. 

Know Your Forms 

The IRS now requires nonemployee compensation to be reported on Form 1099-NEC instead of 1099-MISC. If you’re filing by mail, stock up on the correct forms and envelopes—or outsource accounting tasks like this to someone who already has them. 

Let BudgetEase Handle the Paper Chase 

Whether you need QuickBooks catchup, a reliable bookkeeping service, or just want to outsource accounting headaches, BudgetEase is here to help. Contact us today—because chasing W-9s in January is not a growth strategy.