Once you know the Form 1099-B due date and the details regarding this form, you’ll be able to hit every 2026 milestone for it- recipient furnishing, IRS paper/e-file deadlines, and what happens when a date lands on a weekend or federal holiday.
In this guide, you’ll also learn who must e-file under the 10-return aggregation rule and how to request extra time. Plus, our quick callouts cover digital-asset reporting (Form 1099-DA) and late-filing penalties, so you can plan ahead of the filing season.
What Form 1099-B Actually Does and Why Timing Matters
Form 1099-B (Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions) is the form brokers, dealers, and barter networks use to tell the IRS exactly how much money moved when an asset changed hands. Think of it as the paper trail behind every stock sale, fund redemption, option closeout, or barter swap.
Each return shows:
- Box 1d: gross proceeds from the sale or exchange of cash proceeds (reduced by any commissions or transfer taxes)
- Box 1e: cost or other basis of the securities sold (required for covered; optional if noncovered and box 5 is checked)
- Box 1g: wash sale loss disallowed
- Box 4: backup withholding under § 3406 (if any)
If it was sold, swapped, or bartered, it generally shows up on Form 1099-B. For example, stocks, ETFs, mutual-fund shares, commodities, or services through a barter exchange are reported on this form.
Note: Sales or exchanges of digital assets are reported on Form 1099-DA for transactions effected in 2025.
Generally, broker-reported sales have no minimum dollar threshold, but specific exceptions apply for barter exchanges under § 6045. For example, brokers aren’t required to file, but may file Form 1099-B for sales of fractional shares under $20 or for certain barter-exchange transactions under $1.
A late filing can cost $60 to $340 per form and at least $680 for intentional disregard. But beyond money, late reports break trust. Investors depend on their 1099-B recipient copy to finish their income tax returns accurately, and the IRS matches it line by line with Schedule D and Form 8949.
Who Must File Form 1099-B and When a Transaction Triggers Reporting
If a broker or barter exchange handles the sale or exchange of assets for someone else, it generally files this form.
- Brokers and dealers: every sale or exchange of stocks, ETFs, or bonds
- Mutual-fund companies and transfer agents: redemptions and liquidations
- Futures commission merchants: options and commodity closings
- Barter and crypto platforms*: trades of goods, services, or digital assets
When a broker processes a sale or exchange and there are proceeds, they must file either Form 1099-B for securities or Form 1099-DA for digital assets unless an IRS exception applies. For brokered securities, there’s no dollar minimum. The $0 threshold makes it one of the IRS’s most thorough securities proceeds reports.
*Digital-asset brokers report sales/exchanges on Form 1099-DA for calendar year 2025 transactions (statements furnished in 2026), with transition relief for certain reporting and backup-withholding obligations.
Key Form 1099-B Filing Deadlines for 2026
Mark the Form 1099-B due date for recipient copies, IRS copies, and extensions now to help you stay compliant.
| Action for Payer | For 2025 TY (To be filed in 2026) | Payer Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Send Form 1099-B recipient copy or a consolidated 1099 statement | Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (February 15 is Sunday, February 16 is a federal holiday) | Consolidate 1099-DIV/1099-INT/1099-B/1099-OID into one substitute statement to reduce mailings and simplify investor records. |
| Paper-file Copy A + Form 1096 with the IRS | Monday, March 2, 2026 | Allowed only if you are filing fewer than 10 total information returns across all types or have an approved Form 8508 waiver/other exception. |
| E-file Copy A with the IRS | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | Required under the 10-return aggregation rule. Does not apply separately to originals vs. corrections (if originals must be e-filed, corrections must be e-filed too). |
| Request an automatic 30-day extension (IRS filing) | File Form 8809 by the original IRS due date | Extends filing with the IRS only. |
Getting Ready Before February
Good filings start long before February. Treat them like closing the books at year-end: steady and verified.
- Reconcile every trade, including sales, redemptions, short sales, and option closeouts.
- Run TIN Match checks early to avoid rejected returns.
- Check cost basis and wash sale flags.
- Separate foreign, exempt, and FATCA-classified accounts.
- Decide whether to send a stand-alone form or a consolidated 1099 statement (1099-B, 1099-INT, and 1099-DIV together).
Every detail should be thoroughly checked for accuracy before submitting.
Three Simple Ways to Stay Compliant
Phase 1 (Oct–Dec): Start reconciling and set up templates in 1099Online. Do a dry-run test submission and catch schema/business-rule errors before filing season.
Phase 2 (January–February 17, 2026): Furnish recipient statements by February 17, 2026, for Forms 1099-B, including consolidated brokerage statements. Keep proof of delivery and electronic consent records.
Phase 3 (February 18–March 31, 2026): Transmit the form directly to the IRS via 1099Online and track the filing status.
Avoiding 1099-B Late Fees
Missed deadlines cause two problems: penalties and confusion. Here’s how the IRS scales it for returns due in 2026 (for reporting tax year 2025):
- Up to 30 days late: $60 per form.
- 31 days to August 1: $130 per form.
- After August 1: $340 per form.
- Intentional disregard: $680 minimum, with no cap on the total penalty amount.
Note: Automation and daily reconciliation within 1099Online are the safest insurance against these fees.
What Real-World Compliance Looks Like
| Transaction Type | Scenario: What Happens | Payer Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fund sale | Investor sells mutual fund shares worth $90,000 | Broker files Form 1099-B and furnishes the recipient copy by February 17, 2026 | Include cost or other basis for covered shares; backup withholding (if any) in Box 4; a consolidated 1099 statement is allowed. |
| Crypto trade | A crypto platform shows a trade: $10,000 of Bitcoin was swapped for Ether | Digital-asset broker reports proceeds on Form 1099-DA for transactions effected on/after January 1, 2025 (statements furnished in 2026). Securities brokers continue using 1099-B. | Transitional relief applies; basis/withholding phases in. Taxpayer still reports gain/loss. |
| Service barter | A café trades catering for an interior designer’s help ($1,200) | If done through a barter exchange, the exchange files Form 1099-B reporting FMV. If direct barter (no exchange), there is no 1099-B, but both parties must include income. | Barter-exchange exceptions may apply; keep contemporaneous documentation of FMV. |
| E-file threshold | A small firm issues 6 Forms 1099-B and 5 W-2s (total 11) | Must e-file under the 10-return aggregation rule | Paper filing allowed only with an 8508 waiver/other exception; if originals must be e-filed, corrections must be e-filed too. |
| Extension needs | Payer is still finalizing cost-basis data in March | Submit Form 8809 extension request by March 31, 2026, for a 30-day IRS-filing extension | Form 8809 extends IRS filing only; it does not extend the due date for furnishing recipient copies. |
Best Practices for Filing in 2026
- Confirm that every securities proceeds report (aka Form 1099-B) includes gross sales, options, and short sales.
- Double-check Boxes 1d, 1e, 1g, and 4 for accurate reporting.
- Test uploads one week early. Schema errors usually show up in bulk batches.
- Use internal “mock filings” to train staff.
- Enable automated deadline alerts.
A good way to think about Form 1099-B is that it’s part tax form, part customer service tool. When investors receive clear, on-time data, they can trust their broker to handle the next season smoothly as well.
FAQs
1. Does the broker (or barter exchange) report if the investor’s gain is zero?
Yes, Form 1099-B reports gross proceeds, not profits. Even break-even or loss sales must be reported so they can be reconciled on Form 8949/Schedule D.
2. May the payer deliver statements only electronically?
Yes, if investors give prior consent, the recipient copy can be sent to them electronically.
3. Do states impose different deadlines?
State requirements and due dates vary. The CF/SF Program forwards certain IRS-filed forms (including Form 1099-B) to participating states, but you must verify each state’s separate requirements and deadlines.
4. How quickly must a corrected 1099-B be filed?
As soon as errors are found, file corrections within 30 days to qualify for the lowest penalty rate.
5. Are corporate recipients exempt from receiving 1099-B?
Generally, corporations are exempt recipients. However, you must file Form 1099-B for sales of a covered security by an S-corporation (acquired after 2011) and in certain other cases.
6. How does the 10-return e-file rule work?
Aggregate all specified information returns, and if the combined total is 10 or more, you must e-file. The e-file rule does not apply separately to originals vs. corrections.
7. When does backup withholding appear on 1099-B?
Backup withholding appears in Box 4 of Form 1099-B only when tax is withheld under §3406 for missing or incorrect TINs.
Want to file all of your 1099-B returns on time with 1099Online?