Form 1099-INT Due Dates: 2026 Filing Guide for Payers

Why the Form 1099-INT Due Date Matters

When you file on time, everything works the way it should: the IRS matches what you reported with what your payees report, and the process ends there. But when a form goes missing or goes in late, that balance breaks. The IRS then flags the mismatch, and you find yourself spending time chasing records, answering notices, and overall dealing with a lot of stress.

Filing by the 1099-INT e-file date isn’t only about avoiding a fine; it protects your cash flow and your reputation. Every 1099 you file on schedule shows clients and account holders that your reporting is solid and dependable and that you take compliance seriously.

What Form 1099-INT Does

Form 1099-INT reports how much taxable interest you paid during the year whether it’s from a savings account, a Treasury note, or interest owed to a supplier. The form lists the payee’s name, TIN, and the amount paid so the IRS can match the same income on the recipient’s Schedule B.

Why the IRS Holds Firm on Deadlines

The IRS uses penalties to keep filings on schedule. The longer you wait to send a form, the higher the fine climbs. Miss both deadlines the February 2, 2026, date for recipient copies and the March 31, 2026, e-file date and those penalties can hit twice. It’s a simple rule: the earlier you file, the less risk you carry.

Here’s how the 2026 1099-INT late penalty ladder looks:

Expert Tip: Set two reminders one about a month before each deadline, and you can potentially save hundreds in penalties.

Key Filing Deadlines for 2025 Returns

Here’s a quick look at the 1099-INT deadline 2026 for various action items associated with the form for the 2025 tax year:

Who Must File Form 1099-INT?

If you paid interest during the year, you may need to issue Form 1099-INT.

Here’s how the filing rules break down so you know exactly when to send that 1099-INT recipient copy and file with the IRS.

The $10 interest rule

The $10 threshold applies to most interest payments things like interest on savings, deposits, or Treasury instruments that you, as a payer (bank or financial business), pay to an individual. So, you must file when you pay $10 or more in taxable interest to any person in the U.S.

Interest tied to business activity

You’ll need to file Form 1099-INT when you pay $600 or more of interest during your trade or business even if you’re not a bank. For example, if you have late-payment interest that you owe to a vendor, it is counted as interest arising due to business activities and needs to be reported along with interest that follows the $10 threshold rule!

When tax was withheld

Any time you withhold federal backup tax (24%) or any foreign tax, a 1099-INT must be filed, no matter how small the payment.

Payees Who Are Exempt

Corporations, IRAs, or tax-exempt organizations

You don’t need to issue the Form 1099-INT to most corporations, IRAs, or tax-exempt organizations, since their income is generally reported elsewhere. Don’t forget to double-check your payee’s W-9 to confirm their exemption status before you decide not to send a form.

Foreign recipients

Interest paid to any non-U.S. person isn’t reported on Form 1099-INT. Those payments belong on Form 1042-S, which covers U.S.-source income paid to foreign entities or individuals.

Form 1099-INT Pre-Filing Checklist for Payers

Here are some quick checks that will help your return submission process run more smoothly:

1. Verify payee information upfront

Begin with the basics collect a signed Form W-9 from each payee, then cross-check names and TINs using the IRS TIN Matching tool. Catching a mismatch now saves you from CP2100 notices later.

2. Combine accounts under one TIN

If the same recipient (same name/TIN) has multiple accounts, you can send one consolidated 1099-INT (or a composite recipient statement). Just make sure the totals you file with the IRS (Copy A) match what you furnished to the recipient.

3. Review any tax withholding

Scan Boxes 4 and 6. Backup withholding or foreign tax entries should match your books exactly a small slip here can trigger correction filings down the line.

4. Send recipient copies by February 2, 2026

You don’t want penalties, so give every payee their 1099-INT recipient copy on time. Mailing works fine, but if you prefer e-delivery, you’ll need to get written consent before sharing through a secure portal.

5. File electronically by March 31, 2026

E-filing through a trusted platform like 1099Online makes life easier. 1099Online compliance features are there to keep you fully on the right track the system checks for TIN matches as well as your XML for errors and returns an “accepted” receipt almost instantly.

6. Retain records for four years

Keep your W-9s, ledgers, and IRS acceptance receipts archived for 4 years if backup withholding was imposed; otherwise keep information-return copies (or the ability to reconstruct the data) for at least 3 years from the due date.

Real-Life Scenarios for Payers

Here’s how common interest payments play out in real life:

FAQs

1. Must a payer still file Form 1099-INT when the total interest paid to a single recipient is less than $10?

No, not generally. You only must file when amounts in boxes 1, 3, or 8 reach $10 or more unless you withheld federal backup withholding or withheld and paid any foreign tax on the interest; in those cases, you must file regardless of the dollar amount.

2. If a recipient has several savings or brokerage accounts, should the payer issue one consolidated 1099-INT or separate forms for each account?

Combine payments to the same recipient/TIN onto a single Form 1099-INT. If the payees have different TINs or different account registrations, issue separate forms. (Keep in mind some brokers or institutions report by CUSIP or account registration and may produce multiple forms; follow the payer’s recordkeeping and the IRS instructions.)

3. Under what circumstances may the payer submit 1099-INTs on paper instead of electronically?

A: If you file fewer than 10 total information returns for the year (counting all types, including W-2s filed with SSA), you can paper-file. At 10 or more, the 10-form e-file mandate applies e-file is required unless you have an approved waiver.

4. What steps should the payer take after discovering an incorrect TIN on a 1099-INT that has already been filed?

The payer will have to file a corrected Form 1099-INT with the IRS and give the corrected payee statement to the recipient. Correcting as early as possible can greatly reduce the penalty. For instance, if you file the correction within 30 days of the due date, the lowest penalty tier will apply. Keep copies of the corrected return and proof you furnished the recipient.

5. Does filing Form 8809 extend the last date for delivering recipient copies of Form 1099-INT?

No, it doesn’t! An approved Form 8809 only extends the IRS filing due date; it does not extend the due date for recipient/payee statements. If you need extra time to furnish payee statements, you’ll have to follow some special procedures.

6. How long must the payer retain supporting records such as W-9s, interest ledgers, and IRS acceptance receipts?

The IRS generally recommends keeping information-return copies and supporting records for at least three years from the return due date and four years when backup withholding was imposed or for certain employment-tax records. When in doubt, simply retain W-9s, acceptance receipts, and reconciliation files for at least four years.

7. What financial impact can the payer expect if both the recipient deadline and the IRS deadline are missed?

You can be fined twice; once for not furnishing recipient copies and again for not filing with the IRS. For 2026, the per-form penalty is $60 (fixed within 30 days), $130 (fixed by Aug 1), $340 (after Aug 1), and $680 for intentional disregard (no cap). Missing both the Feb 2, 2026 (recipient copy) and March 31, 2026 (IRS filing) deadlines can expose you to both sets of penalties.

Bottom Line

Skip the deadline stress just upload your interest records, let 1099Online check every TIN, and send through your federal and state filings automatically! Choose simple, fast, and penalty-free for your 2026 Form 1099-INT filings.