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Returning Member
posted Apr 17, 2021 3:53:16 PM

What if the PAYER is in a foreign country and therefore doesn't have a EIN number? What do I enter in form 1099-NEC for payer EIN number? I'm an Indep. Contractor. Thnx!!

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9 Replies
Level 15
Apr 17, 2021 4:06:30 PM

How can you have a 1099-NEC with no EIN on it ???   Skip the 1099 income entry section and simply enter your total income in the next section ...  

Expert Alumni
Apr 17, 2021 4:10:29 PM

If the payer is in a foreign country, they will not issue a 1099-NEC to you, and you will simply report the income received as cash received when you report your income and expenses for your business.  

 

If you are reporting payments made to a foreign entity, similar rules apply - you cannot issue a 1099-NEC unless they apply for an ITIN, so you will simply keep a record of their name, address, and amount and list the payments as expenses in your business income and expense entries.  

Returning Member
Apr 17, 2021 4:16:39 PM

I did put it in under this one (other self employed income), but TurboTax won't let me file without showing me the NEC and the line to fill in. Not sure if that is because I had clicked on it at first before adding any income to check what it is (but I didn't enter anything!), or if it is because I made more than 600 from the same company? Or if it is a glitch? Thanks for your answer!

Level 15
Apr 17, 2021 4:27:24 PM


@ MLHI 

 wrote:

I did put it in under this one (other self employed income), but TurboTax won't let me file without showing me the NEC and the line to fill in. Not sure if that is because I had clicked on it at first before adding any income to check what it is (but I didn't enter anything!), or if it is because I made more than 600 from the same company? Or if it is a glitch? Thanks for your answer!


 

See if it started a Form 1099-NEC Worksheet that you don't need, and delete it.  Then before filing, review everything to be sure your reported income is still there, etc.  Here's how:

 

  • With your return open, go to the left column TAX TOOLS, then TOOLS.
  • In the Tools window choose "Delete a Form"
  • In the forms list look for a Form 1099-NEC Worksheet for that particular Payer.  Or it could say "Form 1099-NEC Worksheet (Untitled)."
  • Delete it if it's not needed.

NOTE:  If you have multiple Form 1099-NEC Worksheets (i.e., if you received actual 1099-NEC payments from other Payers), be sure you delete the right one.

 

Then review your return before filing to be sure everything is still being reported correctly.

And go through the Review tab and run the error check/smart check again to be sure there are no errors.

Returning Member
Aug 8, 2021 11:05:57 PM

It has taken me ages to find this.... but what a great help. I have pulling my hair out trying to resolve this problem, re-entering my foreign income so mant times to attempt to not end up with this annoying 1099-NEC form asking me for the Payer EIN.  

 

Huge thanks to the person who asked the question, and likewise to Intuit for the answer.....  Shame I didn't think to look to the community pages earlier... Perhaps Intuit could be a little more 'Intuit'-ive and modify the User Experience to catch this kind of issue... or, better still, prevent it from happening.

Level 15
Aug 9, 2021 3:39:11 AM


@gatnovTT77 wrote:

It has taken me ages to find this.... but what a great help. I have pulling my hair out trying to resolve this problem, re-entering my foreign income so mant times to attempt to not end up with this annoying 1099-NEC form asking me for the Payer EIN.  

 

Huge thanks to the person who asked the question, and likewise to Intuit for the answer.....  Shame I didn't think to look to the community pages earlier... Perhaps Intuit could be a little more 'Intuit'-ive and modify the User Experience to catch this kind of issue... or, better still, prevent it from happening.

You're welcome.  If your problem was a persistent 1099-NEC Worksheet in the background, then hopefully the steps above to delete it solved your problem. 

 

And you're right--there are a lot of things in TurboTax that are not intuitive.   Most of us helping in the community forum outside of peak tax season are fellow users who have seen a lot of things over the years.

Level 1
Feb 11, 2025 7:32:05 PM

I chose the option above but it's still asking for Payers EIN. I didn't receive any 1099.

Expert Alumni
Feb 11, 2025 7:42:29 PM

Here's how to enter self-employment income not reported to you on a 1099 -  see this TurboTax FAQ

 

If you have an entry started for a 1099, you will need to delete it.  

 

How to delete forms in TurboTax Online

 

How to delete forms in TurboTax Desktop

 

@sheila_0622 

Level 1
Feb 11, 2025 7:45:46 PM

Did that.