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Federal Form 1099-Int Instructions

Future Developments

For the latest information about developments related to Forms 1099-INT and their instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/form1099int.

What's New

New reporting requirements. There are new reporting requirements for a debt instrument that is a covered security under Regulations section 1.6045-1(a)(15)(i)(C) and that is acquired by a taxpayer with market discount, bond premium, or acquisition premium. See TD 9616, available at www.irs.gov/irb/2013-20_IRB/ar07.html. For more information, see the instructions for boxes 10 and 11 under Specific Instructions for Form 1099-INT and the instructions for boxes 5 and 6 under Specific Instructions for Form 1099-OID, later.

Reminders

General Instructions. In addition to these specific instructions, you should also use the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns. Those general instructions include information about the following topics.

  • Who must file (nominee/middleman).
  • When and where to file.
  • Electronic reporting requirements.
  • Corrected and void returns.
  • Statements to recipients.
  • Taxpayer identification numbers.
  • Backup withholding.
  • Penalties.
  • Other general topics.

You can get the general instructions at www.irs.gov.form1099int or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

Nonresident aliens. If you pay U.S. bank deposit interest of at least $10 to certain nonresident alien individuals, report the interest on Form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding. To determine whether an information return is required for original issue discount, see Regulations 1.6049-5(f) and 1.6049-8(a). This interest may be subject to backup withholding. See the Instructions for Form 1042-S. Also see Rev. Proc. 2012-24, 2012-20 I.R.B. 913, available at www.irs.gov/irb/2012-20_IRB/ar11.html.

Specific Instructions for Form 1099-INT

File Form 1099-INT, Interest Income, for each person:

  1. To whom you paid amounts reportable in boxes 1, 3, and 8 of at least $10 (or at least $600 of interest paid in the course of your trade or business described in the instructions for Box 1. Interest Income, later),
  2. For whom you withheld and paid any foreign tax on interest, or
  3. From whom you withheld (and did not refund) any federal income tax under the backup withholding rules regardless of the amount of the payment.

Report only interest payments made in the course of your trade or business including federal, state, and local government agencies and activities deemed nonprofit, or for which you were a nominee/middleman. Report tax-exempt interest that is not original issue discount (OID) on Form 1099-INT. You do not need to report tax-exempt interest that is OID. Report interest that is taxable OID in box 1 or 8 of Form 1099-OID, Original Issue Discount, not on Form 1099-INT. Report exempt-interest dividends from a mutual fund or other regulated investment company (RIC) on Form 1099-DIV.

Exceptions to reporting. No Form 1099-INT must be filed for payments made to exempt recipients or for interest excluded from reporting.

Exempt recipients. You are not required to file Form 1099-INT for payments made to certain payees including but not limited to a corporation, a tax-exempt organization, any IRA, Archer MSA, Medicare Advantage MSA, health savings account (HSA), a U.S. agency, a state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. possession, a registered securities or commodities dealer, nominees or custodians, brokers, or notional principal contract (swap) dealers. For additional exempt recipients, see Regulations section 1.6049-4 for more information.

Interest excluded from reporting. You are not required to file Form 1099-INT for interest on an obligation issued by an individual, interest on amounts from sources outside the United States paid outside the United States by a non-U.S. payer or non-U.S. middleman, certain portfolio interest, interest on an obligation issued by an international organization and paid by that organization, and payments made to a foreign beneficial owner or foreign payee. See Regulations section 1.6049-5 for more information.

Other exception. Do not report tax-deferred interest, such as interest that is earned but not distributed from an IRA.

When is a payment made? Generally, interest is paid when it is credited or set apart for a person without any substantial limitation or restriction as to the time, manner, or condition of payment. The interest must be made available so that it may be drawn on at any time and its receipt brought within the control and disposition of the person.

For payments made on obligations subject to transactional reporting (for example, savings bonds, interest coupons, and other demand obligations), interest is paid at the time the obligation is presented for payment. For example, interest on a coupon detached from a bond is paid when it is presented for payment.

For rules regarding when interest earned by a trust interest holder (TIH) in a widely held fixed investment trust (WHFIT) is reportable, see Regulations section 1.671-5.

Reporting interest and OID. If you are reporting interest and original issue discount (OID) on any taxable obligation, you may report both the taxable qualified stated interest and the OID on Form 1099-OID. It is not necessary to file both Forms 1099-INT and 1099-OID. On Form 1099-OID, report the qualified stated interest in box 2 and the OID in box 1 or 8. However, you may choose to report the qualified stated interest on Form 1099-INT and the OID on Form 1099-OID.

Reporting interest and bond premium. For a covered security acquired with bond premium, you must report the amount of bond premium amortization for the tax year. See Regulations section 1.6045-1(a)(15)(i)(C) to determine if a debt instrument is a covered security. However, in the case of a taxable bond, if you have been notified by the taxpayer that the taxpayer does not elect to amortize bond premium, you must not report any amount of bond premium amortization. See Regulations section 1.6045-1(n)(5).

If you are required to report the amount of bond premium amortization for the tax year, you may report either (1) a net amount of interest that reflects the offset of interest by the amount of bond premium amortization for the year or (2) a gross amount for both the interest and the bond premium amortization for the year. For example, if a taxpayer receives $20 of taxable interest from a corporate bond and the amount of bond premium amortization for the year is $2, you may report $18 of interest income in box 1 and $0 in box 11, or you may report $20 of interest income in box 1 and $2 in box 11. For a noncovered security acquired with bond premium, you are only required to report the gross amount of interest.

Statements to recipients. If you are required to file Form 1099-INT, you must furnish a statement to the recipient. For more information about the requirement to furnish an official form or acceptable substitute statement to recipients, see part M in the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns. If you have furnished Forms 1099-INT to a recipient for amounts received during the year at the time of the transactions, such as you might have done for window transactions, do not include these same amounts in a Form 1099-INT furnished to the same recipient for other payments during the year.

Truncating recipient's identification number on paper payee statements. Pursuant to proposed regulations §301.6109-4 (REG-148873-09), all filers of Form 1099-INT may truncate a recipient's identification number (social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), or adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN)) on payee statements. See part M in the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.

Account number. The account number is required if you have multiple accounts for a recipient for whom you are filing more than one Form 1099-INT. Additionally, the IRS encourages you to designate an account number for all Forms 1099-INT that you file. See part L in the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.

2nd TIN not. You may enter an "X" in this box if you were notified by the IRS twice within 3 calendar years that the payee provided an incorrect taxpayer identification number (TIN). If you mark this box, the IRS will not send you any further notices about this account. However, if you received both IRS notices in the same year, or if you received them in different years but they both related to information returns filed for the same year, do not check the box at this time. For purposes of the two-notices-in-3-years rule, you are considered to have received one notice. You are not required to send a second "B" notice upon receipt of the second notice. See part N in the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns for more information.

TIP. For information on the TIN Matching System offered by the IRS, see Items You Should Note in the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.

Payer's RTN (optional). If you are a financial institution that wishes to participate in the program for direct deposit of refunds, you may enter your routing and transit number (RTN).

Box 1. Interest Income

Enter interest not included in box 3. Include amounts of $10 or more, whether or not designated as interest, that are paid or credited to the person's account by savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks not having capital stock represented by shares, building and loan associations, cooperative banks, homestead associations, credit unions, or similar organizations. Include interest on bank deposits, accumulated dividends paid by a life insurance company, indebtedness (including bonds, debentures, notes, and certificates other than those of the U.S. Treasury) issued in registered form or of a type offered to the public, or amounts from which you withheld federal income tax or foreign tax. In addition, report interest of $10 or more attributable to a TIH of a WHFIT, or accrued by a real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMIC), a financial asset securitization investment trust (FASIT) regular interest holder, or paid to a collateralized debt obligation (CDO) holder, as explained later.

Also include interest of $600 or more paid in the course of your trade or business not meeting the above criteria, such as interest on delayed death benefits paid by a life insurance company, interest received with damages, interest on a state or federal income tax refund, or interest attributable to a swap with significant nonperiodic payments.

Include in box 1 any accrued qualified stated interest on bonds sold between interest dates (or on a payment date). Also show OID on short-term obligations of 1 year or less and interest on all bearer certificates of deposit.

Do not include in box 1 interest on tax-free covenant bonds or dividends from money market funds (which are reportable on Form 1099-DIV). Do not include any description in box 1.

Interest to holders of tax credit bonds. Report tax credits in amounts of $10 or more allowed from the following tax credit bonds.

  • Clean renewable energy bonds.
  • New clean renewable energy bonds.
  • Qualified energy conservation bonds.
  • Qualified zone academy bonds.
  • Qualified school construction bonds.
  • Build America bonds (Tax Credit).

Treat these amounts as paid on the credit allowance date. The credit allowance dates are March 15, June 15, September 15, December 15, and the last day on which the bond is outstanding. For bonds issued during the 3-month period ending on a credit allowance date and for bonds which are redeemed or mature, the amount of the credit is determined ratably based on the portion of the 3-month period during which the bond is outstanding.

Generally, interest paid is not required to be reported to the list of recipients below. However, if they are holders of the tax credit bonds listed above, the interest must be reported.

  • A corporation,
  • A dealer in securities or commodities required to register as such under the laws of the United States, a state, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States,
  • A real estate investment trust (REIT) as defined in section 856,
  • An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
  • A common trust fund as defined in section 584(a), or
  • Any trust which is exempt from tax under section 664(c).

Box 2. Early Withdrawal Penalty

Enter interest or principal forfeited because of an early withdrawal of time deposits, such as an early withdrawal from a certificate of deposit (CD), that is deductible from gross income by the recipient. Do not reduce the amount reported in box 1 by the amount of the forfeiture. For detailed instructions for determining the amount of forfeiture deductible by the depositor, see Rev. Ruls. 75-20, 1975-1 C.B. 29, and 75-21, 1975-1 C.B. 367.

Box 3. Interest on U.S. Savings Bonds and Treas. Obligations

Enter interest on U.S. Savings Bonds, Treasury bills, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds. Do not include in box 1.

If you make payment on a U.S. Savings Bond or other U.S. obligation on which interest is reportable, enter your name, address, and federal identification number on Form 1099-INT and Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns, not those of the U.S. Treasury Department or the Bureau of Public Debt.

Box 4. Federal Income Tax Withheld

Enter backup withholding. For example, if a recipient does not furnish its TIN to you in the manner required, you must backup withhold at a 28% rate on payments required to be reported in box 1 (which may be reduced by the amount reported in box 2), box 3, and box 8 on this form.

For information on requesting the recipient's TIN, see part J in the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.

Box 5. Investment Expenses

For single-class REMICs only, see Box 5. Investment Expenses under Rules for REMICs, FASITs, and Issuers of CDOs, later.

Box 6. Foreign Tax Paid

Enter any foreign tax paid on interest. Report this amount in U.S. dollars.

Box 7. Foreign Country or U.S. Possession

Enter the name of the foreign country or U.S. possession for which the foreign tax was paid and reported in box 6.

Box 8. Tax-Exempt Interest

Enter interest of $10 or more that is credited or paid to the person's account if that interest is used to finance government operations and is issued by a state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. possession, an Indian tribal government, or a political subdivision. A political subdivision includes port authorities, toll road commissions, utility services authorities, community redevelopment agencies, and qualified volunteer fire departments. Include in box 8 any accrued qualified stated interest on these bonds sold between interest dates (or on a payment date).

Any exempt-interest dividends from a mutual fund or other RIC are reported on Form 1099-DIV.

No information reporting for tax-exempt OID under section 6049 will be required until such time as the IRS and Treasury provide future guidance.

Include specified private activity bond interest in box 9 and in the total for box 8. See the instructions for box 9 next.

Box 9. Specified Private Activity Bond Interest

Enter interest of $10 or more from specified private activity bonds. Generally, "specified private activity bond" means any private activity bond defined in section 141 and issued after August 7, 1986. See section 57(a)(5) for more details. Also see the Instructions for Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax - Individuals, available at www.irs.gov/form6251.

Box 10. Market Discount

For a covered security acquired with market discount, if the taxpayer notified you that a section 1278(b) election was made, enter the amount of market discount that accrued on the debt instrument during the tax year in the amount of $10 or more. For more details, see Regulations section 1.6045-1(n). Also see TD 9616, available at www.irs.gov/irb/2013-20_IRB/ar07.html. Unless the taxpayer notified you that a section 1276(b) election was made to use the constant yield method to determine accruals of market discount for the debt instrument, use the general rules in section 1276 to determine the accruals of market discount. See Regulations section 1.6045-1(n)(5).

Box 11. Bond Premium

For a taxable covered security acquired at a premium, enter the amount of bond premium amortization for the tax year, unless you were notified in writing that the holder did not want to amortize bond premium under section 171. See Regulations section 1.6045-1(n)(5) and 1.6049-9T(b). For a tax-exempt covered security acquired at a premium, enter the amount of bond premium amortization for the tax year. If you amortized bond premium and reported a net amount of interest in boxes 1, 3, 8, or 9, as applicable, leave this box blank.

Box 12. Tax-Exempt Bond CUSIP No.

For single bonds or accounts containing a single bond, enter the CUSIP number of the tax-exempt bond for which tax-exempt interest is reported in box 8. If the tax-exempt interest is reported in the aggregate for multiple bonds or accounts, enter "various." If a CUSIP number was not issued for the tax-exempt bond, leave box 12 blank.

Boxes 13-15. State Information

These boxes may be used by payers who participate in the Combined Federal/State Filing Program and/or who are required to file paper copies of this form with a state tax department. See Publication 1220 for more information regarding the Combined Federal/State Filing Program. They are provided for your convenience only and need not be completed for the IRS. Use the state information boxes to report payments for up to two states. Keep the information for each state separated by the dash line. If you withheld state income tax on this payment, you may enter it in box 15. In box 13, enter the abbreviated name of the state and in box 14, enter the payer's state identification number. The state number is the payer's identification number assigned by the individual state.

If a state tax department requires that you send them a paper copy of this form, use Copy 1 to provide information to the state tax department. Give Copy 2 to the recipient for use in filing the recipient's state income tax return.

Rules for Widely Held Fixed Investment Trusts (WHFITs)

Trustees and middlemen must report the gross amount of interest attributable to the TIH for the calendar year on Form 1099-INT if that amount exceeds $10. If the trustee provides WHFIT information using the safe harbor rules in Regulations section 1.671-5(f)(1) or (g)(1), the trustee or middleman must determine the amounts reported on Form 1099-INT under Regulations section 1.671-5(f)(2) or (g)(2), as appropriate.

Requirement to furnish a tax information statement to the TIH. A tax information statement that includes the information provided to the IRS on Form 1099-INT, as well as additional information identified in Regulations section 1.671-5(e) must be provided to TIHs. The written tax information statement must be furnished to the TIH by March 15. The amount of an item of a trust expense that is attributable to a TIH must be included on the tax information statement provided to the TIH and is not required to be included in box 5 on the Form 1099-INT.

WHFIT interest income information may be included in summary totals reported to the IRS and the TIH. Information about WHFIT interest income may also be included in a composite statement furnished to the TIH.

For more filing requirements, see the 2014 General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.

Rules for REMICs, FASITs, and Issuers of CDOs

CAUTION. These reporting rules apply only to FASITs in existence on October 22, 2004, to the extent that regular interests issued by the FASIT before that date continue to remain outstanding in accordance with the original terms of issue.

REMICs, holders of ownership interests in FASITs, issuers of CDOs, and any broker or middleman who holds as a nominee a REMIC or FASIT regular interest or CDO must file Form 1099-INT. The form is used to report interest of $10 or more, other than OID, accrued to a REMIC or FASIT regular interest holder during the year or paid to a holder of a CDO. If you are also reporting OID, this interest and the OID can be reported on Form 1099-OID. You do not have to file both Forms 1099-INT and 1099-OID.

You are not required to file or issue Form 1099-INT for exempt recipients including but not limited to the following.

  • A corporation.
  • A broker.
  • A middleman/nominee.
  • A financial institution.
  • Any IRA, Archer MSA, Medicare Advantage MSA, or HSA.
  • A tax-exempt organization.

For additional exempt recipients, see Regulations section 1.6049-7(c).

Box 1. Interest Income

Report in box 1 the amount of interest, other than OID, accrued to each REMIC or FASIT regular interest holder or paid to a CDO holder for the period during the year for which the return is made. If you are a single-class REMIC (as defined in Temporary Regulations section 1.67-3T(a) (2)(ii)(B)), increase the amount otherwise reportable in box 1 by the regular interest holder's share of investment expenses of the REMIC for the year. No amount should be reported in box 3.

Box 5. Investment Expenses

Enter the regular interest holder's pro rata share of investment expenses deductible by a single-class REMIC.

Statements to Holders

For each Form 1099-INT you are required to file, you must furnish a statement to the REMIC or FASIT regular interest holder or CDO holder identified on the form. The statement must contain the information shown on Form 1099-INT, including the legend shown on Copy B of the official Form 1099-INT, and an indication that these items are being furnished to the IRS. The statement also must show the information specified in Regulations section 1.6049-7(f)(2)(i). In addition, the statement furnished by a REMIC must show, for each calendar quarter, the information specified in Regulations section 1.6049-7(f) (3). Also see Regulations section 1.6049-7(f)(3)(ii) for information that may be required to be reported to a REIT that holds a REMIC regular interest.

A single-class REMIC (as defined in Temporary Regulations section 1.67-3T(a)(2)(ii)(B)) must include in the statement the investment expenses paid or accrued during each calendar quarter by the REMIC for which the REMIC is allowed a deduction under section 212 and the proportionate share of those investment expenses allocated to the regular interest holder.

The statement must be furnished to holders by March 15. To meet the statement requirement, you may furnish a copy of Form 1099-INT and a separate statement containing the additional information to the REMIC or FASIT regular interest holder or CDO holder.

For information about reporting income to REMIC residual interest holders, see the instructions for Schedule Q (Form 1066), Quarterly Notice to Residual Interest Holder of REMIC Taxable Income or Net Loss Allocation, in the separate Instructions for Form 1066, available at www.irs.gov/form1066.

Form 8811 and Reporting by Brokers or Middlemen

REMICs and issuers of CDOs must also file Form 8811, Information Return for Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (REMICs) and Issuers of Collateralized Debt Obligations, within 30 days after the start-up date of the REMIC or issue date of a CDO. The IRS will use the information on Forms 8811 to update Pub. 938, Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (REMICs) Reporting Information, for use by certain brokers, middlemen, corporations, and others specified in Regulations section 1.6049-7(e)(4). Pub. 938 is available at www.irs.gov/pub938.

For the requirements that a REMIC or CDO issuer or a broker or middleman who holds a REMIC or FASIT regular interest or a CDO furnish certain information on request, see Regulations sections 1.6049-7(e) and 1.6049-7(f)(7).