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Taxpayers who use Cash App, Venmo and similar payment apps have been given another reprieve from a change that will require more reporting to the IRS.
App users are currently required to report payments if they’re in the tens of thousands of dollars, and if numerous transactions are completed during the year. A 2021 law called for tightening the rules by having the apps send users what’s called a Form 1099-K for transactions totaling over $600 for payment of goods and services.
But the IRS announced late in 2022 that it would delay the new requirements until the 2024 tax filing season. And now, the tax agency says it will wait until 2025—and ease into the new changes by lowering the reporting threshold from $20,000 to $5,000 during a transitional stage.
“Taking this phased-in approach is the right thing to do for the purposes of tax administration, and it prevents unnecessary confusion as we continue to look at changes to the Form 1040,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a news release issued Tuesday.
New Tax Reporting for App Payments Under $20,000
Under current law, the IRS requires payment apps, known formally as “third-party settlement organizations,” to issue Form 1099-K to report when certain payment transactions meet both these criteria:
- Gross payments exceed $20,000
- More than 200 transactions are completed within the year
The new law will eventually require users to receive Form 1099-K for any payments of goods and services over $600, regardless of the number of transactions. That means more people will receive the forms.
For the 2024 tax year—meaning the taxes that will be due in the spring of 2025—the IRS is planning to roll out a $5,000 reporting threshold. The agency’s news release doesn’t indicate when the $600 standard will be introduced.
“The IRS will use this additional time to continue carefully crafting a way forward to minimize burden,” Werfel said. “We want to make this as easy as possible for taxpayers.”
The law says only third-party payment companies that handle the settlement of funds—a process of transferring funds from a buyer to a seller in a transaction—are required to send 1099-Ks to users.
The operator of the Zelle payment platform, Early Warning Services, said in an email statement that Zelle doesn’t settle funds but rather provides messaging between a financial institution and people making the payments. So the company said Zelle will not be subject to the new law.
Understanding Your Form 1099-K for Payment Apps Reporting
You will receive by January 31 of each year a Form 1099-K from third-party networks or financial institutions for income you got via the platforms during the prior year.
Your third-party provider may request additional information from you to properly report your transactions on the Form 1099-K. You may be asked to provide your employer identification number (EIN), individual tax identification number (ITIN) or Social Security number if this information is not on file.
Your Form 1099-K will report in Box 1a the total gross income received during the year, without considering any adjustments, discounts or refunds.
Your Form 1099-K will include payments from credit cards and online payments. You are required to report any income listed on your Form 1099-K from your business on your income tax return.
Do Venmo, CashApp and Other Third-Party Network Users Have To Pay a New Tax?
No.
While the 2021 law requires new tax reporting requirements, it does not change the existing tax law on whether certain income payments are taxable.
In the event your Form 1099-K includes amounts considered nontaxable, you won’t need to report them on your tax return.
However, you may want to ensure your payments are properly classified within the third-party platform. If you receive money for something other than goods or services, you should be able to classify the transaction correctly to avoid receiving a Form 1099-K for personal transactions.
Some examples of payments that may be excluded from your income include:
- A reimbursement from a friend or family member
- Your roommate’s share of the rent on your apartment
- A gift from a loved one
Also, if you receive money from selling a personal item at a loss, you are not required to report the amount on your tax return. For example, if you purchased a dress for $100 and sold it for $50, there’s no tax.
Again, Zelle has said none of its payments will be subject to the new requirements.
How To Keep Good Records for Form 1099-K Reporting
Since your Form 1099-K may include both taxable and nontaxable income, keeping good records is essential.
While you may choose any recordkeeping system for your business, you want to select a system that reflects your income and expenses. Your system should include:
- Accounting and payroll records
- Bank statements
- Receipts
- Tax forms and returns
- Other business financial records
You can consider saving your records either in electronic form or on paper.
If you are a business owner, it’s a good idea to set up a separate third-party platform for business and personal transactions. That way, you can easily track business transactions.
Also, setting up a separate business third-party payment platform and keeping good records can be beneficial to prove both taxable and nontaxable income sources if the IRS audits your tax return.
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