Information return
In accounting, information return means a return that reports a payment to the IRS and to the person paid, rather than computing a tax — Form 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-K, W-2, 3921. Due dates are per form, and §7503 moves a weekend date to the next business day.
Authority: IRS — Instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC (opens in a new tab). Sources
The lessons that teach this
From the free founder back-office course, taught on one company's books, with exercises to work it yourself.
- ComplianceInformation returns: 1099-NEC and 1099-MISCThe January information returns: who gets a 1099-NEC at $2,000 for 2026, and the 2027 dates, weekend moves included.7 min
- ComplianceThe annual compliance calendar, 2026–2027Northwind's 2026–2027 calendar computed from rules: the federal return, estimates, 1099s, Delaware's March 1, and the dates that follow events.9 min
What it is not called
Each of these means something else. Use one here and an accountant reading the product notices.
- tax return (which computes tax owed)
Components that render this
These components name it in their spec, grouped and labeled exactly as the catalog shows them.
Nearby in the catalog
Components in the same part of the system that don't name this term. A looser link than the list above.
Also in Tax
Defined in Lexicon. This page is generated from that document, so the two can't disagree.