Why Am I Receiving a 1099-K Form From Dwolla?

What is a 1099-K tax form?

A 1099-K tax form indicates payment earnings that have passed through a third-party financial network like Paynote. They are issued by credit card and ACH processing companies to report on financial earnings that have passed through their processing networks. This form is not the same as a 1099-MISC or a 1099-NEC tax form which officials commonly receive from officiating organizations. These tax forms are completely different and may reflect the exact same earnings in all these tax forms.

 

Who is Dwolla Inc.?

Dwolla Inc. is a third-party financial processor that operates ACH bank transfers for Paynote. Any payment transaction processed through Paynote is processed and handled by Dwolla Inc. As a financial network provider, they have both federal & state reporting requirements to indicate and disclose funds that pass through their processing network. This information is reported via tax Form 1099-K.

 

Who receives a 1099-K tax form?

To receive a 1099-K tax form from Dwolla, Inc., you must have received payments via Paynote and meet the following condition:

• For the 2024 tax year, the federal threshold for reporting is $5,000 in total payments, with no minimum number of transactions. States may have their own reporting thresholds, and in those cases, we will also file 1099-K forms with the respective state tax authorities.

 

I already received a 1099, why am I getting another one?

A 1099-K tax form is not the same as a 1099-MISC or a 1099-NEC tax form which officials commonly receive from officiating organizations. These tax forms are completely different and may reflect the same earnings in multiple reports.

If you've earned enough money, both your officiating organization AND Dwolla Inc. will be required to send you tax forms regarding those same funds. A 1099-K form does not replace your officiating organization's requirements to send you a 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC tax form. Your officiating organization may send you a 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, or W-2 tax form, and Dwolla Inc. will also send you a 1099-K tax form for the exact same funds if you meet the reporting thresholds shown below.

Both the federal and state Form 1099-K are informational returns, and the gross payments reported on a Form 1099-K do not necessarily represent reportable income. The form should be used in conjunction with other tax records (bank statements, invoices, etc.) to report taxable income if any. Please consult your tax advisor to determine your tax reporting requirements.

What do I do with this?

Both the federal and state Form 1099-K are informational returns, and the gross payments reported on a Form 1099-K do not necessarily represent reportable income. The form should be used in conjunction with other tax forms (like W-2's, 1099-MISC, and 1099-NEC forms) and tax records (bank statements, invoices, etc.) to determine your taxable income. You should consult your tax advisor to determine your tax reporting requirements.

Where can I learn more?

If you want to learn more, you can refer to the IRS website, which outlines full details on the 1099-K tax form.

For more information, please refer to our Form 1099-K resources:

• Form 1099-K blog post
• What is a 1099-K and how does it impact me? 
• Form 1099-K Frequently Asked Questions