The Automatic 1099-NEC for Athletes | Harmonia
Do affiliates get a 1099? If you clear the IRS reporting threshold, Stripe issues your 1099-NEC automatically at year-end. No W-9 to chase, nothing to file.
Do affiliates get a 1099? On Harmonia, yes: if you clear the IRS reporting threshold for the year, Stripe issues your 1099-NEC automatically at year-end. There is no manual W-9 to wrangle and nothing to file to receive it. Because your payouts run through Stripe Connect, Stripe already holds the details it needs, so the form generates and sends on its own. Harmonia never sees or stores your Social Security number or bank account.
This guide covers what the 1099-NEC is, what triggers it, who issues it, and when it shows up. It is part of how athletes get paid.
Not tax advice
This explains how the form is issued, not how to file your taxes. Everyone's return is different. For your own situation, check with a tax professional.
The short version
- Yes, you get a 1099-NEC if your paid commission for the year clears the IRS reporting threshold.
- Stripe issues it, not Harmonia. Payouts run through Stripe Connect, so Stripe holds the verified details and sends the form.
- It is automatic. No W-9 to chase, nothing to file with us to receive it.
- Your SSN and bank details stay private. Stripe collects and holds them. Harmonia never sees them, and your brand never sees them.
- It arrives at year-end on the IRS timeline, typically in January for the prior tax year.
What a 1099-NEC is
A 1099-NEC is the IRS form that reports non-employee compensation: money you were paid as an independent contractor, not as a salaried employee. Your affiliate commission is exactly that kind of income.
The form reports the total commission paid to you during the year. You use it when you file your own taxes. Getting one does not mean you owe a specific amount; it means the income was reported, and how it is taxed depends on your full return.
What triggers the form
The form is triggered by one thing: your paid commission for the year clearing the IRS reporting threshold.
- The threshold is set by the IRS, not by Harmonia, and it can change from year to year.
- Clear it, and a 1099-NEC is issued for that year, covering the commission paid to you.
- Fall under it, and no form is issued, but the income can still be taxable. A missing form is not the same as untaxed income.
Confirm the current threshold
The exact dollar figure for the IRS reporting threshold is set by the IRS and can change. Do not assume last year's number. Confirm the current threshold with the IRS or a tax professional.
It is your paid commission that counts, not what is still pending or waiting on a brand's invoice. For how a sale moves from earned to paid, see the affiliate payout timeline.
Who issues it: Stripe, automatically
Stripe issues your 1099-NEC, not Harmonia.
Your payouts run through Stripe Connect Express. When a brand first approves you, you set up Stripe Connect once, and Stripe collects the identity and tax details it needs at that point. That single setup covers two jobs at once: it lets your payouts run, and it lets Stripe generate your year-end form.
- No W-9 to file with us. The details Stripe needs are collected during your one-time Stripe setup, not in a separate form you send Harmonia.
- Nothing to do to receive it. The form generates from the payouts Stripe already processed for you.
- Harmonia issues nothing here. We never see your SSN or bank account, so Stripe is the right party to hold the data and issue the form.
For the one-time setup, see setting up Stripe Connect Express or the identity verification help article.
Your SSN and bank details stay private
Stripe Connect collects and holds your Social Security number and bank account directly. Harmonia never sees or stores either one. Your brand never sees them either.
| Detail | Who holds it | Does Harmonia see it? | Does your brand see it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security number | Stripe | No | No |
| Bank account | Stripe | No | No |
| Your 1099-NEC | Issued by Stripe | No | No |
That same Stripe verification is what lets the 1099-NEC issue automatically. The data sits with Stripe, the party that processes your payouts, and nowhere else.
When it arrives
Your 1099-NEC arrives at year-end on the IRS timeline for these forms, typically delivered in January for the prior tax year. Stripe sends it to you directly.
One Harmonia detail affects the timing. On December 15 we pay out any remaining balance regardless of the $25 minimum. That year-end payout clears any earned commission still sitting below the floor before the year closes, so your 1099-NEC reflects everything you were paid that year.
For more on the year-end payout and the $25 floor, see how athletes get paid.
How the fee affects your 1099
You earn the commission the brand sets, in full. The 20% platform fee is billed to the brand, on top of your commission, so it is never deducted from your payout. Your 1099-NEC reflects what you were paid, which is the full commission.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission you earn | $50 |
| 20% platform fee (billed to the brand) | $10 |
| Brand's total cost | $60 |
| Reflected on your 1099-NEC | $50 |
The fee never shows up on your tax form because it never comes out of your earnings.
Where to go next
- How athletes get paid: the full payout lifecycle, from a sale to your bank.
- Setting up Stripe Connect Express: the one-time identity and bank step.
- The affiliate payout timeline: every state from pending to paid.
- Taxes: the help article for active athletes.
- Identity verification: what Stripe asks for, and why.
FAQ
Will I get a 1099 form for my affiliate earnings?
If you clear the IRS reporting threshold for the year, yes. Stripe issues your 1099-NEC automatically at year-end. It reflects the commission paid to you that year. If your paid commission is under the threshold, you will not get a 1099-NEC, but you may still owe tax on the income, so check with a tax professional.
What earnings threshold triggers a 1099-NEC?
Stripe issues the form when your paid commission for the year clears the IRS reporting threshold for non-employee compensation. The exact dollar figure is set by the IRS, not by Harmonia, and it can change year to year, so confirm the current threshold with the IRS or a tax professional. Below the threshold, no form is issued, but the income can still be taxable.
Do I need to submit a tax form to get paid?
No. You do not file a W-9 with us to get paid. When a brand first approves you, you set up Stripe Connect Express once, which is where Stripe collects the identity and tax details it needs. That one setup covers both your payouts and your year-end 1099-NEC. There is nothing else to send us.
Who issues my 1099, Harmonia or Stripe?
Stripe issues it. Because payouts run through Stripe Connect, Stripe holds the verified details and generates and sends your 1099-NEC at year-end. Harmonia never sees or stores your Social Security number or bank account, so Stripe is the right party to issue the form.
When will my 1099 arrive?
At year-end, on the IRS timeline for 1099-NEC forms (typically delivered in January for the prior tax year). Stripe sends it to you directly. The December 15 year-end payout matters here: it clears any remaining balance before the year closes, so the 1099-NEC reflects everything you were paid that year.