What is a 1099-MISC?
The 1099-MISC is a tax document used to report payment information to the IRS and to the person or business that received the payment. Shutterstock sends one copy of this form to the contributor, and one to the IRS.
Who receives a 1099-MISC?
Contributors who are US Citizens or residents that received a payment from Shutterstock during a calendar year will receive a 1099-MISC form at the beginning of the following year.
When do I receive a 1099-MISC?
The link to download 1099-MISC is posted on your account Dashboard by January 31st of each year for your earnings from the previous year. The form is available for electronic download until October 15 of the same year the earnings were accrued. As a courtesy to our contributors, we also maintain copies of 1099-MISC forms from the previous three years. These past forms can be made available to you upon written request. We no longer mail out paper copies of the form, unless specifically requested to do so by the contributor. If there is no link posted in your account, you most likely do not have a 1099-MISC form issued to you for the previous calendar year.
How are the amounts on this form calculated?
The 1099-MISC reflects all payments that were made to you during the previous calendar year. So if you made earnings in December of 2022, which were not actually paid out to you until January 2023, the December earnings will not be reflected in the 1099-MISC for your 2022 earnings but rather will be calculated in your 1099-MISC for your 2023 earnings. For further details on your payments please see your Payment History.
If you are also a Bigstock Contributor, you will only receive one 1099-MISC which will include both your Shutterstock and Bigstock earnings, and it will be available exclusively through your Shutterstock account. The amount in Box 2 of this 1099-MISC includes both your Bigstock and Shutterstock payments received. Log into your Shutterstock account to download the 1099-MISC form.
How do I access the 1099-MISC?
Log into your Shutterstock contributor account and click the Download now link in the message at the top of your Dashboard. You will navigate to the page from which you can download a PDF version of your tax form:
1. Click on "this PDF" hyperlink to download a sample PDF
2. This sample PDF will contain a word, enter this word in field 2 of the form
Please note that your browser may pre-populate this field with the wrong information, like your email address. Instead, the field must be populated with the word from the PDF document.
3. Re-enter your contributor account password
4. Check the consent box
5. Click Download Your Forms
Can I get a paper copy in the mail from Shutterstock?
If you are unable to download the PDF document, you may request a paper copy by contacting us at taxhelp@shutterstock.com. In addition, if you wish to receive only paper copies going forward, please advise us, and we will accommodate your request.
What if I still have questions?
Shutterstock cannot give personal tax or legal advice. If you still have questions about taxes after reviewing the information in the Tax Center, please contact your legal and/or tax advisor.
If you have questions about the information in your Shutterstock account, please contact us.