Moonlight uses Stripe to process payments. Tax reporting for U.S. persons follows IRS rules, with official documentation available directly from Stripe’s U.S. tax reporting guide.
1099-K Reporting
The IRS requires Form 1099-K when certain thresholds are met.
As of now, the federal threshold is:
More than $20,000 in gross payments, and
More than 200 transactions in a calendar year.
The IRS has announced plans to lower the threshold to $600, but implementation has been delayed.
Some states have lower thresholds that may apply even if the federal threshold is not met.
👉 Note: A 1099-K reports gross payments — the full amount clients paid, including Moonlight’s platform fee. You should deduct Moonlight’s fees and other business expenses when filing taxes.
1099-MISC Reporting
Form 1099-MISC may be issued if you receive at least $600 in non-transaction payments in a tax year, such as:
Referral bonuses
Promotions or incentives
Key Points
Companies do not issue 1099s to developers they hire on Moonlight. All payments flow through the platform.
Developers are responsible for reporting income, even if they do not receive a 1099 form.
Authoritative details on how 1099s are generated and delivered can be found in Stripe’s documentation.
FAQs
Why didn’t I receive a 1099?
You won’t receive one if you did not meet the IRS reporting thresholds, or if you are not a U.S. person. You must still report all earnings on your tax return.
What if the 1099-K amount seems too high?
The form shows gross transaction volume. Deduct Moonlight’s service fees and your other business expenses when filing your taxes.
Do I ever issue a 1099 to a developer I worked with?
No. Payments are made through Moonlight, not directly from you to the developer.