Tax Implications of a 1099-A

Form 1099-A is published by the Internal Revenue Service for banks and other commercial lenders to report a discharge of secured indebtedness by the lender to the borrower. The lender is able to then claim the forgiven secured debt as a deductible business loss for tax purposes. The 1099-A also has tax implications for the recipient of the forgiven debt.

A secured debt is a loan that is backed by some collateral, usually a home or a vehicle. Generally, if the borrower fails to repay the loan according to the terms in the lending contract, the lender forecloses on the loan and repossess the collateral property. An IRS form 1099-A is issued when a secured debt is forgiven by a lender, but not when an unsecured debt is discharged by a creditor.

In some circumstances, a commercial lender may forgive the debt of a borrower, which zeros out the debt. As a result, the borrower does not have to repay the remaining value of the loan. Lenders may forgive debts if the borrower is on the brink of bankruptcy so that she can continue to pay some of the loan.

As a general rule, a loan is not considered income for tax purposes since it is not a permanent transfer of wealth, but rather a temporary one. However, if the funds are no longer expected to be repaid by the borrower, then the IRS considers the money to be realized income. Therefore if the lender forgives a debt, it is treated as taxable income of the borrower the year the debt is forgiven because he has accrued money without having an obligation to repay it.

The lending institution is permitted to deduct the value of the unpaid portion of the loan from its income taxes during the tax year the loan was forgiven, as it constitutes a business loss. However, in order to qualify for the deduction, the institution must issue an IRS form 1099-A to the borrower with a copy to the IRS.