This article outlines what tax forms and applicable documents instructors can expect from Udemy after the end of a calendar year, in return for the tax documentation that instructors have already provided to Udemy.
Additional resources:
- Information regarding what tax forms and documents instructors are required to submit to Udemy.
- Instructions on how to submit your tax forms and documents to Udemy.
- Information about Internal Revenue Service (IRS) withholding and how it is applied to Udemy instructor earnings.
Note: Udemy is not able to provide tax advice. This article is intended to outline relevant tax forms and documents instructors can expect from Udemy. For individual tax advice, please consult a tax professional.
Overview
Udemy is based in the United States, which means that we have certain obligations to the U.S. government for tax withholding and reporting.
Upon making their first sales on the platform, instructors submit U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax forms to Udemy. In return, in the months following the end of each calendar year, instructors can expect forms from Udemy summarizing their payout totals and withholding totals from the previous year. Udemy also files copies of these forms with the IRS.
While Udemy uses instructors’ submitted tax information to determine the correct amount of IRS withholding to apply to payouts, all instructors are responsible to report their earnings to the government authorities relevant to them for the purposes of income tax collection, and the 1099 or 1042-S form that instructors receive from Udemy may be helpful in that effort (see below for more information). If you have questions about what your income tax obligations are, consult the help of a tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
Which tax forms will Udemy send me?
1099-MISC forms
Instructors who provided a valid W-9 certifying their U.S. status for tax purposes will receive IRS Form 1099-MISC if they had at least $10 in payments in a calendar year, unless they indicated status as an S or C Corporation on their W-9. S and C Corporations will not receive any yearly tax form from Udemy, nor will US instructors who earned less than $10 in a calendar year.
More about IRS Form 1099 can be found directly at the IRS site.
1042-S forms
Instructors who provided tax forms certifying non-U.S. tax status (i.e. W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E most commonly) should expect Form 1042-S in return from Udemy, if they had any earnings from U.S. sources (such as transactional sales to U.S. learners or course consumption from U.S. subscribers). The form will be provided in the first quarter of the year, reflecting the U.S.-sourced payouts and withheld amounts (if any) from the previously completed calendar year. More about Form 1042-S can be found directly at the IRS site.
How will I receive my 1099 or 1042-S from Udemy?
A physical tax form will be sent to the mailing address you provided when you completed your tax documentation, unless you select to receive your year-end tax forms electronically (and so Udemy won’t send a copy by mail). The e-delivery option can be selected on the Payout & Tax Settings page.
Please note that by opting in to e-delivery, you acknowledge that you’ve read and agree to the Electronic Delivery Agreement.
You'll also be able to download a digital copy via your Payout & Tax Details page once your form is ready.
When will I receive my tax forms?
If you provided Form W-9 or had tax withheld prior to submitting a tax form, you can expect a copy of Form 1099 by mid-February the following year.
If you provided any other form, such as a W-8BEN or a W-8BEN-E, you can expect a copy of Form 1042-S by mid-March the following year.
Is a 1099-MISC required to file my taxes?
No. You are obligated to report income you receive, whether or not that income is reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC or any other tax report.
What if I get a 1099-MISC from PayPal? Will this cause my earnings to be double-reported to the IRS?
No. Udemy payouts to instructors are not reported on PayPal’s 1099-MISC forms.
How can I see right now how much I made from Udemy last year?
The most reliable way to see how much you earned from Udemy over a given date range is to query your PayPal or Payoneer account for payments received from Udemy. If you’re using direct deposit (U.S. only) to receive your Udemy payments, the applicable bank account should have these payments documented.
Why does my paid amount on my 1042-S appear different from what I see on my Udemy Revenue Report?
The amount shown in Line 2 of Form 1042-S (“Gross Income”), refers only to the taxable amount of income for the purpose of IRS withholding. For Udemy, this number represents only the portion of your Udemy revenue that came from sales to or subscription revenues derived from US students.
What taxes am I responsible for? What do I owe?
Udemy is not able to provide tax advice. Instructors are responsible for remitting any income tax relevant to them to their local tax authorities. Please consult a tax professional for individual tax advice, or to understand your tax responsibilities for the income you have received from Udemy.