As discussed in our article "1099s and you," the 2010 Healthcare act introduced a new 1099 reporting requirement for businesses which would have created a substantial new paperwork burden for all businesses and people with self-employment income. It would have required the issuance of a 1099 to any provider of goods or services to whom the business paid over $600 per year. Not just a receipt or an invoice, or keeping the receipt or invoice provided by that provider of goods or services, but a 1099 - issued to the business who bought the goods or services, as well as to the IRS.
Had that provision been kept in place, I'd have had to issue a 1099 to the local retail store where I buy office supplies.
Thankfully, after much debate, a bipartisan agreement to eliminate this provision - widely derided by small business advocates, accountants, and others - passed both the House and the Senate in early April and President Obama signed the bill into law in mid-April.
It was included in the Healthcare law as a means of generating some additional revenue to help offset some of the costs of the law.