Based on your financial expertise, provide your response or viewpoint on the given financial question or topic. The response format is open.

Is it legal for a landlord to report a large payment to a tenant using Form 1099?
It is legal.  They're probably going to give you a 1099-MISC, which is required of businesses for many cash payments over $600 in value to all sorts of counterparties.  (Probably box 3 of 1099-MISC as is typical in "cash for keys" situations where one is paid to vacate early)   A 1099-MISC is not necessarily pure income, but in this case, you do have money coming in.  This money isn't a return of your security deposit or a gift. The payment could possibly be construed by you as a payment to make you whole, but the accounting for this would be on you.  This is not a typical situation for IRS reporting.   However, if you are uncomfortable with potentially explaining to the IRS how you implemented advice from strangers over the internet, the safest course is to report it all as income.  Look at it this way: you did enter into a mutual contract, where you were paid consideration to release your leasehold interests in the property.