I am an individual.
Is that true? If I hire a contractor to remodel my bathroom, I dont have send them a 1099?
Yes, that's true, and it's been true for decades. The basic rule for 1099 reporting for work done by independent contractors (as well as for a number of other payments made by businesses) is Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 6041(a), which states:
All persons engaged in a trade or business and making payment in the course of such trade or business to another person, of rent, salaries, wages, premiums, annuities, compensations, remunerations, emoluments, or other fixed or determinable gains, profits, and income (other than payments to which section 6042(a)(1), 6044(a)(1), 6047(e), 6049(a), or 6050N(a) applies, and other than payments with respect to which a statement is required under the authority of section 6042(a)(2), 6044(a)(2), or 6045), of $600 or more in any taxable year, or, in the case of such payments made by the United States, the officers or employees of the United States having information as to such payments and required to make returns in regard thereto by the regulations hereinafter provided for, shall render a true and accurate return to the Secretary, under such regulations and in such form and manner and to such extent as may be prescribed by the Secretary, setting forth the amount of such gains, profits, and income, and the name and address of the recipient of such payment.
26 U.S.C.A. § 6041(a)(bolding added). Note the part I put in bold — the payments need to be made by a person engaged in a trade or business and making the payment as part of that trade or business. In general consumer payments to independent contractors for things like home repair, etc. do not have to be reported to the IRS unless you are seeking a deduction/credit for those payments (e.g. child and dependent care expenses, etc). And those are generally reported as part of your income tax return rather than on a Form 1099.