Tax Due Dates

calculator and change with calendar in the background with deadline circled

This article was last edited on 11/5/2019. For updated information on tax due dates, visit https://www.tax.gov/calendar/.

Make sure you don’t miss any tax due dates by going ahead and marking your calendar. These might change slightly from year-to-year, so make sure to review the dates at the beginning of each year. If a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then you have until the next business day to file. Holidays include:

  • January 1 – New Year’s Day
  • January 21 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • February 18 – Washington’s Birthday
  • April 16 – Emancipation Day (D.C.)
  • May 27 – Memorial Day
  • July 4 – Independence Day
  • September 2 – Labor Day
  • October 14 – Columbus Day
  • November 11 – Veterans’ Day
  • November 28 – Thanksgiving
  • December 25 – Christmas

Choose a Quarter to Get Started:

Choose a Quarter to Get Started:

First Quarter | Second Quarter | Third Quarter | Fourth Quarter

Or, skip to tax dates to share with your staff.

First quarter

January 15

  • Make your final estimated tax payment for the previous year using Form 1040-ES.
  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your December taxes. Read also: When do I deposit payroll taxes?

January 31

  • If you paid an independent contractor nonemployee compensation in the previous year, file Form 1099-MISC and give a copy to the contractor.
  • File Forms W-2 for each employee and give them copies.
  • File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of the previous year and deposit any unpaid payroll taxes.
  • File Form 944 to report your social security, Medicare, and withheld income taxes, if you’re required to file Form 944 instead of Form 941.
  • File Form 940 to report your annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax.

February 15

  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your January taxes.

February 16

  • Begin withholding income tax from any employee who claimed tax exemption last year but did not give you a new W-4 claiming tax exemption this year. Read also: Am I Exempt from Federal Withholding?

March 15

  • If your small business is a partnership, file Form 1065 and give each partner a Schedule K-1. Or, file Form 7004 for an automatic 6-month extension. Read also: Income Tax Forms for Your Small Business
  • For S-Corp businesses, file Form 1120S, pay any taxes due and give each shareholder a Schedule K-1. Or, file Form 7004 and pay estimated taxes for an automatic 6-month extension.
  • If you’d like to be treated as an S-Corp this year, file Form 2553.
  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your February taxes.

Second quarter

April 15

  • Make your first estimated tax payment for tax year using Form 1040-ES.
  • If your business is registered as a corporation, file Form 1120 and pay any taxes due. Or, file Form 7004 and pay estimated taxes for an automatic 6-month extension.
  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your March taxes.

April 30

  • File Form 941 for the first quarter and deposit any unpaid payroll taxes.
  • Deposit FUTA taxes owed through March, if you owe more than $500.

May 15

  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your April taxes.

June 17

  • Make your second estimated tax payment for the year using Form 1040-ES.
  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your May taxes.

Third quarter

July 15

  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your June taxes.

July 31

  • File Form 941 for the second quarter and deposit any unpaid payroll taxes.
  • Deposit FUTA taxes owed through June, if you owe more than $500.
  • If you offered employee benefits plans (like pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plans) in 2018, file Form 5500 or Form 5500-EZ.

August 15

  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your July taxes.

September 16

  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your August taxes.
  • Make your third estimated tax payment for the year using Form 1040-ES.
  • If your partnership filed for a 6-month extension, file Form 1065.
  • If your S-Corp filed for a 6-month extension, file Form 1120S.

Fourth quarter

October 15

  • If your corporation filed for a 6-month extension, file Form 1120.
  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your September taxes.

October 31

  • File Form 941 for the third quarter and deposit any unpaid payroll taxes.
  • Deposit FUTA taxes owed through September, if you owe more than $500.

November 15

  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your October taxes.

December 16

  • If you’re a monthly depositor, deposit your November taxes.

Tax dates to share with your staff

For all employees

Form 1040 is due on April 15. If an employee doesn’t think they’ll make the deadline, they can file Form 4868 and pay their estimated taxes due for an automatic 6-month extension. If they file for an extension, their tax forms are due by October 15.

For tipped employees

If your employees are paid tips, they must report their tips received to you (if they received $20 or more) by the 10th day of the month following the month when they received tips. Due dates are

  • January 10 for tips received in December of the previous year
  • February 10 for tips received in January
  • March 10 for tips received in February
  • April 10 for tips received in March
  • May 10 for tips received in April
  • June 10 for tips received in May
  • July 10 for tips received in June
  • August 10 for tips received in July
  • September 10 for tips received in August
  • October 10 for tips received in September
  • November 10 for tips received in October
  • December 10 for tips received in November

For tax-exempt employees

If an employee claimed to be tax exempt during the previous year, they must give you a new W-4 by February 15 if they want to continue claiming that exemption this year. If a tax-exempt employee does not submit a new W-4 by February 15, you must start withholding income tax from their paychecks.

If an employee claimed to be tax-exempt during the previous year, they must give you a new W-4 by February 15 if they want to continue claiming that exemption this year. If a tax-exempt employee does not submit a new W-4 by February 15, you must start withholding income tax from their paychecks.

Read also: 5 Things to Consider When Filling Out a New W-4

You may also like...