Upcoming Tax Deadlines

January

11 Employees Who Work for Tips – If you received $20 or more in tips during December, you must report them to your employer (employees are required to keep a daily record of tips). All tips must be reported on your individual income tax return. You can use Form 4070.
15 Employers – Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in December 2020.
15 Employers – Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in December 2020.
15 Farmers and Fishermen – Pay your estimated tax for 2020 using Form 1040-ES. You have until April 15 to file your 2020 income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR). If you don’t pay your estimated tax by January 15, you must file your 2020 return and pay any tax due by March 1, 2021, to avoid an estimated tax penalty.
15 Individuals – Make a payment of your estimated tax for 2020 if you didn’t pay your income tax for the year through withholding (or didn’t pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES. This is the final installment date for 2020 estimated tax payments. However, you don’t have to make this payment if you file your 2020 return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) and pay any tax due by February 1, 2021.

February

Day
01 Businesses – Give annual information statements to recipients of certain payments you made during 2020. You can use the appropriate version of Form 1099 or other information return. Form 1099 can be issued electronically with the consent of the recipient.
01 Certain Small Employers – File Form 944 to report social security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2020. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is $2,500 or more for 2020 but less than $2,500 for the fourth quarter, deposit any undeposited tax or pay it in full with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full, you have until February 10 to file the return.
01 Employers – Federal unemployment tax. File Form 940 for 2020. If your undeposited tax is $500 or less, you can either pay it with your return or deposit it. If it is more than $500, you must deposit it. However, if you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full, you have until February 10 to file the return.
01 Employers – Give your employees their copies of Form W-2 for 2020 by February 1, 2021. If the employee agreed to receive Form W-2 electronically, have it posted on a website and notify the employee of the posting.
01 Employers – Nonpayroll taxes. File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2020 on all nonpayroll items, including backup withholding and withholding on pensions, annuities, IRAs, gambling winnings, and payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full, you have until February 10 to file the return.
01 Employers – Payers of nonemployee compensation. File Form 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation paid in 2020.
01 Employers – Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 2020. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the quarter timely, properly, and in full, you have until February 10 to file the return.
01 Farm Employers – File Form 943 to report social security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2020. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full, you have until February 10 to file the return.
01 Individuals – If you didn’t pay your last installment of estimated tax by January 15, you may choose (but aren’t required) to file your income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) for 2020 by February 1. Filing your return and paying any tax due by February 1 prevents any penalty for late payment of the last installment. If you can’t file and pay your tax by February 1, file and pay your tax by April 15. You may be able to avoid having to pay estimated taxes by increasing your tax withholding. Penalties may be assessed if you do not pay enough tax through withholding and estimated tax payments or if your payments are late.
01 Payers of Gambling Winnings – If you either paid reportable gambling winnings or withheld income tax from gambling winnings, give the winners their copies of Form W-2G.
01 Payers of Nonemployee Compensation – File Form 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation paid in 2020.
10 Certain Small Employers – File Form 944 to report social security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2020. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full.
10 Employees Who Work for Tips – If you received $20 or more in tips during January, you must report them to your employer (employees are required to keep a daily record of tips). All tips must be reported on your individual income tax return. You can use Form 4070.
10 Employers – Federal unemployment tax. File Form 940 for 2020. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full.
10 Employers – Nonpayroll taxes. File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2020 on all nonpayroll items. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full.
10 Employers – Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 2020. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the quarter timely, properly, and in full.
10 Farm Employers – File Form 943 to report social security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2020. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full.
16 Businesses – Give annual information statements to recipients of certain payments you made during 2020. You can use the appropriate version of Form 1099 or other information return. Form 1099 can be issued electronically with the consent of the recipient. This due date applies only to the following types of payments:
1) All payments reported on Form 1099-B.
2) All payments reported on Form 1099-S.
3) Substitute payments reported in box 8 or gross proceeds paid to an attorney reported in box 10 of Form 1099-MISC.
16 Employers – Begin withholding income tax from the pay of any employee who claimed exemption from withholding in 2020, but didn’t give you Form W-4 (or Form W-4(SP), its Spanish version) to continue the exemption this year.
16 Employers – Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in January.
16 Employers – Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in January.
16 Individuals – If you claimed exemption from income tax withholding last year on the Form W-4 you gave your employer, you must file a new Form W-4 by this date to continue your exemption for another year.

March

Day
01 Businesses – File information returns (for example, certain Forms 1099) for certain payments you made during 2020. These payments are described under February 1, earlier. However, Form 1099-NEC reporting nonemployee compensation must be filed by February 1. There are different forms for different types of payments. Use a separate Form 1096 to summarize and transmit the forms for each type of payment. See the General Instructions for Certain Information Returns for information on what payments are covered, how much the payment must be before a return is required, which form to use, and extensions of time to file.If you file Forms 1097, 1098, 1099 (except a Form 1099-NEC reporting nonemployee compensation), 3921, 3922, or W-2G electronically, your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to March 31. The due date for giving the recipient these forms generally remains February 1.
01 Farmers and Fishermen – File your 2020 income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR) and pay any tax due. However, you have until April 15 to file if you paid your 2020 estimated tax by January 15, 2021.
01 Health Coverage Reporting – If you’re an Applicable Large Employer, file paper Forms 1094-C, Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Returns, and 1095-C with the IRS. For all other providers of minimum essential coverage, file paper Forms 1094-B, Transmittal of Health Coverage Information Returns, and 1095-B with the IRS. If you’re filing any of these forms with the IRS electronically, your due date for filing them will be extended to March 31. See the Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B, and the Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C for more information about the information reporting requirements.
01 Large Food and Beverage Establishment Employers – File Form 8027, Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips. Use Form 8027-T, Transmittal of Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, to summarize and transmit paper Forms 8027 if you have more than one establishment. If you file Forms 8027 electronically, your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to March 31.
01 Payers of Gambling Winnings – File Form 1096 along with Copy A of all the Forms W-2G you issued for 2020. If you file Forms W-2G electronically, your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to March 31. The due date for giving the recipient these forms remains February 1.
02 Health Coverage Reporting – If you’re an Applicable Large Employer, provide Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, to full-time employees. For all other providers of minimum essential coverage, provide Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, to responsible individuals. See the Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B, and the Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C for more information about the information reporting requirements.
10 Employees Who Work for Tips – If you received $20 or more in tips during February, you must report them to your employer (employees are required to keep a daily record of tips). All tips must be reported on your individual income tax return. You can use Form 4070.
15 Employers – Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in February.
15 Employers – Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in February.
15 Partnerships – File a 2020 calendar year return (Form 1065). Provide each partner with a copy of their Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., or substitute Schedule K-1 (Form 1065). To request an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004. Then, file the return and provide each partner with a copy of their final or amended (if required) Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) by September 15.
15 S Corporation Election – File Form 2553 to elect to be treated as an S corporation beginning with calendar year 2021. If Form 2553 is filed late, S corporation treatment will begin with calendar year 2022.
15 S Corporations – File a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120-S) and pay any tax due. Provide each shareholder with a copy of their Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S), Shareholder’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., or substitute Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S). To request an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004 and deposit what you estimate you owe in tax. Then, file the return; pay any tax, interest, and penalties due; and provide each shareholder with a copy of their Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S) by September 15.
31 Electronic Filing of Forms – File copies of all the Forms W-2G you issued for 2020. This due date applies only if you electronically file. Otherwise, see Payers of gambling winnings under March 1, earlier. The due date for giving the recipient these forms remains February 1.
31 Electronic Filing of Forms – File Forms 1097, 1098, 1099 (except a Form 1099-NEC reporting nonemployee compensation), 3921, 3922, and W-2G with the IRS. This due date applies only if you file electronically. Otherwise, see All businesses under March 1, earlier. The due date for giving the recipient these forms generally remains February 1.
31 Electronic Filing of Forms – File Forms 8027 for 2020. This due date applies only if you electronically file. Otherwise, see Large food and beverage establishment employers under March 1, earlier.
31 Electronic Filing of Forms – If you’re an Applicable Large Employer, file electronic Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS. For all other providers of minimum essential coverage, file electronic Forms 1094-B and 1095-B with the IRS. Otherwise, see Health coverage reporting to IRS under March 1, earlier.

April

Day
12 Employees Who Work for Tips – If you received $20 or more in tips during March, you must report them to your employer (employees are required to keep a daily record of tips). All tips must be reported on your individual income tax return. You can use Form 4070.
15 Corporations – Deposit the first installment of estimated income tax for 2021. A worksheet, Form 1120-W, is available to help you estimate your tax for the year.
15 Corporations – File a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004 and deposit what you estimate you owe in taxes.
15 Employers – Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in March.
15 Employers – Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in March.
15 Household Employers – If you paid cash wages of $2,200 or more in 2020 to a household employee, you must file Schedule H (Form 1040), Household Employment Taxes. If you’re required to file a federal income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR), file Schedule H (Form 1040) with the return and report any household employment taxes. Report any federal unemployment (FUTA) tax on Schedule H (Form 1040) if you paid total cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter of 2019 or 2020 to household employees. Also, report any income tax you withheld for your household employees.
15 Household Employers – If you paid cash wages of $2,200 or more in 2020 to a household employee, you must file Schedule H (Form 1040). If you’re required to file a federal income tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR), file Schedule H (Form 1040) with the return and report any household employment taxes. Report any federal unemployment (FUTA) tax on Schedule H (Form 1040) if you paid total cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter of 2019 or 2020 to household employees. Also, report any income tax you withheld for your household employees.
15 Individuals – File a 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 4868 and pay what you estimate you owe in tax to avoid penalties and interest. For more information, see Form 4868. Then, file Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR by October 15.
15 Individuals – If you’re not paying your 2021 income tax through withholding (or won’t pay in enough tax during the year that way), pay the first installment of your 2021 estimated tax. You may be able to avoid having to pay estimated taxes by increasing your tax withholding. Penalties may be assessed if you do not pay enough tax through withholding and estimated tax payments or if your payments are late.
30 Employers – Federal unemployment tax. Deposit the tax owed through March if more than $500.
30 Employers – Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the first quarter of 2021. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the quarter timely, properly, and in full, you have until May 10 to file the return.