Does the tax deadline seem to be sneaking up on you? April 15 isn’t the only important day on the tax calendar. There are several important tax deadlines throughout the year that may or may not affect you depending on whether you own a business, pay estimated taxes, or contribute to a retirement account.
This tax deadline guide will help you stay on top of those deadlines in 2026 and avoid penalties and interest. Grab your calendar or planner and write down the dates that apply to you.
Q1 (January – March): Gearing up for tax filing season.
January 12
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during December must report this to their employer. Form 4070.
January 15
Taxpayers who pay quarterly estimated tax must make their fourth quarter 2025 estimates. It’s also a good time for people who don’t have enough tax withheld from their income to make estimated payments. You can use Form 1040-ES Calculating and mailing estimated payments or usage IRS direct pay To pay online from your checking account.
If you file your 2025 federal tax return and pay the tax due by February 2, 2026, you don’t have to make this payment. For farmers and fishermen and women, this deadline has been extended to March 2 to avoid penalty of estimated tax.
January 26
The IRS begins accepting and processing 2025 tax returns.
February 2
Individuals who have not filed their last installment of estimated tax by January 15 can file their 2025 tax return and pay any outstanding amounts by February 2 to avoid late payment penalties for their fourth quarter installment.
For employers and vendors, this is the deadline to send. W-2s to employees. This is also the deadline to file Form 1099-MISC and the Form. 1099-NEC With the payment of non-employee compensation. This deadline applies to both recipient and IRS copies of 1099 forms, whether you file electronically or on paper.
February 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during January should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
February 17
If you claim an exemption from federal income tax withholding on Form W-4, you have until that date to file a new Form W-4 with your employer to extend your exemption for another year.
This is also the deadline to file informational returns for businesses that report payments. Form 1099-B, 1099-Sor the payment in box 8 or 10 of Form 1099-MISC.
March 2
This is the deadline to file Form 1099 (except 1099-NEC) paperwork with the IRS.
This is also the filing deadline for farmers and fishermen and women who did not pay their fourth quarter 2025 estimated tax on January 15 to file their tax return and pay their arrears. If you wait until the April 15 deadline to file and pay, you may be charged an estimated tax underpayment penalty.
March 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during February should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
March 16
This is the deadline for partnerships and S corporations to file their 2025 calendar year returns. Form 1065 or Form 1120-S. There is also a deadline for providing a copy to each partner or shareholder. Schedule K-1. You can request an automatic six-month extension to file your return. Form 7004.
This is also the last date for filing. Form 2553 To make an S corporation election for calendar year 2026. If the election is made after that date, the S corporation’s treatment will not begin until calendar year 2027.
March 31
This is the deadline for electronic filing of returns such as information. Form 1097, 1098, 3921, 3922and W-2G With the IRS. There is also a deadline for filing Form 1099 (other than 1099-NEC) with the IRS.
Q2 (April – June): Tax Day and more
April 1st
If you turn 73 in 2025, April 1, 2025 is the deadline to take your first required minimum distribution (RMD). In subsequent years, your RMD must be taken by December 31. If you delay taking your first RMD until 2026, you’ll need to take two RMDs that year.
You can calculate your RMD amount by using IRS tablesor get help from your financial advisor or tax professional.
April 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during March should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
April 15
April 15, 2026, is the deadline to file 2025 Form 1040 and pay any taxes owed. You can file your tax return either by using a local tax preparer or by using tax prep software like H&R Block.
If you need more time to prepare a complete and accurate return, you can request an automatic six-month extension. Form 4868. However, you still need to pay any taxes you estimate by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
April 15 is also the deadline to make your first quarter 2026 estimated tax payment using Form 1040-ES.
Contributions to traditional and Roth IRAs for the 2025 tax year must be made by April 15, 2026. Self-employed individuals contributing to a SEP IRA must make their contribution before filing their individual return — so, April 15 or October 15 if you’ve requested an extension of time to file your tax return.
April 15, 2025 is also the deadline to open and fund a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs must be established by the tax filing deadline — without an extension — for the tax year in which your contributions apply. So even if you extend your tax return, you’ll need to open and fund your HSA by that date.
For corporations, use the 2025 calendar year income tax return filing deadline Form 1120 And payment of any tax is also 15 April 2026. If you want an automatic extension, you can request it using Form 7004. Be sure to pay any expected taxes for 2025 by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
April 15, 2026, is also the deadline for corporations to file their first quarter 2026 estimated tax return. Form 1120-W.
If you paid $2,200 or more in cash wages to a domestic worker — such as a babysitter, nanny, maid, or gardener — in 2025, the filing deadline is April 15. Schedule H And report any home employment taxes. If you file Form 1040, you will attach Schedule H to your return.
If you don’t need to file a 2025 tax return — for example, because your income is less than the minimum amount required to file — you can file Schedule H yourself.
May 12
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during April should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
June 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during May should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
June 15
U.S. citizens or resident aliens living and working outside the United States and Puerto Rico have until that date to file Form 1040 and pay the taxes, penalties, and interest owed. You can request an additional four-month extension of time to file using Form 4868.
This is also the due date for second quarter 2026 estimated taxes. Individuals can calculate and pay their estimated taxes using Form 1040-ES. Corporations can use Form 1120-W.
Q3 (July – September): Partnership and S-Corp expansion
July 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during June must report this to their employer using Form 4070.
August 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during July should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
September 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during August should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
September 15
This is the deadline for estimated tax payments for the third quarter of 2026. Individuals can calculate and pay their estimated taxes using Form 1040-ES. Corporations can use Form 1120-W.
For partners and S corporations that have requested a six-month extension to file their 2025 return, this is the deadline to file the return and provide each partner with a Schedule K-1.
Q4 (October – December): Individual extensions and RMDs
October 12
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during September should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
October 15
This is the deadline for individuals and corporations that requested a six-month tax extension to file their 2025 tax returns.
If you filed for an extension of time to file your return, this is the deadline to contribute to a SEP IRA.
November 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during October should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
December 10
Employees who work for tips and receive tips of $20 or more during November should report this to their employer using Form 4070.
December 15
This is the deadline for corporations to file their fourth quarter 2026 estimated taxes using Form 1120-W.
December 31
This is the last day to take your RMD for 2026, unless it’s your first RMD. If you turn 73 in 2026, you have a three-month extension until April 1, 2027.
However, keep in mind that if you wait until the end of the year to take your RMD, you’ll have to take two RMDs a year in 2027. This may affect your income tax bracket or Medicare eligibility. The penalty for not making a timely distribution is 25% of the distribution amount (although this can be reduced to 10% if corrected promptly).
If you decide to convert your existing IRA or an old 401(k) to a Roth IRA, you have until December 31 to make the conversion for the 2026 tax year.
Note that these deadlines apply to calendar year taxpayers. Fiscal year taxpayers may need to change some of these dates using available guidance. IRS Publication 509.
The last word
Many taxpayers scramble to meet the above-mentioned deadlines each year. If last year’s tax season felt like a fire drill, this list will help you do better in the year ahead.
Schedule reminders for applicable deadlines now and file invoices and other tax records in an organized manner throughout the year. This will make it easier to deal with tax deadlines and file on time when tax season inevitably arrives.
If you need more help, be sure to check out our complete tax filing guide.
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