This tax calendar has the due dates that most taxpayers will find useful. Employers and persons who pay excise taxes also should use the Employer's Federal Tax Calendar and the Federal Excise Tax Calendar.
Fiscal-year taxpayers - If you file your income tax return for a fiscal year rather than the calendar year, you must change some of the dates in this calendar. These changes are described under Fiscal-Year Taxpayers.
If you prefer to save the following tax dates within the Microsoft Outlook Calendar, please click the download link below. Then simply import the file into Microsoft Outlook by selecting "Import an iCalendar (.ics) or vCalendar file (.vcs)" and enjoy all of this year's Small Business Tax Events on your PC.
Download The IRS 2020 Outlook Tax Calendar*
1st Quarter 2021
The first quarter of a calendar year is made up of January, February, and March.
January 11: Employees who work for tips. If you received $20 or more in tips during December, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.
January 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 January 31, 2021.
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.
February 1: Payers of non-employee compensation. File Form 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation paid in 2020.
All 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. Payments that may be covered include the following.
Cash payments for fish (or other aquatic life) purchased from anyone engaged in the trade or business of catching fish.
Compensation for workers who aren't considered employees (including fishing boat proceeds to crew members).
Dividends and other corporate distributions.
Interest.
Rent.
Royalties.
Payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members.
Profit-sharing distributions.Retirement plan distributions.
Original issue discount.
Prizes and awards.
Medical and health care payments.
Debt cancellation (treated as payment to debtor).
Cash payments over $10,000. See the instructions for Form 8300.
See the General Instructions for Certain Information Returns for information on what payments are covered, how much the payment must be before a statement is required, which form to use, when to file, and extensions of time to provide statements to the IRS. Forms 1099-B, Proceeds From Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions, 1099-S, Proceeds From Real Estate Transactions, and certain reporting on Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, are due to recipients by February 16.
Individuals who must make estimated tax payments. 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.
February 10: Employees who work for tips. If you received $20 or more in tips during January, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.
February 16: Individuals. If you claimed exemption from income tax withholding last year on the Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, you gave your employer, you must file a new Form W-4 by this date to continue your exemption for another year.
All 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.All payments reported on Form 1099-B.All payments reported on Form 1099-S.Substitute payments reported in box 8 or gross proceeds paid to an attorney reported in box 14 of Form 1099-MISC.
March 1: File information returns (for example, certain Forms 1099) for certain payments you made during 2030. These payments are described under February 1, earlier. However, Form 1099-MISC 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.
March 2: 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.
March 10: Employees who work for tips. If you received $20 or more in tips during February, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.
March 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.
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 2021.
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.
March 31: Electronic filing of Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, and W-2G. File Forms 1097, 1098, 1099 (except a Form 1099-MISC reporting nonemployee compensation), 3921, 3922, and W-2G with the IRS. This due date applies only if you file electronically. Otherwise, see March 31, earlier.
The due date for giving the recipient these forms generally remains February 1.
For information about filing Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, and W-2G electronically, see Pub. 1220.
Out of an abundance of caution we have closed our office to any in-person meetings. We continue to work and ask our clients to upload their documents to us and chat over the phone as needed. We are also accepting documents by drop off or snail mail. Of course, you can always call us!
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