To help make sure that you do not miss any important 2020 deadlines, we have provided this summary of when various tax-related forms, payments and other actions are due.

Please review the calendar and let us know if you have any questions about the deadlines or would like assistance in meeting them.

Date Deadline for:
January 31

Individuals: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1040) and paying tax due, to avoid penalties for underpaying the January 15 installment of estimated taxes.

Businesses: Providing Form 1098, Form 1099 (except for those that have a February 18 deadline) and Form W-2G to recipients. Filing Form 1099 if it includes payments for nonemployee compensation in Box 7.

Employers: Providing 2019 Form W-2 to employees. Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for fourth quarter 2019 (Form 941). Filing an annual return of federal unemployment taxes (Form 940) and paying any tax due.

Employers: Filing 2019 Form W-2 (Copy A) and transmittal Form W-3 with the Social Security Administration.

February 10

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for fourth quarter 2019 (Form 941) and filing a 2019 return for federal unemployment taxes (Form 940), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

February 18

Businesses: Providing Form 1099-B, 1099-S and certain Forms 1099-MISC (those in which payments in Box 8 or Box 14 are being reported) to recipients.

Individuals: Filing a new Form W-4 to continue exemption for another year, if you claimed exemption from federal income tax withholding in 2019.

February 28 Businesses: Filing Form 1098, Form 1099 (other than those with a January 31 or February 18 deadline) and Form W-2G and transmittal Form 1096 for interest, dividends and miscellaneous payments made during 2019. (Electronic filers can defer filing to March 31.)
March 16

Calendar-year S corporations: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1120S) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 7004) and paying any tax due.

Calendar-year partnerships: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1065 or Form 1065-B) or requesting an automatic six-month extension (Form 7004).

March 31 Employers: Electronically filing 2019 Form 1097, Form 1098, Form 1099 (other than those with an earlier deadline) and Form W-2G.
April 15

Individuals: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1040) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 4868) and paying any tax due. (See June 15 for an exception for certain taxpayers.)

Individuals: Paying the first installment of 2020 estimated taxes, if not paying income tax through withholding (Form 1040-ES).

Individuals: Making 2019 contributions to a traditional IRA or Roth IRA (even if a 2019 income tax return extension is filed).

Individuals: Making 2019 contributions to a SEP or certain other retirement plans (unless a 2019 income tax return extension is filed).

Individuals: Filing a 2019 gift tax return (Form 709) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 8892) and paying any gift tax due. Filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 4868) to extend both Form 1040 and, if no gift tax is due, Form 709.

Household employers: Filing Schedule H (Form 1040), if wages paid equal $2,100 or more in 2019 and Form 1040 isn't required to be filed. For those filing Form 1040, Schedule H is to be submitted with the return and is thus extended to the due date of the return.

Trusts and estates: Filing an income tax return for the 2019 calendar year (Form 1041) or filing for an automatic five-and-a-half month extension to October 1 (Form 7004) and paying any income tax due.

Calendar-year corporations: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1120) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 7004) and paying any tax due.

Calendar-year corporations: Paying the first installment of 2020 estimated income taxes.

April 30 Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for first quarter 2020 (Form 941), and paying any tax due.
May 11

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for first quarter 2020 (Form 941), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

May 15

Exempt organizations: Filing a 2019 calendar-year information return (Form 990, Form 990-EZ or Form 990-PF) or filing for an automatic six-month extension (Form 8868) and paying any tax due.

Small exempt organizations (with gross receipts normally of $50,000 or less): Filing a 2019 e-Postcard (Form 990-N), if not filing Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.

June 15

Individuals: Filing a 2019 individual income tax return (Form 1040) or filing for a four-month extension (Form 4868) and paying any tax and interest due, if you live outside the United States.

Individuals: Paying the second installment of 2020 estimated taxes, if not paying income tax through withholding (Form 1040-ES).

Calendar-year corporations: Paying the second installment of 2020 estimated income taxes.

July 31

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for second quarter 2020 (Form 941) and paying any tax due.

Employers: Filing a 2019 calendar-year retirement plan report (Form 5500 or Form 5500-EZ) or requesting an extension.

August 10

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for second quarter 2020 (Form 941), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

September 15

Individuals: Paying the third installment of 2020 estimated taxes, if not paying income tax through withholding (Form 1040-ES).

Calendar-year corporations: Paying the third installment of 2020 estimated income taxes.

Calendar-year S corporations: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1120S) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year S corporations: Making contributions for 2019 to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year partnerships: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1065 or Form 1065-B) if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

October 1

Trusts and estates: Filing an income tax return for the 2019 calendar year (Form 1041) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due if an automatic five-and-a-half month extension was filed.

Employers: Establishing a SIMPLE or a Safe-Harbor 401(k) plan for 2019, except in certain circumstances.

October 15

Individuals: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1040) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due if an automatic six-month extension was filed (or if an automatic four-month extension was filed by a taxpayer living outside the United States).

Individuals: Making contributions for 2019 to certain existing retirement plans or establishing and contributing to a SEP for 2018 if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Individuals: Filing a 2019 gift tax return (Form 709) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due, if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year C corporations: Filing a 2019 income tax return (Form 1120) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

Calendar-year C corporations: Making contributions for 2019 to certain employer-sponsored retirement plans if an automatic six-month extension was filed.

November 2 Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for third quarter 2020 (Form 941) and paying any tax due.
November 10

Employers: Reporting income tax withholding and FICA taxes for third quarter 2020 (Form 941), if you deposited on time and in full all of the associated taxes due.

November 16 Exempt organizations: Filing a 2019 calendar-year information return (Form 990, Form 990-EZ or Form 990-PF) and paying any tax, interest and penalties due if a six-month extension was previously filed.
December 15 Calendar-year corporations: Paying the fourth installment of 2020 estimated income taxes.
December 31

Employers: Establishing a retirement plan for 2020 (generally other than a SIMPLE, a Safe-Harbor 401(k) or a SEP).

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.