Tax Resources
Resources that will help expedite the tax planning and preparation process. Friendly reminders of due dates and necessary documents.
Federal Due Dates
January 1 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (New Year’s Day)
January 11 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during December, report them to your employer
January 15 — Individuals
Make a payment of your estimated tax for 2020 if you did not pay your income tax for the year through withholding (or did not pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES
January 15 — Farmers & fishermen
Pay your estimated tax for 2020 using Form 1040-ES
January 18 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
January 31 — All Employers
Give your employees their copies of Form W2 for 2020. If an employee agreed to receive Form W2 electronically, have it posted on a website and notify the employee of the posting.
January 31 — Individuals who must make estimated tax payments
If you did not pay your last installment of estimated tax by January 15, you may choose (but are not required) to file your income tax return (Form 1040) for 2020 by January 31. Filing your return and paying any tax due by January 31 prevents any penalty for late payment of the last installment. If you cannot file and pay your tax by January 31, file and pay your tax by April 15.
January 31 — 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 W2G.
January 31 — All businesses
Give annual information statements to recipients of certain payments you made during 2020
February 1 — All businesses
Give annual information statements to recipients of certain payments you made during 2020
February 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during January, report them to your employer
February 15 — Individuals
If you claimed exemption from income tax withholding last year on the Form W-4, you must file a new Form W-4 by this date to continue your exemption for another year
February 15 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (Washington’s Birthday)
February 28 — All businesses
File information returns (for example, Forms 1099) for certain payments you made during 2020.
February 28 — All employers
File Form W3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, along with Copy A of all the Forms W2 you issued for 2020. If you file Forms W2 electronically, your due date for filing them with the SSA will be extended to March 31. The due date for giving the recipient these forms remains January 31.
March 2 — Farmers & fishermen
File your 2020 income tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due
March 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during February, report them to your employer
March 15 — S Corporation election
File Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, to elect to be treated as an S corporation beginning with calendar year 2020. If Form 2553 is filed late, S corporation treatment will begin with calendar year 2021.
March 15 — Partnerships
File a 2020 calendar year return (Form 1065)
March 16 — S Corporations
File a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120S) and pay any tax due
March 31 — Electronic filing of Forms W2
File copies of all the Forms W2 you issued for 2020. This due date applies only if you electronically file.
March 31 — Electronic filing of Forms W2G
File copies of all the Forms W2G you issued for 2020. This due date applies only if you electronically file.
March 31 — Electronic filing of Forms 8027
File Forms 8027 for 2020. This due date applies only if you electronically file.
April 12 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during March, report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070.
April 15 — Individuals
File a 2020 income tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic extension of time to file the return, file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. For more information, see Form 4868. Then, file Form 1040 by October 15.
April 15 — Corporations
File a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120) and pay any tax due.
April 15 — Individuals
If you are not paying your 2021 income tax through withholding (or will not pay in enough tax during the year that way), pay the first installment of your 2021 estimated tax. Use Form 1040ES.
April 15 — Household Employers
If you paid cash wages of $2,200 or more in 2020 to a household employee, you must file Schedule H
April 15 — Corporations
Deposit the first installment of estimated income tax for 2020
April 15 — Individuals
If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien living and working (or on military duty) outside the United States and Puerto Rico, file Form 1040 and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due. If you want additional time to file your return, file Form 4868 to obtain 3 additional months to file
May 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during April, report them to your employer
May 31 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (Memorial Day)
June 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during May, report them to your employer
June 15 — Individuals
Make a payment of your 2021 estimated tax if you are not paying your income tax for the year through withholding (or will not pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES. This is the second installment
June 15 — Corporations
Deposit the second installment of estimated income tax for 2021
July 5 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (Independence Day)
July 12 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during June, report them to your employer
August 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during July, report them to your employer
September 6 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (Labor Day)
September 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during August, report them to your employer
September 15 — Individuals
Make a payment of your 2021 estimated tax if you are not paying your income tax for the year through withholding (or will not pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES. This is the third installment
September 15 — S Corporations
File a 2020 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120S) and pay any tax due. This due date applies only if you timely requested an automatic extension
September 15 — Partnerships
File a 2020 calendar year return (Form 1065). This due date applies only if you were given an additional extension
September 15 — Corporations
Deposit the third installment of estimated income tax for 2021
October 11 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (Columbus Day)
October 12 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during September, report them to your employer
October 15 — Individuals
If you have an automatic extension to file your income tax return for 2020, file Form 1040 and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due
November 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during October, report them to your employer
November 11 — Everyone
Federal Holiday(Veterans Day)
November 25 — Everyone
Federal Holiday(Thanksgiving Day)
December 10 — Employees who work for tips
If you received $20 or more in tips during November, report them to your employer
December 15 — Corporations
Deposit the fourth installment of estimated income tax for 2021
December 24 — Everyone
Federal Holiday (Christmas Day)
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Business Documents To Keep For One Year
Requisitions
Stenographer’s Notebooks
Stockroom Withdrawal Forms
Correspondence with Customers and Vendors
Duplicate Deposit Slips
Purchase Orders (other than Purchasing Department copy)
Receiving Sheets
Business Documents To Keep For Three Years
Internal Reports
Petty Cash Vouchers
Physical Inventory Tags
Savings Bond Registration Records of Employees
Time Cards For Hourly Employees
Bank Statements and Reconciliations
Employee Personnel Records (after termination)
Employment Applications
Expired Insurance Policies
General Correspondence
Internal Audit Reports
Business Documents To Keep For Six Years
Notes Receivable Ledgers, Schedules
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Plant Cost Ledgers
Purchasing Department Copies of Purchase Orders
Sales Records
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Time Books
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Accounts Payable Ledgers and Schedules
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Cancelled Checks
Cancelled Stock and Bond Certificates
Employment Tax Records
Expense Analysis and Expense Distribution Schedules
Expired Contracts, Leases Expired Option Records
Inventories of Products, Materials, Supplies
Invoices to Customers
Business Records To Keep Forever
While federal guidelines do not require you to keep tax records “forever,” in many cases there will be other reasons you’ll want to retain these documents indefinitely.
Investment Trade Confirmations
IRS Revenue Agents’ Reports Journals
Legal Records, Correspondence and Other Important Matters
Minutes Books of Directors and Stockholders
Mortgages, Bills of Sale
Property Appraisals by Outside Appraisers
Property Records
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Tax Returns and Worksheets
Trademark and Patent Registrations
Audit Reports from CPAs/Accountants
Cancelled Checks for Important Payments (especially tax payments)
Cash Books, Charts of Accounts Contracts, Leases Currently in Effect
Corporate Documents (incorporation, charter, by-laws, etc.)
Documents substantiating fixed asset additions
Deeds
Depreciation Schedules
Financial Statements (Year End)
General and Private Ledgers, Year End Trial Balances
Insurance Records, Current Accident Reports, Claims, Current Policies
Personal Documents To Keep For One Year
While it’s important to keep year-end mutual fund and IRA contribution statements forever, you don’t have to save monthly and quarterly statements once the year-end statement has arrived.
Personal Documents To Keep For Three Years
Utility Records
Expired Insurance Policies
Credit Card Statements
Medical Bills (in case of insurance disputes)
Personal Documents To Keep For Six Years
Sales Receipts
Wage Garnishments
Other Tax-Related Bills
Supporting Documents For Tax Returns
Accident Reports and Claims
Medical Bills (if tax-related)
Property Records / Improvement Receipts
Personal Records To Keep Forever
Income Tax Payment Checks
Investment Trade Confirmations
Retirement and Pension Records
CPA Audit Reports
Legal Records
Important Correspondence
Income Tax Returns