2013 Tax Calendar

A tax calendar divides the year into quarters and provides the deadlines for filing and paying various taxes. This general tax calendar is provided by the IRS and includes due dates for individual taxpayers as well as businesses. If you have any further questions regarding the tax calendar, or to see the Employer’s Tax Calendar and the Excise Tax Calendar, please refer to IRS Publication 509.

There are multiple due dates and deadlines that taxpayers must remember during the year. This tax calendar is for the year 2013 — remember that 2012 income tax returns are due in April 2013 — and applies to calendar-year taxpayers (taxpayers who file according to the fiscal year see note below). Make sure you keep up with these important dates to avoid being charged late fees or penalties by the IRS.

NOTE: Fiscal Year Taxpayers
A taxpayer’s fiscal year may or may not be the same as the calendar year. This means that depending on when the fiscal year begins, the three months which comprise each quarter may be different (than for calendar-year taxpayers). Keep in mind that the IRS system is based on the calendar year by default, so fiscal-year taxpayers may need to make some adjustments for filing and payments.

FIRST QUARTER

[January, February, March]

January 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (December), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

January 15
Individuals — If you did not pay your income tax for the year through withholding (or did not pay enough tax that way), you must make a payment of your estimated tax for 2012 by this date. Use IRS Tax Form 1040-ES (Estimated Tax for Individuals). This is the final installment payment for 2012 estimated tax. Note that you don’t have to make this payment if you file your 2012 return (IRS Tax Form 1040) and pay any tax due by January 31, 2013.

Farmers & Fishermen — Pay your 2012 estimated tax using Form 1040-ES (Estimated Tax for Individuals). You have until April 15th to file your 2012 tax return (IRS Tax Form 1040). If you do not pay your estimated tax by January 15th, you must file your 2012 return and pay any tax due by March 1, 2013 in order to avoid an estimated tax penalty.

January 31
Individuals who must make estimated tax payments — If you did not make your last payment for 2012 estimated tax by January 15th, you may choose (but are not required) to file your 2012 income tax return (IRS Tax Form 1040) by this date. By filing your return and paying your taxes by this date, you can avoid incurring a penalty for the late payment of your estimated tax. If you can’t file and pay by this date, do so by April 15th.

FREE: eFile your taxes 

All businesses — Businesses must give their annual information statements to the recipients of certain payments that were made in 2012. Use the appropriate version of Tax Form 1099 or other information return.

Payments that may be covered include the following:
• Cash payments for fish purchased from anyone engaged in the business/trade of catching fish
• Compensation for workers who aren’t considered employees
• 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
• Cash payments over $10,000

February 11
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (January), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

February 15
Individuals — If you claimed an exemption from income tax withholding last year on the Form W-4 (Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate) that you gave your employer, you must file a new Form W-4 by this date in order to continue your exemption for another year.

All businesses — Businesses must give their annual information statements to the recipients of certain payments that were made in 2012. Use the appropriate version of Tax Form 1099 or other information return. Note that this deadline applies only to the following types of payments:
• All payments reported on Tax Form 1099-B (Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions)
• All payments reported on Tax Form 1099-S (Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions)
• Substitute payments reported in box 8, or gross proceeds to an attorney reported in box 14, of Tax Form 1099-MISC (Miscellaneous Income)

February 28
All businesses — Businesses must give their annual information statements to the recipients of certain payments that were made in 2012 (types of payments are described under January 31). Use the appropriate version of Tax Form 1099 or other information return. Note that different types of payments require different tax forms. If you file Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, or W-2G electronically, your IRS filing deadline will be extended to April 1st. The deadline for giving the recipient these forms generally remains January 31st.

March 1
Farmers & Fishermen — File your 2012 income tax return (IRS Tax Form 1040) and pay any tax due by this date. Remember that you have until April 15th to file if you paid your 2012 estimated tax by January 15, 2013.

March 11
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (February), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

March 15
Corporations — Corporations must file their 2012 calendar year income tax return and pay any tax due by this date. Use IRS Tax Form 1120 (U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return). To request an extension of time to file, use Form 7004 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns) and submit to the IRS. Note that you can only extend your time to file and any tax due must still be paid by this date.

S corporations — S corporations must file their 2012 calendar year income tax return and pay any tax due by this date. Submit Tax Form 1120-S (U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation) to the IRS, and provide a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S) to each shareholder. To request an extension of time to file, use Form 7004 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns) and submit to the IRS. Note that you can only extend your time to file and any tax due must still be paid by this date.

S corporation election — File Tax Form 2553 (Election by a Small Business Corporation) by this date to be treated as an S corporation starting with calendar year 2013. Filing Form 2553 late means that S treatment will begin with calendar year 2014.

Electing large partnerships — Provide a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065-B) to each partner by this date. This schedule is the Partner’s Share of Income (Loss) from an Electing Large Partnership. Note that this deadline applies even if the partnership requests an extension of time to file Form 1065-B by filing Form 7004.

SECOND QUARTER

[April, May, June]

April 1
Electronic filing of Forms 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, and W-2G — This deadline applies only if you file electronically (otherwise see February 28th). Note that the deadline for giving the recipient these forms generally remains January 31st.

April 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (March), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

April 15
Individuals — You must file your 2012 income tax return (Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ) and pay any tax due by this date. For a six-month extension of time to file, submit Tax Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) to the IRS. Note that you can only request an extension of time to file, not to pay, so any tax due must still be remitted by this date.

Household employers — If you paid cash wages of $1,800 or more to a household employee in 2012, you must file Schedule H by this date. If you are required to file a federal income tax return, you should submit Schedule H with your return and report any household employment taxes. You must report any FUTA (federal unemployment) tax on Schedule H if you paid $1,000 or more in total cash wages to household employees in any calendar quarter of 2011 or 2012. Additionally, you must report any income tax you withheld for your household employees.

Individuals — If you are not paying your 2013 income tax through withholding (or will not pay enough tax during the year that way), you must make the first payment of your 2013 estimated tax by this date. Use IRS Tax Form 1040-ES (Estimated Tax for Individuals).

Partnerships — Partnerships must file their 2012 calendar year return (IRS Tax Form 1065) by this date. A copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) must be provided to each partner as well. For a 5-month extension of time to file the return, provide Schedule K-1 (or a substitute Schedule K-1) and file IRS Tax Form 7004 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns).

Electing large partnerships — File a 2012 calendar year tax return (Form 1065-B) by this date. For a 6-month extension of time to file, submit Tax Form 7004 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns) with the IRS. See March 15th regarding the deadline for providing Schedules K-1 to the partners.

Corporations — This is the due date for the first installment of 2013 estimated tax. Use the worksheet (Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations) to help calculate your tax for the year.

May 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (April), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

June 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (May), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

June 17
Individuals — This is the due date for filing annual income tax returns for U.S. citizens and resident aliens living and working (or on military duty) outside the United States and Puerto Rico. Use IRS Tax Form 1040 and pay any tax due by this date. For a four-month extension of time to file your return, submit Form 4868. Note that participants in active combat zones may be able to request an additional filing extension.

Individuals — Make the second installment payment for your 2013 estimated tax if you are not paying enough income tax for the year through withholding (or will not pay enough tax that way). Use IRS Tax Form 1040-ES (Estimated Tax for Individuals).

Corporations — Deposit the second installment payment of your 2013 estimated tax. Use the worksheet (Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations) to help calculate your tax for the year.

THIRD QUARTER

[July, August, September]

July 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (June), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

August 12
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (July), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

September 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (August), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

September 16
Individuals — Make the third installment payment for your 2013 estimated tax if you are not paying enough income tax for the year through withholding (or will not pay enough tax that way). Use IRS Tax Form 1040-ES (Estimated Tax for Individuals).

Corporations — If you requested a six-month extension of time to file (back in March), then your 2012 income tax return is due today. File Tax Form 1120 (U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return) and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due.

S corporations — If you requested a six-month extension of time to file (back in March), then your 2012 income tax return is due today. File Tax Form 1120S (U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation) and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due. Provide a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1120S) to each shareholder.

Partnerships — If you requested a five-month extension of time to file (back in April), then your 2012 income tax return is due today. File Tax Form 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income) and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due. Provide a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) to each partner.

Corporations — Deposit the third installment payment of your 2013 estimated tax. Use the worksheet (Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations) to help calculate your tax for the year.

FOURTH QUARTER

[October, November, December]

October 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (September), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

October 15
Individuals — If you requested a six-month extension of time to file (back in April), then your 2012 income tax return is due today. File Tax Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ (U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due.

Electing large partnerships — If you requested a six-month extension of time to file (back in April), then your 2012 tax return is due today. File Tax Form 1065-B (U.S. Return of Income for Electing Large Partnerships) and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due. See March 15th regarding the deadline for providing partners with Schedules K-1.

November 12
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (October), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

December 10
Employees who work for tips — If you earned more than $20 in tips during the previous month (November), you must report them to your employer. Use IRS Tax Form 4070 (Employee’s Report of Tips to Employer).

December 16
Corporations — Deposit the fourth installment payment of your 2013 estimated tax. Use the worksheet (Form 1120-W, Estimated Tax for Corporations) to help calculate your tax for the year.

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