Tax filing season is just around the corner, and while most people think of April 15 as the big tax deadline, your business taxes might be due on a different date or even several dates throughout the year.
To help you stay on top of your tax filing obligations, we’re sharing the deadlines you need to know for your small business taxes. You might want to have your calendar handy to make a note of any dates that apply to your business.
The Big List of Small Business Tax Due Dates
This list of tax deadlines might look daunting, but keep in mind that you probably don’t have to file every type of tax return listed here. Some are just for owners of pass-through businesses (sole proprietors, partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations), and some are just for C corporations. In addition, some tax deadlines apply only to companies with employees.
Note that if any of these dates fall on a weekend or federal holiday, the due date shifts to the following business day.
January 15
This is the payment deadline for individuals' fourth quarter estimated taxes for the 2021 tax year. Use Form 1040-ES to pay your estimate by mail or the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) or IRS Direct Pay to make a payment online.
This deadline covers estimated self-employment taxes and income taxes for owners of pass-through business entities, including:
- Sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs that report business income on Schedule C
- Partnerships and multi-member LLCs that file Form 1065
- S corporations that file Form 1120-S
This is also the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for December if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
January 31
This is the deadline to send Form W-2s to employees for wages paid in 2021 and the deadline to send 1099 forms to recipients, such as:
- 1099-INT for interest payments
- 1099-DIV for dividend payments
- 1099-MISC for rent, royalties, and other miscellaneous income payments
January 31 is also the deadline to send Form 1099-NEC to any independent contractors that you paid $600 or more during 2021. A copy of Form 1099-NEC is also due to the IRS, whether you e-file or file on paper.
This may also be your filing deadline for Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 2021. Form 941 is used to report income taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax withheld from employees’ paychecks. However, if you deposited the tax for the year on time, properly, and in full, you have until February 10 to file.
January 30 is also the filing deadline for Form 940 for 2021. Form 940 is for reporting your annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) tax liability.
February 10
For business owners that deposited Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and withheld income taxes on time and in full, this is the deadline for filing Form 941.
February 15
This is the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for January if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
March 1
This is the deadline for sending copies of 1099 forms (other than 1099-NEC) to the IRS if you file on paper. However, if you file these forms electronically, you don’t have to send them to the IRS until March 31.
Be sure to attach Form 1096, a cover sheet used to summarize information returns when they’re mailed to the IRS.
March 15
This is the deadline for partnerships and LLCs to file Form 1065 and S corporations to file Form 1120-S for the 2021 calendar year. It’s also the deadline to provide each partner or shareholder with a copy of Schedule K-1 showing their share of the pass-through entity’s income or loss.
If you need more time to prepare a complete and accurate return, you can request an automatic six-month extension using Form 7004.
For C corporations and LLCs that want to be taxed as an S corporation, March 15 is also the deadline to file Form 2553 to make the change for the 2022 calendar year. If you file Form 2553 after this date, S corporation tax treatment won’t begin until the 2023 calendar year.
This is also the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for February if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
March 31
This is the deadline to electronically file most information returns with the IRS, including Form 1099-MISC.
April 15
April 15 is the deadline for individuals to File Form 1040 and for C corporations to file Form 1120.
If you need more time, you can request a six-month extension by filing Form 4868 (individuals) or Form 7004 (corporations). Remember that an extension gives you more time to file your tax return—it doesn’t give you an extension of time to pay the tax you owe. You’ll need to estimate the tax due for 2021 and make a payment by this date to avoid interest and penalties.
Also on this date, first-quarter 2022 estimated income and self-employment tax payments are due for sole proprietors and owners of pass-through businesses. You can send a check along with Form 1040-ES or make a payment online using EFTPS or IRS Direct Pay.
Calendar-year C corporations must pay estimated income taxes for the first quarter of 2022 by April 15. You can use the worksheet available with Form 1120-W to estimate your tax for the year and make the payment using EFTPS.
This is also the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for March if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
April 30
This may also be your filing deadline for Form 941 for the first quarter of 2022. However, if you deposited the tax for the quarter on time, properly, and in full, you have until May 10 to file.
May 10
For employers that deposited Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and withheld income taxes on time and in full, this is the deadline for filing Form 941 for the first quarter of 2022.
May 15
This is the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for April if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
June 15
On this date, second-quarter 2022 estimated income and self-employment tax payments are due for sole proprietors and owners of pass-through businesses. You can send a check along with Form 1040-ES or make a payment online using EFTPS or IRS Direct Pay.
This is also the date for corporations to make second-quarter estimated payments for 2022. Use the worksheet available with Form 1120-W to estimate your tax for the year and make the payment using EFTPS.
This is also the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for May if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
July 15
This is the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for June if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
July 31
This may be your filing deadline for Form 941 for the second quarter of 2022. However, if you deposited the tax for the quarter on time, properly, and in full, you have until August 10 to file.
This is also the due date for FUTA tax deposits if the tax owed through June is more than $500.
If you maintain an employee benefit plan, such as a pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan, August 1 is also the deadline to file Form 5500 or Form 5500-EZ for the 2021 calendar year.
August 10
For employers that deposited Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and withheld income taxes on time and in full, this is the deadline for filing Form 941 for the second quarter of 2022.
August 15
This is the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for July if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
September 15
For pass-through businesses that requested a six-month extension on their 2021 income tax returns, this is the last day to file Form 1065 or Form 1120-S and provide a Schedule K-1 to all partners or shareholders.
On this date, third-quarter 2022 estimated income and self-employment tax payments are also due for sole proprietors and owners of pass-through businesses. You can send a check along with Form 1040-ES or make a payment online using EFTPS or IRS Direct Pay.
This is also the date for corporate taxpayers to make third-quarter estimated tax payments for 2022. Use the worksheet available with Form 1120-W to estimate your corporate income tax for the year and make the payment using EFTPS.
This is also the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for August if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
October 15
For individuals and C corporations that requested a six-month tax extension to file their 2021 income tax returns, this is the final deadline for filing individual tax returns on Form 1040 or corporate tax returns using Form 1120.
This is also the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for September if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
November 1
This may be your filing deadline for Form 941 for the third quarter of 2022. However, if you deposited tax for the quarter on time, properly, and in full, you have until November 10 to file.
This is also the due date for FUTA tax deposits if the tax owed through September is more than $500.
November 10
For employers that deposited Social Security tax, Medicare tax, and withheld income taxes on time and in full, this is the deadline for filing Form 941 for the third quarter of 2022.
November 15
This is the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for October if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
December 15
This is the due date for corporate taxpayers to make fourth-quarter estimated tax payments for 2022. Use the worksheet available with Form 1120-W to estimate your corporate income tax for the year and make the payment using EFTPS.
This is also the date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for November if you’re on a monthly deposit schedule.
Business Tax Deadlines for Fiscal Year Taxpayers
Many of the dates listed above apply only to calendar-year taxpayers. However, if you operate your company on a fiscal year, you have a different set of tax deadlines.
- Form 1065 and Form 1120-S are due on the 15th day of the third month after the end of your tax year.
- Form 1120 is due on the 15th day of the fourth month after the end of your fiscal year (unless your corporation has a fiscal year-end of June 30—those returns are due on the 15th day of the third month after fiscal year-end)
- Quarterly estimated tax payments for corporations are due on the 15th day of the fourth, sixth, ninth, and 12th months of the corporation’s tax year.
- Form 2553 is due no more than two months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year your S corporation election is to take effect. Otherwise, the change won’t be effective until the following year.
Tax Deadline FAQs
Are Business Taxes Extended in 2021?
The tax filing deadline for 2020 individual tax returns was extended from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This automatic extension applied to filing Form 1040, as well as federal income tax payments and self-employment taxes that would normally be due on April 15.
So far, the IRS has not announced a similar extension for 2021 returns (which are due April 15, 2022).
What’s the Deadline for Business Taxes?
The deadline for filing business taxes depends on how your business is structured and the type of return you file. Partnerships and multi-member LLCs must file Form 1065 by March 15. S corporations must file Form 1120-S by March 15. Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs that report business income and deductions on Schedule C attached to their Form 1040 must file by April 15. C corporations must file Form 1120 by April 15.
What Is the Due Date for LLC Tax Returns?
The tax return for LLCs (Form 1065) is due on March 15. If you need more time to file, you can request an automatic six-month extension by filing Form 7004.
What Are the Tax Filing Dates for 2021?
Individual and corporate tax returns for the 2021 tax year are due on April 15, 2022. Partnerships, LLCs, and S corporations must file by March 15, 2022, or request an extension.
Let’s Wrap it Up
Our list covers filing dates that apply to many small businesses, but it doesn’t cover every business tax deadline. For example, federal excise taxes have their own deadlines, as do state income and payroll tax returns.
For other deadlines that might apply to your business, check out IRS Publication 509 or work with a qualified tax professional. They can help you calculate quarterly tax payments, select the right IRS forms, and ensure you never miss an important tax deadline.
Ready to transform your business into a profit-pumping machine? Learn how with our monthly newsletter.
