Mark These Eight Tax Dates and Deadlines Now
Tax season is approaching, which means now is the time to ramp up your preparation . The sooner you file, the sooner you’ll receive your refund or the more time you’ll have to get cash to pay off your outstanding balance. The IRS will begin accepting returns later this month, and while the biggest deadline for most taxpayers is April 15, there are other important dates you need to know in 2025 .
January 15: Estimated tax payments for the fourth quarter of 2024.
The first deadline of 2025 is effectively the final estimated tax payment for 2024. Anyone who is self-employed (such as contractors and freelancers) or who makes estimated tax payments during the year should plan to file a return for any income earned in the fourth quarter of last year. year (for tax purposes this is September 1 – December 31). Failure to make estimated payments or paying too little may result in penalties. Please note: If you file your return and pay your tax bill by January 31st, you may miss the January 15th payment.
January 27: Tax returns open.
The IRS just announced that it will begin accepting 2024 tax returns on January 27th. Many taxpayers qualify for free filing either through IRS Free File , which can be prepared now and kept until the filing season begins , or through IRS Direct File, which was piloted last year and is now available in 25 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
While you can file your taxes starting January 27, companies have until January 31 to complete and mail out 1099 forms. Make sure you have all the documents before submitting.
March 17: Deadline for business registration applications.
March 17 is the filing deadline for businesses taxed as partnerships or S corporations. It is also the deadline to elect an S corporation for 2025.
April 15: Tax and pension filing deadline.
The most important date of the year is Tax Day. There are several important deadlines on April 15:
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Tax returns and payments are due to individuals and businesses . If you do not file an extension, you must file a tax return and pay any taxes due to avoid penalties and interest. If you can’t cover your tax bill by the due date, don’t avoid the problem. View IRS payment plans .
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Request an extension . If you do need an extension (which gives you until October 15 to file your return), request it before the April filing deadline. The extension does not apply to outstanding tax liabilities, which are still due by April 15.
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Make your estimated tax payment for the first quarter . Unfortunately, the first estimated tax payment for 2025 is also due on April 15th. This applies to income received in January, February and March.
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Complete contributions to your IRA and/or HSA . You have until the tax filing deadline to make your IRA and HSA contributions and apply them to the previous tax year. If you haven’t yet reached the contribution limit for 2024 and have extra funds, you may want to consider making payments into these tax-advantaged accounts.
There are a few exceptions to this filing deadline. Those located in disaster areas are provided with extensions that vary by location. For 2024 tax returns (and payments), the IRS has already extended the deadline to May 1 for residents of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, as well as residents of parts of Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, Virginia and other regions. and West Virginia. The IRS has not yet announced a tax extension for Californians affected by wildfires, but the latest information can be found on the agency’s website .
June 16: Estimated tax payment for the second quarter.
The second estimated tax payment for 2025 income is due June 16 and covers income received from April 1 to May 30.
September 15: Estimated tax payment for the third quarter.
The third estimated tax payment for 2025 is due September 15 and covers income earned from June 1 to August 31.
October 15: Tax filing deadline extended.
If you have requested an extension to file your return, it is due October 15th.
January 15, 2026: Fourth quarter tax estimate.
The final estimated income tax payment for 2025 is January 15, 2026, covering income earned from September 1 through December 31.