2016 Tax Deadlines
The following is a compilation of various deadlines for filing returns with the IRS and making various payments. Please have these dates in mind to avoid penalties and delays.
January 15, 2016
Deadline to pay the fourth quarter estimated tax payment for the year 2014. However, you can skip this estimated payment without penalty if you file the return and pay the balance in full by February 2, 2015.
February 2, 2016
Deadline for employers to mail out Form W-2 to employees and for businesses to furnishForm 1099 statements reporting, among other things, non-employee compensation, bank interest, dividends, and distributions from a retirement plan.
For more details, see How to Prepare and Distribute Form 1099-MISC and General Instructions for Certain Information Returns (IRS.gov).
Deadline for self-employed individuals to file and to pay their tax and avoid a penalty for not making the 4th quarter estimated tax payment.
February 17, 2016
Deadline for employees who claim exemption from withholding to file a new Form W-4with their employers.
Deadline for financial institutions to mail out Form 1099-B, relating to sales of stock, bonds or mutual funds through a brokerage account; Form 1099-S, relating to real estate transactions; and Form 1099-MISC (only if reporting payments in boxes 8 or 14).
For more details Seethetable at the end of the General Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
March 2, 2016
Deadline for businesses to mail Forms 1099 and 1096 with the IRS if filing on paper. (If filing these forms electronically, the deadline is March 31.)
For more details, see theGeneral Instructions for Certain Information Returns.
Deadline for farmers and fishermen who have a balance due on their taxes to file their individual tax return and pay the balance due without incurring any late payment penalties.
For more details, see Publication 225, Farmer’s Tax Guide, especially chapter 15).
March 16, 2016
Deadline for corporate tax returns (Forms 1120, 1120A, and 1120S) for the year 2014, or to request automatic 6-month extension of time to file (Form 7004) for corporations who use the calendar year as their tax year. (The normal deadline for corporate returns is March 15th, but this falls on a Sunday, so the deadline is pushed to the next business day, which is Monday, March 16th.)
Final deadline to file an amended corporate tax return (Form 1120X) for tax year 2011 and still claim a tax refund. (Refunds expire three years from the original due date of the return.)
April 18, 2016
Deadline to file individual tax returns (Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) for the year 2014 or to request an Automatic Extension (Form 4868). An extension provides an extra six months to file your return. Payment of the tax is still due by April 18th. You can submit payment for tax along with the extension form.
Last day to make a contribution to traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Health Savings Account,SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) for the 2014 tax year. (However, if you get an extension, you will have until October 15th to fund a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k).)
1st quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2015 tax year.
Final deadline to file an original tax return (Form 1040) for tax year 2011 and still claim a tax refund, as refunds expire three years from the original due date of the tax return.
Final deadline to file amended tax return (Form 1040X) for tax year 2011 and still claim a tax refund.
(Be sure to mail the amended return well before April 15th to make sure your tax refund will be processed in a timely manner. And be sure to obtain proof of mailing, such as a certified mail with return receipt.)
Deadline to file estate income tax or trust income tax returns (Form 1041) or to request an automatic 5-month extension of time to file (Form 7004).
Deadline to file partnership tax returns (Form 1065) or to request an automatic 5-month extension of time to file (Form 7004).
Final deadline for estates, trusts, or partnerships to file an amended tax return and still claim a tax refund for the year 2011, as refunds expire three years from the original due date of the tax return.
May 15, 2016
Deadline for tax-exempt organizations to file information returns (Form 990) for the year 2014, or request an extension (Form 8868).
June 1, 2016
Deadline for financial institutions to send out Form 5498 to report balances in an individual retirement account for the year 2013.
June 15, 2016
2nd quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2015 tax year.
Deadline for US citizens living abroad to file individual tax returns and to pay any tax due. You can request an additional 4-month extension (Form 4868). (You can request an automatic extension by April 15th instead if you want to.)
Two tax breaks important for Americans working abroad are the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit.
June 30, 2016
Deadline to file Foreign Bank Account Report for the year 2014. This report is required if you have over $10,000 (in aggregate) held in foreign bank accounts. Foreign Bank Account Reports (FinCEN Form 114) must be filed electronically. Extensions of time to file are not available.
September 15, 2016
3rd quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2015 tax year.
Final deadline to file corporate tax returns for the year 2014 if an extension was requested. (Forms 1120, 1120A, 1120S).
Final deadline to file trust income tax returns (Form 1041) for the year 2014 if an extension was requested.
Final deadline to file partnership tax returns (Form 1065) for the year 2014 if an extension was requested.
October 1, 2016
Final deadline for self-employed persons or small employers to establish a SIMPLE-IRAfor the year 2015.
October 18, 2016
Final deadline to file individual tax returns for the year 2014. (Forms 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ.)
Last day the IRS will accept an electronically filed tax return for the year 2014.
If filing after October 15th, you’ll need to mail in your tax return for processing.
Final deadline to fund a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) for tax year 2014 if you requested an automatic extension of time to file.
November 2016
Start planning any year-end tax moves.
December 1, 2016
If you are covered by an HSA-compatible health insurance policy as of December 1st, you’ll be eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account for the year.
December 31, 2016
Last day to make any tax moves for the year 2014. Last day to set up a solo 401(k) for self-employed persons.
Marital status on this date determines your marital status for the whole year.
IRS Web site: Tax Calendars for 2015 (IRS Publication 509)
