Running a business requires handling many responsibilities, and one of the most important is keeping track of tax deadlines. Federal tax rules are lengthy and complex, with critical dates often hidden within hundreds of pages of regulations. To save time, we’ve summarized the key tax dates every business owner should know, along with guidance on what to do if you can’t pay, how to request an extension, where to file, and which forms apply to each type of business.
Missing these deadlines can result in costly penalties, so staying aware of your filing dates is important to avoid unnecessary fines and remain compliant.
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ToggleFor most individuals, the deadline to file income tax returns in 2025 is April 15. U.S. citizens and permanent residents living abroad on that date receive an automatic two-month extension, moving their deadline to June 16, 2025, since June 15 falls on a Sunday. Tax deadlines that land on weekends or federal holidays are always shifted to the next business day. Those unable to file by their due date can request an extension until October 15, 2025. However, the IRS requires that all taxes owed be paid by the original deadline, regardless of an extension.
Below is a list of important tax dates for both individuals and corporations. Since the requirements differ, we have separated the information for each. This list includes most of the key deadlines for individuals and businesses, but it is not complete. Always confirm with your tax professional or the IRS to ensure you do not miss a deadline specific to your situation.
For a more detailed reference, the IRS publishes Publication 509, which provides a full tax calendar with all deadlines. This article also covers excise tax obligations and Sage payroll tax deposit due dates that may apply to your company. It is also important to note that due dates are often extended for individuals or companies located in areas affected by federally declared disasters such as floods, fires, or hurricanes. The IRS provides a complete list of disaster areas along with details on available relief and postponed deadlines.
Here are the key tax deadlines for individual filers, including employees, retirees, self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and gig workers.
The 10th of every month, starting in January– The deadline to report tips of $20 or more received in the previous month to your employer.
All tips count as income and are subject to both income tax and payroll tax.
January 15, 2025- The IRS begins accepting 2024 federal income tax returns.
The official start date is announced in early January.
Between January 15 and January 31, 2025- The IRS will begin accepting 2024 federal income tax returns on a date announced in early January. By January 31, 2025, employers must send Form W-2 to all employees who worked for them in 2024. The same deadline also applies to other informational forms that the IRS requires to be provided to recipients.
January 31, 2025- This is the deadline for employers to provide Form W-2 to each employee who worked for them in 2024.
Similarly, the IRS requires other informational forms to be sent to recipients by this date.
These include the Form 1099-INT (for interest earned), Form 1099-NEC (usually for independent contractors), and Form 1099-K (records of transactions from PayPal and other third-party payment networks).
February 18, 2025- The last day to claim an exemption from withholding.
If you claimed a tax withholding exemption from your employer in 2024 and want to continue it, submit an updated Form W-4 to your employer.
Without a new Form W-4, your employer must withhold income taxes at the highest rate.
April 1, 2025- Deadline to take your 2024 required minimum distribution (RMD) from retirement accounts if you turned 73 in 2024.
Missing this deadline results in a 25% excise tax on the amount not taken.
April 15, 2025- Federal income tax filing deadline for individuals.
Deadline to apply for a six-month extension.
Deadline to make 2024 IRA and HSA contributions.
Deadline for the first-quarter estimated tax payment for 2025 (January 1 – March 31).
Self-employed individuals and business owners must estimate their 2025 income, calculate the expected tax, and make the first of four estimated payments by April 15.
Use IRS Form 1040-ES to make estimated payments.
IRS Publication 505 provides guidance on calculating estimated tax.
If you overpay your 2025 estimated taxes, you can request a refund or apply the excess to your 2026 quarterly tax payments.
April 17, 2025- The last day to file 2021 tax returns, if you have not yet filed and are claiming a tax credit or refund. After this date, any unclaimed refund becomes the property of the IRS. June 16, 2025- This is also the deadline for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who were living abroad on April 15, 2025, to file their 2024 income tax returns. Individuals who need more time can submit Form 4868 to receive an additional 4 months to file.
Some quarters are not exactly three months long and do not rely on the actual income earned during the period.
Estimated tax payments are usually calculated in four equal installments based on your expected annual income.
September 15, 2025- The deadline for paying estimated tax for the third quarter of 2025 is September 15, 2025.
October 15, 2025- Deadline to file 2024 income tax returns for taxpayers who received an extension.
December 31, 2025- Deadline for individuals who turned 73 before 2025 to take their 2025 RMDs. Those who turn 73 in 2025 have until April 1, 2026.
Last day to make charitable donations if you want to claim them on your 2025 tax return due in April 2026.
Final day to contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k). In 2025, the maximum contribution limit is $23,500.
January 15, 2026- The deadline for paying estimated tax for the fourth quarter of 2025 is January 15, 2026.
For federal tax purposes, the IRS treats a one member LLC as a sole proprietorship.
An LLC with two or more members is treated as a partnership.
Here’s a summary of key tax deadlines for businesses, including corporations, LLCs, and partnerships.
2025 Federal Tax Filing Deadlines for Multi-Member LLCs, Partnerships, S Corporations, and C Corporations
January 31, 2025- Last day for businesses to provide Form W-2 to employees.
Final day to send informational returns to most vendors.
These include Form 1099-NEC and Form 1099-INT, showing payments made during 2024.
February 18, 2025- Last day to provide informational statements reporting all payments shown on Form 1099-B, Form 1099-S, and legal fees paid to attorneys on Form 1099-MISC.
February 28, 2025- Last day to submit paper informational returns (Form W-2 and all Form 1099s) to the IRS.
The deadline to file these forms electronically with the IRS is March 31, 2025.
March 17, 2025- Last day for multi-member LLCs, partnerships, and S Corps to provide Schedule K-1 to all owners.
Deadline for multi-member LLCs and partnerships to file 2024 income tax returns using Form 1065.
Deadline for S Corps to file 2024 income tax returns using Form 1120-S.
For companies on a fiscal year, the income tax return deadline is generally the 15th day of the third month after the end of the tax year.
Last day for S Corps, multi-member LLCs, and partnerships to request a six-month automatic extension by filing Form 7004.
March 31, 2025- Last day to file informational returns electronically with the IRS, including Form W-2 and all Form 1099s.
These deadlines apply to IRS submissions. The deadline for providing these forms to recipients is generally January 31.
April 15, 2025- Deadline for C Corps to file 2024 income tax returns using Form 1120 and pay any taxes owed.
C Corps seeking a 6-month automatic extension must file Form 7004 by this date and deposit any estimated taxes due.
This is also the final day for corporations to pay their first-quarter 2025 estimated income tax.
April 30, 2025- Deadline for companies with employees to file the first-quarter 2025 Sage 50payroll tax return using Form 941.
June 16, 2025- Deadline for corporations to pay their second-quarter 2025 estimated income tax.
July 31, 2025- Due date for companies with employees to file the second-quarter 2025 payroll tax return using Form 941.
September 15, 2025- Deadline for extended income tax returns for partnerships, multi-member LLCs, and S Corps.
Applies to taxpayers who filed timely extension requests.
Also, the last day for corporations to pay the third-quarter 2025 estimated income tax.
October 15, 2025- Deadline for extended C Corp income tax returns.
October 31, 2025- Deadline for companies with employees to file the third-quarter 2025 payroll tax return using Form 941.
December 15, 2025- Final day for companies to pay the fourth-quarter 2025 estimated income tax.
February 2, 2026- Deadline for companies with employees to file the fourth-quarter 2025 payroll tax return using Form 941.
Deadline for companies with employees to file the 2025 federal unemployment tax return using Form 940.
The IRS counts your return as on time if the envelope:
So, the date the IRS receives the forms doesn’t matter. But be sure to get proof of mailing by the due date in case anything goes wrong.
If you file your return electronically, make sure the return is transmitted and accepted by the IRS by 11:59 PM in your local time zone.
Yes. Pay all 2024 taxes by the original filing deadline. Late payments can incur interest and penalties. A filing extension does not change the payment deadline. Taxes remain due on the original filing date. An extension only provides extra time to file, not to pay.
If you can’t pay by the deadline, or can’t pay in full, pay what you can and apply for an online payment plan.
While on an approved plan, the IRS generally cannot levy your assets.
There are two types of plans:
Direct debits make regular payments simple to manage. The IRS requires direct debits for balances over $25,000.
Interest and late-payment penalties will still accrue, but setting up a payment plan reduces the failure-to-pay penalty by 50%.
If you miss the filing deadline, penalties and interest on taxes owed start immediately. File as soon as possible to reduce the impact.
You usually face no penalty if you are due a refund.
Penalty relief may apply if you filed and paid on time for the past three years and meet other requirements, including paying or arranging to pay any tax due.
The late filing penalty is 5% of the unpaid tax for each month the return is late, up to a maximum of 25%.
Filing more than 60 days late triggers a minimum penalty of $485 or 100% of the unpaid tax, whichever is less.
You can apply for an extension in two ways:
The federal tax deadline differs from state deadlines. The federal deadline is the same nationwide, but state deadlines vary. Most states follow the federal date, but check with your state’s Department of Revenue to be sure.
Nine states do not impose an individual income tax, and three states do not have a corporate income tax
States without a corporate income tax:
You can start filing tax returns for the previous year in late January. The IRS announces the official start of tax season during the first two weeks of January.
For example, in 2024, the IRS announced on January 8 that filing would begin on January 29. The announcement is posted in the IRS Newsroom when released.
IRS Forms Required for Individuals
U.S. citizens and permanent residents working in the U.S. generally need to file Form 1040 (Individual Income Tax Return) if:
C corporations must file their annual income tax return using Form 1120. They must also deposit income taxes electronically through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).
The forms an LLC must file depend on its structure and tax classification. Requirements vary based on whether the LLC is:
IRS Forms Required for Sole Proprietors and Single-Member LLCs
Sole proprietors and single-member LLCs file their annual income tax return using Schedule C (Form 1040).
Partnerships must file their annual income tax return using Form 1065.By default, multi-member LLCs are treated as partnerships unless they elect to be taxed as an S corporation (by filing Form 2553) or as a C corporation (by filing Form 8832). Even in these cases, multi-member LLCs must also file Form 1065.
S corporations must file their annual income tax return using Form 1120-S.
Staying on top of tax payments is easier with the right methods and tools. You can pay through Direct Pay, EFTPS, card, or other IRS-approved options. Consistency and preparation are key.
Using financial management or tax-compliant accounting software helps make compliance part of daily operations. This approach can simplify tax preparation, reduce stress, and increase your finance team’s productivity by up to 40%.
Yes. All 2024 taxes must be paid by the original filing deadline. Late payments may incur interest and penalties. Filing an extension does not delay your tax payment. Taxes are still due by the original deadline.
Ensure all transactions for 2025 are entered and reconciled. Verify that your accounts, payroll, and vendor/customer records are accurate. Use the Verify Data tool to check for inconsistencies.
Sage 50 does not directly file tax returns with the IRS or state agencies. It prepares the necessary reports and forms, which you can use to complete and submit your tax returns manually or via a tax filing service.
Use the Rebuild Data tool to fix data errors if needed. Correct any incorrect transactions, and regenerate your tax reports. Always verify totals before submission.
Reports can be exported as PDF, Excel, or CSV files via the Print/Export option in the report window. These files can be submitted to your accountant or used with tax preparation software.
Yes. Filing deadlines depend on the type of tax return (federal, state, payroll, or sales tax). Always refer to IRS and state guidelines for 2025 deadlines.
Yes. Use the General Ledger and Banking modules to record estimated tax payments for 2025. This helps ensure payments are correctly applied and reduces the risk of penalties.
Filing a tax return in Sage 50 for the year 2025 doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right guidance, you can prepare, review, and submit your return quickly while ensuring compliance with the latest tax regulations. Our step-by-step assistance helps you avoid errors, save time, and make the most of Sage 50’s built-in tax tools. Contact our Sage experts today and simplify your tax filing process for a stress-free experience.
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