This tax calendar covers various due dates of interest to employers. Principally,
it covers the following federal taxes.
- Income tax you withhold from your employees’ wages or from nonpayroll amounts you
pay out.
- Social security and Medicare taxes (FICA taxes) you withhold from your employees’
wages and the social security and Medicare taxes you must pay as an employer.
- Federal unemployment (FUTA) tax you must pay as an employer.
The calendar lists due dates for filing returns and for making deposits of these
three taxes throughout the year. Use this calendar with Publication 15 (Circular
E), which gives the deposit rules.
Forms you may need. The following is a list and description of the primary
employment tax forms you may need.
- Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return. This form is
due 1 month after the calendar year ends. Use it to report the FUTA tax on wages
you paid.
- Form 941, Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return. This form is due 1 month after
the calendar quarter ends. Use it to report social security and Medicare taxes and
withheld income taxes on wages if your employees are not farm workers or household
employees.
- Form 943, Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees. This
form is due 1 month after the calendar year ends. Use it to report social security
and Medicare taxes and withheld income taxes on wages if your employees are farm
workers.
- Form 944, Employer’s ANNUAL Federal Tax Return. This form is due 1 month after the
calendar year ends. Certain small employers use it instead of Form 941 to report
social security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax.
- Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax. This form is due 1 month
after the calendar year ends. Use it to report income tax withheld on all nonpayroll
items. Nonpayroll items include the following.
- Backup withholding.
- Withholding on pensions, annuities, IRAs, and gambling winnings.
- Payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members.
Fiscal-year taxpayers. The dates in this calendar apply whether you use a
fiscal year or the calendar year as your tax year. The only exception is the date
for filing Forms 5500 and 5500-EZ. These employee benefit plan forms are due by
the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends. See July 31,
later.
Extended due dates. If you deposit in full and on time the tax you are required
to report on Form 940, 941, 943, 944, or 945, you have an additional 10 days to
file that form. If you are subject to the semiweekly deposit
rule, use the table near the end of this page for your deposit due dates. However
if you accumulate $100,000 or more of taxes on any day during a deposit period,
you must deposit the tax by the next banking day instead of the date shown in the
table.
First Quarter
The first quarter of a calendar year is made up of January, February, and March.
During January
All employers. Give your employees their copies of Form W-2 for 2007 by January
31, 2008. If an employee agreed to receive Form W-2 electronically, post it on a
website accessible to the employee and notify the employee of the posting by January
31.
January 1
Earned income credit. Stop advance payments of the earned income credit for
any employee who did not give you a new Form W-5 (or Formulario W-5(SP), its Spanish
version) for 2008.
January 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in December 2007. Nonpayroll withholding.
If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in December 2007.
January 31
All employers. Give your employees their copies of Form W-2 for 2007. If
an employee agreed to receive Form W-2 electronically, have it posted on a website
and notify the employee of the posting.
Payers of gambling winnings. If you either paid reportable gambling winnings
or withheld income tax from gambling winnings, give the winners their copies of
Form W-2G.
Nonpayroll taxes. File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2007 on
all nonpayroll items, including backup withholding and withholding on pensions,
annuities, IRAs, gambling winnings, and payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal
members. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules.
If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely
filed return. If you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have
until February 11 to file the return.
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
fourth quarter of 2007. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of
deposit rules. If your tax liability is $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely
filed return. If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time, you
have until February 11 to file the return.
Certain small employers. File Form 944 to report social security and Medicare
taxes and Page 6 withheld income tax for 2007. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax
under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is $2,500 or more for
2007 but less than $2,500 for the fourth quarter, deposit any undeposited tax or
pay it in full with a timely filed return.
Farm employers. File Form 943 to report social security and Medicare taxes
and withheld income tax for 2007. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy
of deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full
with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the year in full and on
time, you have until February 11 to file the return.
Federal unemployment tax. File Form 940 for 2007. If your undeposited tax
is $500 or less, you can either pay it with your return or deposit it. If it is
more than $500, you must deposit it. However, if you deposited the tax for the year
in full and on time, you have until February 11 to file the return.
February 11
Nonpayroll taxes. File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2007 on
all nonpayroll items. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the
year in full and on time.
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
fourth quarter of 2007. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for
the quarter in full and on time.
Certain small employers. File Form 944 to report social security and Medicare
taxes and withheld income tax for 2007. This due date applies only if you deposited
the tax for the year in full and on time.
Farm employers. File Form 943 to report social security and Medicare taxes
and withheld income tax for 2007. This due date applies only if you deposited the
tax for the year in full and on time.
Federal unemployment tax. File Form 940 for 2007. This due date applies only
if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.
February 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in January.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in January.
February 16
All employers. Begin withholding income tax from the pay of any employee
who claimed exemption from withholding in 2007, but did not give you a new Form
W-4 (or Formulario W-4(SP), its Spanish version) to continue the exemption this
year.
February 28
Payers of gambling winnings. File Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal
of U.S. Information Returns, along with Copy Aof all the Forms W-2G you issued for
2007. If you file Forms W-2G electronically (not by magnetic media), your due date
for filing them with the IRS will be extended to March 31. The due date for giving
the recipient these forms remains January 31.
February 29
All employers. File Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, along
with Copy A of all the Forms W-2 you issued for 2007. If you file Forms W-2 electronically,
your due date for filing them with the SSA will be extended to March 31. The due
date for giving the recipient these forms remains January 31.
Large food and beverage establishment employers. File Form 8027, Employer’s
Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips. Use Form 8027-T, Transmittal
of Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, to summarize
and transmit Forms 8027 if you have more than one establishment. If you file Forms
8027 electronically (not by magnetic media), your due date for filing them with
the IRS will be extended to March 31.
March 17
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in February.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in February.
March 31
Electronic filing of Forms W-2. File copies of all the Forms W-2 you issued
for 2007. This due date applies only if you electronically file. Otherwise, see
February 29. The due date for giving the recipient these forms remains January 31.
Electronic filing of Forms W-2G. File copies of all the Forms W-2G you issued
for 2007. This due date applies only if you electronically file (not by magnetic
media). Otherwise, see February 28. The due date for giving the recipient these
forms remains January 31. For information about filing Forms W-2G electronically,
see Publication 1220, Specifications for Filing Forms 1098, 1099, 5498 and W-2G
Electronically or Magnetically.
Electronic filing of Forms 8027. File Forms 8027 for 2007. This due date
applies only if you electronically file (not by magnetic media). Otherwise, see
February 29. Publication 509 (October 2007)
Second Quarter
The second quarter of a calendar year is made up of April, May, and June.
April 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in March.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in March.
Household employers. If you paid cash wages of $1,500 or more in 2007 to
a household employee, you must file Schedule H. If you are required to file a federal
income tax return (Form 1040), file Schedule H with the return and report any household
employment taxes. Report any federal unemployment (FUTA) tax on Schedule H if you
paid total cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter of 2006 or 2007
to household employees. Also, report any income tax you withheld for your household
employees. For more information, see Publication 926.
April 30
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
first quarter of 2008. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of
deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full
with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and
on time, you have until May 12 to file the return.
Federal unemployment tax. Deposit the tax owed through March if more than
$500.
May 12
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
first quarter of 2008. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the
quarter in full and on time.
May 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in April.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in April.
June 16
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in May.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in May. Publication 509 (October 2007)
Third Quarter
The third quarter of a calendar year is made up of July, August, and September.
July 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in June.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in June.
July 31
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
second quarter of 2008. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of
deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full
with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and
on time, you have until August 11 to file the return.
Certain small employers. Deposit any un-deposited tax if your tax liability
is $2,500 or more for 2008 but less than $2,500 for the second quarter.
Federal unemployment tax. Deposit the tax owed through June if more than
$500.
All employers. If you maintain an employee benefit plan, such as a pension,
profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan, file Form 5500 or 5500-EZ for calendar year
2007. If you use a fiscal year as your plan year, file the form by the last day
of the seventh month after the plan year ends.
August 11
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
second quarter of 2008. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for
the quarter in full and on time.
August 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in July.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in July.
September 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule ap¬plies, deposit the tax for payments in August.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in August.
Fourth Quarter
The fourth quarter of a calendar year is made up of October, November, and December.
October 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in September.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in September.
October 31
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
third quarter of 2008. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of
deposit rules. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full
with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and
on time, you have until November 10 to file the return.
Certain small employers. Deposit any un-deposited tax if your tax liability
is $2,500 or more for 2008 but less than $2,500 for the third quarter.
Federal unemployment tax. Deposit the tax owed through September if more
than $500.
During November
Income tax withholding. Ask employees whose withholding allowances will be
different in 2009 to fill out a new Form W-4 or Formulario W-4(SP). The 2009 revision
of Form W-4 will be available on the IRS website by mid-December.
Earned income credit. Ask each eligible employee who wants to receive advance
payments of the earned income credit during the year 2009 to fill out a Form W-5
or Formulario W-5(SP). A new Form W-5 or Formulario W-5(SP) must be filled out each
year before any payments are made. The 2009 revision of Form W-5 will be available
on the IRS website by mid-December.
November 10
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the
third quarter of 2008. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the
quarter in full and on time.
November 17
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in October.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in October.
December 15
Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit
rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in November.
Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the
tax for payments in November.
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