Annual tax timeline.
The shape of a tax year is the same from one year to the next. Here is the rhythm of returns, extensions, and estimated payments — described in months, not exact dates, since those shift for weekends and holidays.
The year at a glance
| When | What’s due |
|---|---|
| Mid-January | Fourth-quarter estimated payment for the prior year. |
| Late January | W-2s and most 1099s should have reached you; e-filing opens. |
| Mid-March | Partnership (Form 1065) and S-corporation (Form 1120-S) returns — file or extend. |
| Mid-April | Individual returns (Form 1040) and C-corporation returns; first estimated payment for the current year; last day to contribute to an IRA for the prior year. |
| Mid-June | Second estimated payment for the current year. |
| Mid-September | Third estimated payment; extended partnership and S-corporation returns. |
| Mid-October | Extended individual and C-corporation returns. |
How an extension works
An extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. If you expect to owe, estimate the amount and pay it by the original deadline to avoid interest and a late-payment penalty. The extended deadline is roughly six months later for most returns.
Estimated payments
If enough tax isn’t withheld from a paycheck — common for the self-employed, or for households with significant investment, rental, or business income — the tax is generally paid in four installments across the year, in April, June, September, and January. We can set the amounts as part of planning so they don’t become a surprise.
States
Most states line up their individual deadline with the federal one, but not all, and estimated-payment schedules can differ. If you file in more than one state we’ll map the specific dates for your situation.
Always confirm the exact date. When a deadline lands on a weekend or a holiday it moves to the next business day, and occasionally the IRS or a state postpones dates for disaster relief. Treat this page as the pattern, and check the current year before you rely on it.