When Is Payment Due? Tax Deadlines for All Filers

Understanding when tax payments are due is an important aspect of financial responsibility. Navigating federal deadlines helps ensure compliance and avoids potential penalties. This overview highlights key payment due dates for different types of filers.

Annual Individual Income Tax Payments

For most individual taxpayers, the primary federal income tax deadline is April 15 of the year following the tax year. This date typically applies to both filing the income tax return and submitting any remaining tax owed for the previous calendar year. If April 15 falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the deadline automatically shifts to the next business day. For example, for the 2024 tax year, the due date is April 15, 2025.

Should an individual need more time to prepare their tax return, they can request an extension. Filing Form 4868 by the April 15 deadline typically grants an automatic six-month extension to file the return, pushing the filing deadline to October 15. However, an extension to file is not an extension to pay. Any taxes estimated to be owed must still be paid by the original April 15 deadline to avoid interest and penalties on underpayments.

Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments

Certain individuals and businesses whose income is not subject to regular tax withholding, such as self-employed individuals, independent contractors, or those with significant investment income, are typically required to make estimated tax payments throughout the year. This system ensures taxes are paid as income is earned, rather than a single payment at year-end. Generally, estimated taxes must be paid if an individual expects to owe $1,000 or more in taxes for the year. Corporations generally must make estimated payments if they expect to owe $500 or more.

Federal estimated tax payments are divided into four periods, each with a specific due date. The payment for income earned from January 1 to March 31 is due by April 15. For income earned from April 1 to May 31, the payment is due on June 15. Income from June 1 to August 31 requires a payment by September 15. Finally, income from September 1 to December 31 is due by January 15 of the following year.

Business Tax Payments

Business tax payment deadlines vary depending on the legal structure of the entity. For C corporations, which file Form 1120, the annual income tax return and any taxes due are generally required by April 15 for businesses operating on a calendar year. If a C corporation uses a fiscal year, the deadline is the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of its tax year, with an exception for fiscal years ending June 30, which are due the 15th day of the third month. An extension to file Form 1120 is possible by filing Form 7004, typically extending the deadline by six months, but tax payments remain due by the original date.

S corporations, which file Form 1120-S, and partnerships, which file Form 1065, generally have a tax return due date of March 15 for calendar-year entities. This is the 15th day of the third month following the close of their tax year. These entities are considered pass-through entities, meaning the business itself typically does not pay income tax, but instead, profits and losses are passed through to the owners’ personal tax returns. An extension for these forms can also be requested using Form 7004, usually providing an additional six months to file.

Beyond income tax returns, businesses with employees also have federal payroll tax deposit obligations. Employers generally follow either a monthly or semi-weekly deposit schedule for federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare taxes withheld from employee wages, as well as the employer’s share. A business’s total tax liability during a “lookback period” determines which schedule they must use. Under the monthly schedule, taxes are due by the 15th day of the following month for wages paid during a given month.

For semi-weekly depositors, taxes for wages paid on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday are due by the following Wednesday. Wages paid on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday require deposits by the following Friday. A special rule applies if a business accumulates $100,000 or more in employment taxes on any single day, requiring deposit by the next business day regardless of the usual schedule. Federal unemployment tax (FUTA) deposits are generally required quarterly if the tax due exceeds $500, with the payment due by the end of the month following the end of the quarter.