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Important Employer Tax Filing Dates 2020

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* As of March 21st, 2020, The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service extended the federal income tax filing due date from April 15, 2020, to July, 15, 2020.

Taxes are difficult for a lot of people, and it’s even tougher when you own a company. Not only do business owners have to track expenses for taxes and other tax deductions, but they must also fill out multiple forms throughout the year for tax filing purposes. With many forms and deadlines, it is difficult to remember when certain IRS forms are due. We don’t want you to stress, so we’ve mapped out all of the important dates so that you know exactly what to do and when to do it. 

Keep in mind while reading this guide that there are many different tax calendars such as the general tax calendar, excise tax calendar, and a fiscal year taxpayer calendar; however, we are focusing on the employer’s 2020 due dates. Also, if you are a fiscal-year taxpayer, you must change some of the dates in this calendar.

For more specific information about filing dates and details, take a look at the IRS publication 509.

IRS Forms You’ll Need

  1. Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return- Form 940.
  2. Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return- Form 941.
  3. Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees- Form 943.
  4. Employer’s ANNUAL Federal Tax Return- Form 944.
  5. Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax- Form 945.

First quarter (January, February, March) Filing Deadlines

January 15th

The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income taxes. Deposit the tax for payments in 2019.

January 31st

  • This is the time where you may find yourself filing the federal unemployment tax*(Form 940); Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax* (form 941); Nonpayroll taxes* (Form 945); gambling winnings (Form W-2G); nonemployee compensation (Form 1099-MISC); farm employees forms* (Form 943); and certain small employers* forms (form 944).
  • This is also the deadline to give your employees their 2019 W-2 forms. You can even give this to employees electronically, as long as it’s posted by the 31st.
  • Employers will file Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements. You will also add Copy A of all the Forms W-2 you issued for the year of 2019.

*Please note that some forms above have a file extension only if you deposited the tax for the year timely, properly, and in full.

February 10th

This is the extension due date for employers who did not file the forms above by January 31st. Please submit Federal unemployment tax (Form 940); Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (form 941); Nonpayroll taxes (Form 945); certain small employers (Form 944); and farm employers (Form 943).

February 18th

File the Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax and deposit the tax payments made in January – only if the monthly deposit rule applies. Also file the nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in January.)

February 19th

All employers will begin withholding income tax from the pay of any employee. This employee must have claimed exemption from withholding in 2019.

February 28th

  • Payers of gambling winnings must file Form 1096 along with Copy A of all the Forms W-2G issued for 2019.
  • If you’re an applicable large employer, you will report health insurance coverage. You will file paper Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS. For all other providers of minimum essential coverage, file 1094-B and 1095-B.

*Please note that if you file health coverage information electronically, your deadline is extended to March 31st.

March 2nd

  • Provide health coverage forms to all employees. This includes Forms 1094-C and 1095-C for large employers and 1094-B and 1095-B for all other employers.
  • Large food and beverage establishment employers will file Form 8027.

March 16th

Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax: If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in February. Nonpayroll withholding: If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in February.

March 31st

Electronic filing form due dates. Submit Forms W-2G, Forms 8027, and Forms 1094-C, 1095-C, 1094-B, and 1095- B.

Second Quarter (April, May, June) Filing Deadlines

April 15th

Deposit tax payments for Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax; nonpayroll withholding; and household employers.

April 30th

  • File Form 941 for the first quarter of 2020. If you deposited this in full, you have until May 11th.
  • Deposit the federal unemployment tax you owe through March if it’s more than $500.00.

May 11th

File Form 941 only if you deposited the tax for the quarter timely, properly, and in full.

May 15th

  • The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in April).
  • The nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in April).

June 16th

  • The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in May).
  • The nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in May).

Third Quarter (July, August, September) Filing Deadlines

July 15th

  • The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in June).
  • The nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in June).

July 31st

  • File form 941 for the Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If you deposit this in a timely manner, you have until August 10th to file the return.
  • Certain small employers will deposit any undeposited taxes if your tax liability is $2,500 or more for 2020, but less than $2,500 for the 2nd quarter.
  • File the federal unemployment tax if it’s more than $500.
  • All employers must file Form 5500 or 5500-EZ if you maintain an employee benefit plan, such as a pension, profit-sharing, or stock bonus plan in 2019.

August 10th

The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File form 941 for the second quarter of 2020.

August 17th

The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in July).

September 15th

  • The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in August).
  • The nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in August).

Fourth Quarter (October, November, December) Filing Deadlines

October 15th

  • The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in September).
  • The nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in September).

November 2nd

  • File form 941 for the third quarter of 2020. If paid in a timely manner, you have until November 10th to file the return.
  • Certain small employers will deposit any undeposited tax if your tax liability is $2,500 or more for 2020 but less than $2,500 for the third quarter.
  • Deposit the federal unemployment tax owed through September if it’s more than $500.00.

November 10th

File form 941 for the Social security, medicare, and withheld income tax for the third quarter.

November 16th

  • The Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in October).
  • The nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in October).

December 15th

  • The Nonpayroll withholding (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in November).
  • The Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax (if the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments made in November).

3 Responses

  1. I’m curious if anyone else has clients with employees waiting until the very last minute with these deadline extensions. I have one client who I helped prepare W2 and 1099s for (using software, of course. https://www.1099-etc.com/software/w2-and-1099-forms-filer/), but apparently many of them were not received. Employees are just now notifying us of these missing forms. Just looking to see if anyone has had a similar experience.

  2. Do you know where I can get a fillable 941 revision January 2020 for first quarter 2020 filing only? Cannot find it anywhere on the internet!

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Vinny. It looks like the form actually isn’t released yet because the IRS doesn’t publish it until it’s set. The last draft of the form was published on Sep 30th, 2020. I assume it will come out soon, but I’m not sure about a specific date, unfortunately.

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