January 2012
Employers, businesses, banks, and other financial institutions are preparing various tax documents to mail out.
January 17, 2012
IRS begins accepting electronically filed tax returns.Deadline to pay your fourth quarter estimated tax payment. However, you can skip this estimated payment without penalty if you file your return and pay your balance in full by January 31, 2012.
January 31, 2012
Deadline for employers to mail out Form W-2 and for businesses to furnish Form 1099 statements reporting, among other things, non-employee compensation, bank interest, dividends, and distributions from a retirement plan.Deadline for self-employed individuals to file and to pay their tax and avoid an penalty for not making your 4th quarter estimated tax payment.
February 15, 2012
Deadline for employees who claim exemption from withholding to file a new Form W-4 with their employers.Deadline for financial institutions to mail out Form 1099-B, relating to sales of stock, bonds or mutual funds through a brokerage account, and Form 1099-S, relating to real estate transactions.
March 1, 2012
Deadline for farmers and fishermen who have a balance due on their taxes to file their individual tax return and pay the balance due without incurring any late payment penalties. For more details, see the Farmer's Tax Guide (Publication 225, especially chapter 15).
March 15, 2012
Deadline for corporate tax returns (Forms 1120, 1120A, and 1120S), or to request automatic 6-month extension of time to file (Form 7004).Final deadline to file an amended corporate tax return (Form 1120X) for tax year 2008 and still claim a tax refund.
April 17, 2012
Deadline to file individual tax returns (Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) or to request an Automatic Extension (Form 4868). An extension provides an extra six months to file your return. Payment of the tax is still due by April 17th. You can submit payment for tax along with the extension form.Last day to make a retroactive contribution to traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Health Savings Account, SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) for the 2011 tax year. (However, if you get an extension, you will have until October 17th to fund a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k).)
1st quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2012 tax year.
Final deadline to file an original tax return (Form 1040) for tax year 2008 and still claim a tax refund.
Final deadline to file amended tax return (Form 1040X) for tax year 2008 and still claim a tax refund. (Be sure to mail the amended return well before April 17th to make sure your tax refund will be processed in a timely manner. And be sure to obtain proof of mailing, such as a certified mail receipt.)
Deadline to file estate income tax or trust income tax returns (Form 1041) or to request an automatic 5-month extension of time to file (Form 7004).
Deadline to file partnership tax returns (Form 1065) or to request an automatic 5-month extension of time to file (Form 7004).
Final deadline for estates, trusts, or partnerships to file an amended tax return and still claim a tax refund for the year 2008.
May 16, 2012
Deadline for non-profit organizations to file information returns (Form 990), or request an extension (Form 8868).
June 15, 2012
2nd quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2012 tax year.
Deadline for US citizens living abroad to file individual tax returns and to pay any tax due. You can request an additional 4-month extension (Form 4868). (You can request an automatic extension by April 15th instead if you want to.) I provide useful information for claiming the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit, two tax breaks essential for Americans working abroad.
June 30, 2012
Deadline to file TD F 90-22.1 Report of Foreign Bank Accounts for the year 2011. This report is required if you have over $10,000 (in aggregate) held in foreign bank accounts.
September 17, 2012
3rd quarter estimated tax payments due for the 2012 tax year.Final deadline to file corporate tax returns if an extension was requested. (Forms 1120, 1120A, 1120S).
Final deadline to file trust income tax returns (Form 1041) if an extension was requested.
Final deadline to file partnership tax returns (Form 1065) if an extension was requested.
October 3, 2012
Final deadline for self-employed persons or employers to establish a SIMPLE IRA for the year 2011.
October 15, 2012
Final deadline to file individual tax returns (with extension).Last day the IRS will accept an electronically filed tax return for the year 2011. If filing after October 15th, you'll need to mail in your tax return for processing.
Final deadline to fund a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) for tax year 2011 if you requested an automatic extension of time to file.
November 2012
Start planning any year-end tax moves.
December 1, 2012
If you are covered by an HSA-compatible health insurance policy as of December 1st, you'll be eligible to contribute the full amount to a Health Savings Account for the year.
December 31, 2012
Last day to make any tax moves for the year 2011. Last day to set up a solo 401(k) for self-employed persons.Marital status on this date determines your marital status for the whole year.
