Like the image above says, tax season opens in just a few short days. As a tax professional, staying ahead of deadlines is crucial for both you and your clients. To that end, here’s a quick rundown of the key filing dates for the 2025 tax season (covering the 2024 tax year) that you should communicate to your clients:
Individual Income Tax Returns (Form 1040):
- Standard Filing Deadline: Tuesday, April 15, 2025. This is the big one! Remind clients that this is the “usual” deadline to file their individual income tax returns OR to file an extension (see below)!
- Extended Filing Deadline: Monday, October 15, 2025. Filing an extension via IRS Form 4868 gives taxpayers an extra six months to file their return, not to pay any taxes owed. Remember, an extension to FILE is not an extension to PAY. Payments on returns reflecting a balance are still due on April 15th.
Business Tax Returns (Forms 1120-S, 1065, 1120):
It’s important to differentiate between the various business structures when discussing tax deadlines. Here’s a look at some common ones:
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Form 1120-S (U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation):
- Filing Deadline: March 17, 2025, for calendar-year S corporations (the 15th falls on a weekend). S corporations must file by the 15th day of the third month after the end of their tax year.
- Extension to File (Form 7004): September 15, 2025. This grants an additional six months to file.
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Form 1065 (U.S. Return of Partnership Income):
- Filing Deadline: March 17, 2025, for calendar-year partnerships (the 15th falls on a weekend). Partnerships must file by the 15th day of the third month after the end of their tax year.
- Extension to File (Form 7004): September 15, 2025. This also provides an extra six months to file.
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Form 1120 (U.S. Corporate Income Tax Return):
- Filing Deadline: April 15, 2025, for calendar-year C corporations. C corporations must file by the 15th day of the fourth month after the end of their tax year.
- Extension to File (Form 7004): October 15, 2025. This allows an additional six months to file.
Estimated Tax Payments (Form 1040-ES):
For individuals who are self-employed, receive income from sources not subject to withholding, or expect to owe at least $1,000 in taxes, estimated tax payments are due each quarterly. The deadlines for 2024 income were/are:
- 1st Quarter: Monday, April 15, 2024
- 2nd Quarter: Monday, June 17, 2024
- 3rd Quarter: Monday, September 16, 2024
- 4th Quarter: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
If a person did not make estimated payments in 2024, there last opportunities to make a “timely” payment are with their return before April 15th 2025 or with their extension noted above.
Information Returns (1099s & W-2s):
If you operate a business and have either employees or contractors, filing these forms are crucial for reporting the amounts to these individuals. The deadlines for providing these to recipients are:
- Form W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement): January 31, 2025. Employers must provide W-2s to their employees by this date.
- Form 1099-NEC (Nonemployee Compensation): January 31, 2025. This form reports payments to independent contractors.
- Other 1099 Forms (e.g., 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV): January 31, 2025. These report various other types of income, such as interest, dividends, and rent.
Important Note for Businesses: The deadlines for filing these information returns with the IRS are also generally January 31st if filing paper copies. However, if filing electronically, the deadline is typically extended to February. Check the IRS instructions for specific deadlines for electronic filing each year.
Payroll Tax Filings (Forms 941, 944, 940):
- Form 941 (Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return): Due quarterly, generally on the last day of the month following the end of the quarter.
- Form 944 (Employer’s Annual Federal Tax Return): For smaller employers, due January 31, 2025.
- Form 940 (Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return): Due January 31, 2025.
Key Takeaway for Client Communication?
When communicating these dates to your clients, it’s important to emphasize gathering all the necessary documents early. This helps avoid last-minute scrambles and ensure timely filing. While most are aware of the April 15th deadline for individual income tax returns, they may be less familiar with that date also being the deadline for Q1 2025 estimated tax payments OR making an extension payment.
Also, don’t forget to remind clients who are self-employed or pay others for services to be aware of the 1099-NEC and other information return deadlines. Not filing them on time can carry penalties of up to $660 PER RETURN if the failure is determined to be willful.
By keeping these dates in mind and proactively communicating with your clients, you can help ensure a smooth and successful 2025 tax season for everyone!