Individual Tax Deadlines | Preferred Accounting

January 15, 2021

Make a payment of your estimated tax for 2020, if you didn’t pay your income tax for the year through withholding (or didn’t pay enough). Use Form 1040-ES or pay by credit card or by the electronic federal tax payment systems (EFTPS). This is the final installment date for 2020 estimated tax. However, you don’t have to make this payment if you file your 2020 return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due by February 2, 2021.

January 31, 2021

File your income tax return (Form 1040) for 2020 if you didn’t pay your last installment of estimated tax by January 15th. Filing your return now prevents any penalty for late payment of the last installment.

February 15, 2021

If you claimed exemption from income tax withholding for last year on the Form W-4 you gave your employer, you must file a new W-4 by this date to continue your exemption for another year.

April 15, 2021

File an income tax return for last year (form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ), and pay any tax due. Taxpayers who can’t make payments should request (on Form 9465) an agreement to pay in installments. If you want an automatic 6-month extension to file, file Form 4868 and estimate your tax or pay by credit card. Then file Form 1040 or Form 1040A by October 15th.
If you paid cash wages of $1,900 or more in 2020 to a household employee, you must file Schedule H with your income tax return (Form 1040) and report any employment taxes and withheld income taxes for those employees.
Contributions to an IRA for 2020 must be made by this date.
If you aren’t paying your 2020 income tax through withholding (or won’t pay in enough tax during the year that way), pay the first installment of your 2020 estimated tax by this date. Use Form 1040-ES or pay by credit card or by EFTPS.

June 15, 2021

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien living and working (or on military duty) outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, file your 2020 Form 1040 and pay any tax, interest and penalties due. Otherwise, see April 15th above. However, if you are a participant in a combat zone, you may be able to further extend the filing deadline.
Make the second installment payment of your 2020 estimated tax, if you aren’t paying your income tax for the year through withholding (or won’t pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES or pay by credit card or by EFTPS.

September 15, 2021

Make the third installment payment of your 2020 estimated tax, if you aren’t paying your income tax for the year through withholding (or won’t pay in enough tax that way). Use Form 1040-ES or pay by credit card or by EFTPS.

October 15, 2021

If you have an automatic 6-month extension to file your income tax return for 2020, file Form 1040 and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due.