Mark your calendars! The calendar year 2021 due dates for Tax Year 2020 tax returns is now available.  Whenever a regular tax filing date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal observed holiday in the District of Columbia, the due date for returns is pushed to the next business day. Please note there are a few due dates that have been adjusted for this occurrence.

For calendar year tax returns reporting 2020 information that are due in 2021, the following due dates will apply. Click here for a printable list of business 2021 due dates.

Form	2021 Tax Filing Due Dates (Tax Year 2020)
Form W-2 & 1099 NEC (electronic or mail)	February 1st
Form 1099-Misc	March 1st (paper file), March 31st (efile)
Form 1065 – Partnerships	March 15th
Form 1120-S – S Corporations	March 15th
Form 1040 – Individuals	April 15th
FinCEN 114 – FBAR (will be allowed to extend)	April 15th
Form 1041 – Trusts and Estates	April 15th
Form 1120 – C Corporations	April 15th
Form 990 Series – Tax Exempt Organizations	May 17th
Form 5500 Series – Employee Benefit Plan	August 2nd
Form 1065 Extended Return	September 15th
Form 1120-S Extended Return	September 15th
Form 1041 Extended Return	September 30th
Form 1120 Extended Return	October 15th
Form 1040 Extended Return	October 15th
FinCEN 114 (Extended with Form 1040)	October 15th
Form 5500 Series Extended Return	October 15th
Form 990 Series Extended Return	November 15th

For fiscal year filers:

• Partnership and S Corporation tax returns will be due the 15th day of the third month after the end of their fiscal tax year.
• C Corporation tax returns will be due the 15th day of the fourth month after the end of their fiscal tax year. A special rule to defer the due date change for C Corporations with fiscal years that end on June 30th defers this change until December 31, 2025.
• Employee Benefit Plan tax returns are due the last day of the seventh month after the plan year ends.

It is important to confirm when tax returns are due for all states in which taxpayers operate, because individual states may not conform to the Federal filing dates.

Estimated Tax Payment Due Dates

In addition to the statutory due dates listed above, estimated tax payments also have their own due date schedule. Often, taxpayers are confused on the due dates for estimated tax payments since they do not fall on a typical quarter end. The first quarter estimated tax payment is due the same time as the prior year’s tax or extension payment is due. The fourth quarter payment is due in the year following the tax year. This is practically the only time a payment made in a following year impacts the prior year tax return for cash basis taxpayers.

Our tax system is a “pay as you go” system, meaning that taxpayers are expected to pay in tax, on at least quarterly basis, for the income they have earned. If there is adequate withholding by employers, then this can be a seamless process. However, some taxpayers, especially those with dual incomes, fluctuating income or significant passive income or those who are high earners, or self-employed may find themselves under-withheld at tax time. In addition to a significant tax bill, these taxpayers may also find themselves with an underpayment penalty.

The due dates for estimated tax payments are listed below.

Estimated Tax Payments	Estimated Payment Due Date
1st Quarter	April 15th
2nd Quarter	June 15th
3rd Quarter	September 15th
4th Quarter	January 15th of the next year (1/17/22 for 2021 4Q)

If you have any questions about these due dates and the impact on your tax filings, please contact one of our qualified tax professionals.

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Written by: Erin Kidd, EA

Erin Kidd is the Tax Individual Practice Supervisor at Thompson Greenspon and has nearly a decade of tax experience specializing in individual taxation. Throughout her career, she has focused on simplifying complex tax issues and educating clients to maximize their tax benefits and plan for future events. Erin is responsible for the review of individual Federal and multi-state tax returns, managing the firm’s Military Spouse Remote Preparer Program, preparation of individual tax returns with international taxation and reporting requirements, and assisting with the resolution of client issues with Federal and State Taxing Authorities. 

Erin holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Morehead State University, is an Enrolled Agent, a federally licensed tax preparer who has unlimited rights to practice before the IRS, and an Accredited Financial Counselor ®. She has been recognized by the Garrison Commands of West Point, NY and Fort Leavenworth, KS for her contributions to the military community for her work with the installations’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Centers.