#tax-deadlines
Tax Deadlines
Important tax filing deadlines and compliance dates to remember
How to File Previous Year Taxes: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
A practical step-by-step guide to filing late or unfiled tax returns — covering how to gather prior-year documents, use the correct IRS forms, handle outstanding balances, and request First-Time Abatement.
How to File a State Income Tax Extension: A Complete Guide
A state income tax extension is not automatic in most states—this guide covers which states require separate forms, how to estimate and pay taxes owed by the original deadline, and how to avoid late-filing penalties.
How to File Taxes Late: What to Do When You've Missed the Deadline
A step-by-step guide to filing a late federal tax return—what failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties actually cost, how to set up an IRS payment plan, and how to request First-Time Penalty Abatement to eliminate hundreds of dollars in penalties.
How to Pay Small Business Taxes: A Complete Guide
A practical guide to small business taxes covering income tax, self-employment tax (15.3%), payroll taxes, 2026 quarterly estimated payment deadlines, IRS payment methods, and strategies to reduce your tax burden.
IRS CP504 Notice: What It Means and What to Do Next
IRS Notice CP504 is a formal Notice of Intent to Levy — learn what triggers it, where it falls in the IRS collection sequence, and six actionable options to resolve your tax debt before the 30-day deadline passes.
IRS Form 2553: The Complete Guide to Electing S Corporation Status
Filing IRS Form 2553 by the March deadline lets profitable small businesses and LLCs elect S-corp status, potentially saving over $12,000 annually by shielding distributions from the 15.3% self-employment tax.
IRS Form 7004: The Complete Guide to Business Tax Extensions
IRS Form 7004 grants businesses an automatic six-month filing extension—but it doesn't extend your payment deadline. Learn the 2026 deadlines by entity type, how to complete the form correctly, and the per-partner penalties that kick in when you miss the cutoff.
IRS Form 944: The Small Business Owner's Guide to the Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return
IRS Form 944 lets eligible small employers with $1,000 or less in annual employment tax liability file payroll taxes once a year instead of quarterly — cutting compliance from four returns to one. Learn who qualifies, how to fill it out, deposit schedules, and how to avoid penalties.
IRS Form W-2: The Complete Guide for Employers and Employees
IRS Form W-2 reports annual wages and withheld taxes for every employee — this guide covers who must file, 2026 deadlines (February 2), penalty amounts up to $630 per form, a box-by-box breakdown, and what to do if your W-2 is missing or incorrect.
IRS Penalties: A Complete Guide to Types, Rates, and How to Get Relief
IRS penalties range from 0.5% to 75% of unpaid taxes depending on type—learn the six main categories, current 2026 rates, safe harbor rules, and how to request first-time abatement or reasonable cause relief.
New York State Business Taxes: A Complete Guide for Small Business Owners
New York businesses may owe taxes to three entities simultaneously—state, city, and the MCTD. Covers corporation franchise tax rates, LLC filing fees, NYC GCT and UBT, MCTMT thresholds, quarterly estimated payment deadlines, and key credits for NY small business owners.
1099 Reporting Requirements: The Complete Guide for Small Businesses
The reporting threshold for 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC forms rises to $2,000 in 2026. Learn which forms to file, key deadlines, how to collect W-9s, and how to avoid IRS penalties that can reach $680 per form.