1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. US Business Law / Taxes

Filing Annual Wage and Tax Reports for Employees and Contractors
Deadlines for Annual Wage and Tax Reports

By Jean Murray, About.com

One of your duties as an employer is to provide reports to employees and independent contractors showing their income from the previous year. You must also file copies of these reports, along with summary reports, to the IRS and Social Security Administration (SSA), for verification purposes.

This article will discuss which forms must be filed and deadlines for these filings, along with specific instructions for completing the forms.

If any of these filing dates falls on a weekend or national holiday, the filings are due the first normal business day thereafter.

1. By January 31 - Provide Copies of Form W-2 to Employees

Learn how to prepare Form W-2 and how to submit to employees.

2. By January 31 - Provide Copies of 1099-MISC Forms to Independent Contractors

Learn how to prepare Form 1099-MISC forms for independent contractors.

3. By February 28 - File Form W-3 with Social Security Administration (with W-2s)

Learn how to prepare Form W-3 Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements and submit to the Social Security Administration, along with copies of W-2 forms for all employees.

4. By February 28 - File Form 1096 with Social Security (along with 1099s)

Learn how to prepare and submit Form 1096 (Annual Summary and Transmittal of Information Returns) to the Social Security Administration, along with copies of 1099-MISC forms you sent to independent contractors.

5. Late Filing Penalties for Wage/Tax Statements and Information Returns

Learn about the penalties for late filing of these returns and reports.
Explore US Business Law / Taxes
About.com Special Features

Start your new business on the right foot with these helpful tips. More >

Easy steps to take control of your credit card debt. More >

  1. Home
  2. Business & Finance
  3. US Business Law / Taxes
  4. Employment Law and Taxes
  5. Payroll Taxes
  6. End of Year Payroll Tax Report - Payroll Taxes>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.