By this time, you can tell that keeping track of payroll tax reporting and payments requires careful attention to detail. Setting up a yearly payroll tax calendar can help you avoid fines and penalties and keep you on track. Even if you have a CPA or bookkeeping service do your payroll taxes, you need to know when these taxes and reports are due.
The tax payment and report schedule below is for federal payroll taxes. Consult your state's taxing authority (department of revenue or other) for state and local payroll tax requirements.
Semi-Weekly
If you have a large payroll, you must make deposits semi-weekly (twice a week)**. Read more about the semi-weekly deposit rule to see if you must make these payments.
Monthly
Payroll tax deposits must be made by the 15th of each month** for the previous month, unless the semi-weekly rule applies (see above).
Quarterly
- Quarterly payroll tax reports on Form 941 are due the end of the month** after the end of each quarter. If you have made all payroll tax deposits on time and in full, you have until the 10th of the following month to submit Form 941.
- Federal unemployment tax deposits are due the end of the month** following each quarter, if the tax liability exceeds $500.
Yearly
- Annual Wage and Tax Statements to employees (on Form W-2) and contract workers (on Form 1099-MISC) are due the end of January** for the previous year.
- Federal unemployment tax report on Form 940 and tax deposit is due by the end of January**, for the previous year. If all tax deposits have been made in full and on time, the deadline is the 10th of the next month.
- Transmittals to Social Security on Form W-3 (along with all W-2's) and on Form 1096 (along with all 1099's) are due, by the end of February**, for the previous year.
Note on Payroll Tax Deposits: Payroll tax deposits must be made using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS); deposit coupons (Form 8109) are no longer accepted by the IRS.
You can use the tax calendar on this site as a starting point for your calendar.
**Tax payments and reports are due on the last day of the month or the 15th of the month. If that date is a weekend or holiday, the due date is the next business day. So, if the end of the month falls on a Saturday, the due date is the following Monday.
