DUE DATE REMINDERS
Find important due dates for individuals and businesses in this section each month.May 2012 Individual Due Date Reminders
May 10 - Report Tips to EmployerIf you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during April, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 no later than May 10. Your employer is required to withhold FICA taxes and income tax withholding for these tips from your regular wages. If your regular wages are insufficient to cover the FICA and tax withholding, the employer will report the amount of the uncollected withholding in box 12 of your W-2 for the year. You will be required to pay the uncollected withholding when your return for the year is filed.
May 31 - Final Due Date for IRA Trustees to Issue Form 5498
Final due date for IRA trustees to issue Form 5498, providing IRA owners with the fair market value (FMV) of their IRA accounts as of December 31, 2011. The FMV of an IRA on the last day of the prior year (Dec 31, 2011) is used to determine the required minimum distribution (RMD) that must be taken from the IRA if you are age 70½ or older during 2012. If you are age 70½ or older during 2012 and need assistance determining your RMD for the year, please give this office a call. Otherwise, no other action is required and the Form 5498 can be filed away with your other tax documents for the year.
May 2012 Business Due Date Reminders
May 10 - Social Security, Medicare and Withheld Income TaxFile Form 941 for the first quarter of 2012. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time.
May 15 - Employer’s Monthly Deposit Due
If you are an employer and the monthly deposit rules apply, May 15 is the due date for you to make your deposit of Social Security, Medicare and withheld income tax for April 2012. This is also the due date for the non-payroll withholding deposit for April 2012 if the monthly deposit rule applies.
April 2012 Individual Due Dates
April 2 - Last Day to Withdraw Required Minimum Distribution
Last day to withdraw 2011’s required minimum distribution from Traditional or SEP IRAs for taxpayers who turned 70½ in 2011. Failing to make a timely withdrawal may result in a penalty equal to 50% of the amount that should have been withdrawn. Taxpayers who became 70½ before 2011 were required to make their 2011 IRA withdrawal by December 31, 2011.
April 10 - Report Tips to Employer
If you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during March, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 no later than April 10. Your employer is required to withhold FICA taxes and income tax withholding for these tips from your regular wages. If your regular wages are insufficient to cover the FICA and tax withholding, the employer will report the amount of the uncollected withholding in box 12 of your W-2 for the year. You will be required to pay the uncollected withholding when your return for the year is filed.
April 17 - Individual Tax Returns Due
File a 2011 income tax return (Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic six-month extension of time to file the return, please call this office.
Caution: The extension gives you until October 15, 2012 to file your 2011 1040 return without being liable for the late filing penalty. However, it does not avoid the late payment penalty; thus, if you owe money, the late payment penalty can be severe, so you are encouraged to file as soon as possible to minimize that penalty. Also, you will owe interest, figured from the original due date until the tax is paid. If you have a refund, there is no penalty; however, you are giving the government a free loan, since they will only pay interest starting 45 days after the return is filed. Please call this office to discuss your individual situation if you are unable to file by the April 17 due date.
April 17 - Household Employer Return Due
If you paid cash wages of $1,700 or more in 2011 to a household employee, you must file Schedule H. If you are required to file a federal income tax return (Form 1040), file Schedule H with the return and report any household employment taxes. Report any federal unemployment (FUTA) tax on Schedule H if you paid total cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter of 2010 or 2011 to household employees. Also, report any income tax that was withheld for your household employees. For more information, please call this office.
April 17 - Estimated Tax Payment Due (Individuals)
It’s time to make your first quarter estimated tax installment payment for the 2012 tax year. Our tax system is a “pay-as-you-go” system. To facilitate that concept, the government has provided several means of assisting taxpayers in meeting the “pay-as-you-go” requirement. These include:
- Payroll withholding for employers;
- Pension withholding for retirees; and
- Estimated tax payments for self-employed individuals and those with other sources of income not covered by withholding.
Federal tax law does provide ways to avoid the underpayment penalty. If the underpayment is less than the $1,000 de-minimis amount, no penalty is assessed. In addition, the law provides "safe harbor" prepayments. There are two safe harbors:
- The first safe harbor is based on the tax owed in the current year. If your payments equal or exceed 90% of what is owed in the current year, you can escape a penalty.
- The second safe harbor is based on the tax owed in the immediately preceding tax year. This safe harbor is generally 100% of the prior year’s tax liability. However, for higher-income taxpayers whose AGI exceeds $150,000 ($75,000 for married taxpayers filing separately), the prior year’s safe harbor is 110%.
However, in the above example, the safe harbor may still apply. Assume your prior year’s tax was $5,000. Since you prepaid $5,600, which is greater than the 110% of the prior year’s tax (110% = $5,500), you qualify for this safe harbor and can escape the penalty.
This example underscores the importance of making sure your prepayments are adequate, especially if you have a large increase in income. This is common when there is a large gain from the sale of stocks, sale of property, when large bonuses are paid, when a taxpayer retires, etc. Timely payment of each required estimated tax installment is also a requirement to meet the safe harbor exception to the penalty. If you have questions regarding your safe harbor estimates, please call this office as soon as possible.
CAUTION: Some state de-minimis amounts and safe harbor estimate rules are different than those for the Federal estimates. Please call this office for particular state safe harbor rules.
April 17 - Last Day to Make Contributions
Last day to make contributions to Traditional and Roth IRAs for tax year 2011.
April 2012 Business Due Dates
April 2 - Electronic Filing of Forms 1098, 1099 and W-2GIf you file forms 1098, 1099, or W-2G electronically with the IRS, this is the final due date. This due date applies only if you file electronically (not paper forms). Otherwise, February 28 was the due date. The due date for giving the recipient these forms was January 31.
April 17 - Social Security, Medicare and Withheld Income Tax
If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in March.
April 17 - Non-Payroll Withholding
If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in March.
April 17 - Corporations
The first installment of 2012 estimated tax of a calendar year corporation is due.
April 17 - Partnerships
File a 2011-calendar year return (Form 1065). Provide each partner with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., or a substitute Schedule K-1. If you want an automatic 5-month extension of time to file the return and provide Schedules K-1 or a substitute Schedules K-1 to the partners, file Form 7004. Then, file Form 1065 and provide the K-1s to the partners by September 15.
March 2012 Individual Due Dates
March 1 - Farmers and FishermenFile your 2011 income tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due. However, you have until April 17 to file if you paid your 2011 estimated tax by January 17, 2012.
March 12 - Report Tips to Employer
If you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during February, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 no later than March 12.
Your employer is required to withhold FICA taxes and income tax withholding for these tips from your regular wages. If your regular wages are insufficient to cover the FICA and tax withholding, the employer will report the amount of the uncollected withholding in box 12 of your W-2 for the year. You will be required to pay the uncollected withholding when your return for the year is filed.
March 15 - Time to Call For Your Tax Appointment
It is only one month until the April due date for your tax returns. If you have not made an appointment to have your taxes prepared, we encourage you do so before it becomes too late.
Do not be concerned about having all your information available before making the appointment. If you do not have all your information, we will simply make a list of the missing items. When you receive those items, just forward them to us.
Even if you think you might need to go on extension, it is best to prepare the return and estimate the result so you can pay the tax and minimize interest and penalties. We can then file the extension for you.
We look forward to hearing from you.
March 2012 Business Due Dates
March 15 - Social Security, Medicare and Withheld Income TaxIf the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in February.
March 15 - Non-Payroll Withholding
If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in February.
March 15 - Corporations
File a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120 or 1120-A) and pay any tax due. If you need an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information and Other Returns, and deposit what you estimate you owe. Filing this extension protects you from late filing penalties but not late payment penalties, so it is important that you estimate your liability and deposit it using the instructions on Form 7004.
March 15 - S-Corporation Election
File Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, to choose to be treated as an S corporation beginning with calendar year 2011. If Form 2553 is filed late, S treatment will begin with calendar year 2013.
March 15 - Electing Large Partnerships
Provide each partner with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065-B), Partner’s Share of Income (Loss) From an Electing Large Partnership, or a substitute Schedule K-1. This due date is effective for the first March 15 following the close of the partnership’s tax year. The due date of March 15 applies even if the partnership requests an extension of time to file the Form 1065-B by filing Form 7004.
February 2012 Individual Due Dates
February 1 - Tax AppointmentIf you don’t already have an appointment scheduled with this office, you should call to make an appointment that is convenient for you.
February 10 - Report Tips to Employer
If you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during January, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 no later than February 10.
Your employer is required to withhold FICA taxes and income tax withholding for these tips from your regular wages. If your regular wages are insufficient to cover the FICA and tax withholding, the employer will report the amount of the uncollected withholding in box 12 of your W-2 for the year. You will be required to pay the uncollected withholding when your return for the year is filed.
February 15 - Last Date to Claim Exemption from Withholding
If you claimed an exemption from income tax withholding last year on the Form W-4 you gave your employer, you must file a new Form W-4 by this date to continue your exemption for another year.
February 2012 Business Due Dates
February 10 - Non-Payroll TaxesFile Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2011 on all non-payroll items. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.
February 10 - Social Security, Medicare and Withheld Income Tax
File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 2011. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time.
February 10 - Certain Small Employers
File Form 944 to report Social Security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2011. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.
February 10 - Farm Employers
File Form 943 to report Social Security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2011. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.
February 10 - Federal Unemployment Tax
File Form 940 for 2011. This due date applies only if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.
February 15 - Social Security, Medicare and Withheld Income Tax
If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in January.
February 15 - Non-Payroll Withholding
If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in January.
February 16 - All Employers
Begin withholding income tax from the pay of any employee who claimed exemption from withholding in 2011, but did not give you a new Form W-4 to continue the exemption this year.
February 28 - Payers of Gambling Winnings
File Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns, along with Copy A of all the Forms W-2G you issued for 2011. If you file Forms W-2G electronically, your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to April 2. The due date for giving the recipient these forms was January 31.
February 28 - Informational Returns Filing Due
File information returns (Form 1099) and transmittal Forms 1096 for certain payments you made during 2011. There are different forms for different types of payments. These are government filing copies for the 1099s issued to service providers and others (see January 31).
If you file Forms 1098, 1099, or W-2G electronically, your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to April 2. The due date for giving the recipient these forms was January 31.
February 29 - All Employers
File Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, along with Copy A of all the Forms W-2 you issued for 2011. If you file Forms W-2 electronically, your due date for filing them with the SSA will be extended to April 2. The due date for giving the recipient these forms was January 31.
February 29 - Large Food and Beverage Establishment Employers
File Form 8027, Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips. Use Form 8027-T, Transmittal of Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, to summarize and transmit Forms 8027 if you have more than one establishment. If you file Forms 8027 electronically, your due date for filing them with the IRS will be extended to April 2.
January 2012 Individual Due Dates
January 3 - Time to Call For Your Tax AppointmentJanuary is the beginning of tax season. If you have not made an appointment to have your taxes prepared, we encourage you do so before the calendar becomes too crowded.
January 10 - Report Tips to Employer
If you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during December, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 no later than January 10.
January 17 - Individual Estimated Tax Payment Due
It’s time to make your fourth quarter estimated tax installment payment for the 2011 tax year. Generally, this due date is January 15, but when the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal legal holiday, it is not due until the next business day.
January 17 - Farmers & Fishermen Estimated Tax Payment Due
If you are a farmer or fisherman whose gross income for 2010 or 2011 is two-thirds from farming or fishing, it is time to pay your estimated tax for 2011 using Form 1040-ES. You have until April 17, 2012 to file your 2011 income tax return (Form 1040). Generally, this due date is January 15, but when the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal legal holiday, it is not due until the next business day. If you do not pay your estimated tax by January 17, you must file your 2011 return and pay any tax due by March 1, 2012 to avoid an estimated tax penalty.
January 31 - File 2011 Return to Avoid Penalty for Not Making 4th Quarter Estimated Payments File 2011
Return to Avoid Penalty for Not Making 4th Quarter Estimated Payment If you file your prior year’s return and pay any tax due by this date, you need not make the 4th Quarter Estimated Tax Payment (January calendar).
January 2012 Business Due Dates
January 17 - Employer’s Monthly Deposit DueIf you are an employer and the monthly deposit rules apply, January 17 is the due date for you to make your deposit of Social Security, Medicare and withheld income tax for December 2011. This is also the due date for the nonpayroll withholding deposit for December 2011 if the monthly deposit rule applies. Generally, this due date is January 15, but when the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal legal holiday, it is not due until the next business day. As of 1/1/11, federal employment tax deposits must be made electronically (no more paper coupons), except employers with a deposit liability under $2,500 for a return period may remit payments quarterly or annually with the return.
January 31 - 1099s Due To Service Providers
If you are a business or rental property owner and paid $600 or more for the services of individuals (other than employees) during a tax year, you are required to provide Form 1099 to those workers by January 31st. "Services" can mean everything from labor, professional fees and materials, to rents on property. In order to avoid a penalty, copies of the 1099s need to be sent to the IRS by February 28, 2012 (April 2, 2012 if filed electronically). They must be submitted on optically scannable (OCR) forms. This firm prepares 1099s in OCR format for submission to the IRS with the 1096 submittal form. This service provides both recipient and file copies for your records. Please call this office for preparation assistance.
Payments that may be covered include the following:
- Cash payments for fish (or other aquatic life) purchased from anyone engaged in the trade or business of catching fish
- Compensation for workers who are not considered employees (including fishing boat proceeds to crew members)
- Dividends and other corporate distributions
- Interest
- Amounts paid in real estate transactions
- Rent
- Royalties
- Amounts paid in broker and barter exchange transactions
- Payments to attorneys
- Payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members
- Profit-sharing distributions
- Retirement plan distributions
- Original issue discount
- Prizes and awards
- Medical and health care payments
- Debt cancellation (treated as payment to debtor)
January 31 - W-2 Due to All Employees
All employers need to give copies of the W-2 form for 2011 to their employees. If an employee agreed to receive their W-2 form electronically, post it on a website and notify the employee of the posting.
January 31 - File Form 941 and Deposit Any Undeposited Tax
File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 2011. Deposit any undeposited Social Security, Medicare and withheld income tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.
January 31 - Certain Small Employers
File Form 944 to report Social Security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2011. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is $2,500 or more for 2011 but less than $2,500 for the fourth quarter, deposit any undeposited tax or pay it in full with a timely filed return.
January 31 - File Form 943
All farm employers should file Form 943 to report Social Security, Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2011. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.
January 31 - W-2G Due from Payers of Gambling Winnings
If you paid either reportable gambling winnings or withheld income tax from gambling winnings, give the winners their copies of the W-2G form for 2011.
January 31 - File Form 940
Federal Unemployment Tax File Form 940 (or 940-EZ) for 2011. If your undeposited tax is $500 or less, you can either pay it with your return or deposit it. If it is more than $500, you must deposit it. However, if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.
January 31 - File Form 945
File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2011 on all non-payroll items, including back-up withholding and withholding on pensions, annuities, IRAs, gambling winnings, and payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.
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