Tax Calendar

First Quarter

• January 12: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during December must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• January 15: Make a payment of your estimated tax for the last quarter of 2003 if you did not pay enough income tax through withholding (see page 302). Use Form 1040-ES. You don't have to make this payment if you file your 2003 tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due by February 2, 2004.
  Farmers and fisherman must pay estimated tax for 2003 using Form 1040-ES. You have until April 15 to file your 2003 income tax return on Form 1040. If you don't pay your estimated tax by this date, you must file your 2003 return and pay any tax due by March 1, 2004 to avoid an estimated tax penalty.
   
• February 2: File your income tax return (Form 1040) for 2003 if you didn't pay your last installment of estimated tax by January 15. This will avoid any penalty for late payment of the last installment.
  All employers must give copies B, C, and 2 of Form W-2 for 2003 to each employee, including household employees.
  All businesses must give annual information statements to recipients of payments you made during 2003, on the appropriate version of Form 1099 or other information return. Payments that are included are:
  • compensation for independent contractors
  • 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
  • cash payments over $10,000
• February 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during January must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• March 1: Businesses must file information returns (Form 1099) with the IRS for certain payments you made during 2003, as described under February 2. Use a separate Form 1096 to summarize and transmit the forms for each type of payment.
  If you file Forms 1098, 1099 or W-2G electronically (not by magnetic media), your due date for filing them will be extended to March 31, 2004.
  Employers must file copy A of all W-2 forms and one W-3 transmittal form with the Social Security Administration. If you file electronically, your due date is extended to March 31.
  Farmers and fishermen must file their 2003 income tax return (Form 1040) to avoid an underpayment penalty if they owe estimated tax. However, they have until April 15 to file if they paid their 2003 estimated tax by January 15, 2004.
   
• March 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during February must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• March 31: If you file Forms 1098, 1099, W-2 or W-2G electronically, this is the due date for filing them with the IRS. The due date for giving the payment recipient a copy of the form is still February 2.

Second Quarter

• April 12: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during March must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• April 15: File an income tax return for 2003 (Form 1040EZ, 1040A, or 1040) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic four-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Then file your tax form by August 16. If you need an additional 2 month extension, file Form 2688, Application for Additional Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, as soon as possible so the IRS can respond before August 16.
  If you paid cash wages of $1,400 or more in 2003 to a household worker, file Schedule H (Form 1040) with your income tax return and report any 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 2002 or 2003 to household employees. Also report any income tax you withheld for your household employees.
  Pay the first installment of estimated tax, using Form 1040-ES.
   
• May 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during April must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• June 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during May must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• June 15: Make your second installment of quarterly estimated income tax on Form 1040-ES.
  If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien living, working, or on military duty outside the U.S. or Puerto Rico, file Form 1040 and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due.

Third Quarter

• July 12: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during June must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• August 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during July must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• August 16: If you have an automatic 4-month extension to file your income tax return for 2003, file Form 1040EZ, 1040A, or 1040 and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due. If you need an extra two-month extension, file Form 2688.
   
• September 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during August must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• September 15: Third payment of quarterly estimated tax is due, on Form 1040-ES.

Fourth Quarter

• October 12: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during September must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• October 15: File a 2003 income tax return and pay any tax due if you were given an additional two-month extension.
   
• November 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during October must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.
   
• December 10: Employees who work for tips and received $20 or more in tips during November must report them to their employers. Form 4070, Employee's Report of Tips to Employer, can be used.

Fiscal Year Taxpayers

• If you are using a fiscal year as your tax accounting period, Form 1040 is due on the 15th day of the fourth month after the end of your tax year. Estimated tax payment are due on the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, and 9th months of your tax year and on the 15th day of the first month after the end of your tax year.