Below is a list of important tax related dates for 2008 Use these dates to mark your calendar with useful information about tax-season. Dates are organized chronologically and categorized by quarter.

First Quarter

January 10: 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 2007 if you did not pay enough income tax through withholding. Use Form 1040-ES. To avoid this payment, file your 2007 tax return and pay any tax due by January 31.

Farmers and fisherman must pay estimated tax for 2007 using Form 1040-ES. You have until April 15 to file your 2007 income tax return on Form 1040. If you don't pay your estimated tax by this date, you must file your 2007 return and pay any tax due by March 1, 2008 to avoid an estimated tax penalty.

January 31: File your income tax return (Form 1040) for 2007 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 2007 to each employee, including household employees.

All businesses must give annual information statements to recipients of payments you made during 2007, on the appropriate version of Form 1099 or other information return. See examples of 1099 payments.

February 12: 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 2007 (description of 1099 payment types). Use a separate Form 1096 to summarize and transmit the forms for each type of payment.

Employers must file copy A of all W-2 forms and one W-3 transmittal form with the Social Security Administration.

Farmers and fishermen must file their 2007 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 2007 estimated tax by January 15, 2008.

March 12: 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.

Second Quarter

April 10: 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 16: (since April 15 is a Sunday, tax day is Monday April 16 this year). File an income tax return for 2007 (Form 1040EZ, 1040A, or 1040) and pay any tax due. InstaFILE is the fastest, cheapest way to file. E-File Online Now.

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 October 15.

If you paid cash wages of $1,400 or more in 2007 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 2007 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 11: 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.

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 17: Third payment of quarterly estimated tax is due, on Form 1040-ES.

Fourth Quarter

October 10: 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 2007 income tax return and pay any tax due if you were given an extension.

November 12: 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.