Important Tax Deadlines to Keep on Your Calendar

Tax deadlines do not stop after April. For individuals and business owners, staying ahead of estimated payments, extension deadlines, and year-end reporting dates can help prevent penalties and last-minute stress.

At Aulds, Duchesne & Griggs (ADG), we encourage clients to treat tax planning as a year-round process. Here are several important federal and Louisiana deadlines to keep in mind.

March 15: Partnership and S-Corp Tax Returns

For many calendar-year partnerships and S corporations, tax returns are generally due in March. This is also the deadline to provide Schedule K-1 information to partners and shareholders. Business owners should begin organizing bookkeeping records, payroll reports, contractor payments, and year-end documents well before this deadline.

April 15: Individual Tax Returns and First Estimated Payment

Federal individual income-tax returns are generally due April 15. If you need more time to prepare your federal return, you can generally request an extension by this date. Remember: an extension provides more time to file, not more time to pay.

April 15 is also generally the due date for the first estimated tax payment of the year. This deadline can be especially important for self-employed individuals, investors, landlords, retirees, and business owners with income not fully covered by payroll withholding. IRS guidance on estimated tax payments

June 15: Second Estimated Tax Payment

The second federal estimated tax payment is generally due June 15. If you earn income outside of regular W-2 wages, making this payment on time can help you stay current and reduce the risk of underpayment penalties at tax filing time. IRS guidance on estimated tax payments

September 15: Third Estimated Payment and Business Extensions

The third federal estimated tax payment is generally due September 15. If you have self-employment income, investment income, rental income, business income, or other income not fully covered by payroll withholding, making this payment on time can help reduce the risk of underpayment penalties. IRS guidance on estimated tax payments

September 15 is also generally the extended filing deadline for calendar-year partnerships and S corporations that properly filed a business tax extension. This is an important deadline because partners and shareholders need their Schedule K-1 information to complete their individual tax returns accurately.

October 15: Federal Extension Deadline

If you filed a valid federal extension for your individual income-tax return, October 15 is generally your deadline to file. Remember: an extension provides more time to file, not more time to pay. Any federal tax owed is generally due by the original April filing deadline. IRS guidance on filing deadlines

November: Louisiana Extension Deadline

Louisiana individual income-tax returns are generally due in May, with an automatic six-month extension available for many taxpayers. The extended Louisiana filing deadline typically falls in November. Tax due should still be paid by the original May deadline to help reduce penalties and interest. Tax deadline planning guidance

January 15: Final Estimated Tax Payment

The fourth estimated tax payment is generally due January 15 of the following year. This deadline is especially important for business owners, independent contractors, investors, and retirees with income that is not subject to regular withholding. IRS estimated tax FAQs

January 31: Year-End Payroll and Contractor Reporting

Employers should also plan ahead for year-end reporting. Forms W-2 are generally due to employees and the Social Security Administration by January 31. Businesses that made qualifying payments to independent contractors may also need to issue and file Forms 1099-NEC by January 31.

Keeping clean books, tracking income throughout the year, and reviewing estimated tax payments before each deadline can make tax season much more manageable. If you need help building a tax calendar or reviewing your projected tax liability, contact ADG to get started.