Tax deadlines do not care about your stress, your family, or your long workdays. They arrive on the same dates every year. You either meet them or you pay for missing them. Late filings trigger penalties, interest, and letters that keep you awake at night. Smart tax accountants treat five dates as nonnegotiable. They build calendars around them. They nudge, remind, and push until every form is in and every payment is sent. You deserve that same protection. You might use a trusted pro or a local team that offers Columbus Ohio tax services. You might try to manage on your own. Either way, you need to know which deadlines you cannot afford to ignore. This guide walks you through those five dates, why they matter, and what you must have ready before each one. You stay in control. The IRS does not.
1. April tax filing deadline for individuals
The April deadline is the one date you must circle in red. Most individuals file Form 1040 by this date. If you miss it and you owe tax, the IRS starts adding penalties and interest.
Here is what you need ready well before April:
- W-2s from each job
- 1099s for contract work, interest, dividends, or retirement income
- Child care records and school records if you claim credits
- Mortgage interest and property tax statements
- Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit or payment
You can ask for more time to file. You do that with Form 4868. You still must pay your best estimate of tax by the April deadline. The extension only moves the paperwork date. It does not move the payment date.
2. Quarterly estimated tax payment dates
If you are self-employed, a gig worker, or have income without withholding, you face four extra dates each year. These are your estimated tax deadlines. Many people ignore them. That mistake can drain savings later.
Quarterly payments usually come due in:
- April
- June
- September
- January of the next year
You use Form 1040 ES to figure and send these payments. Timely payments reduce or remove underpayment penalties. They also keep you from facing one large bill at tax time.
3. Extension filing deadlines
Sometimes life hits hard. A move. An illness. A new child. In those moments, you may not finish your return by April. An extension gives you more time to file a complete and accurate return.
Key points about extensions:
- You must request the extension by the April deadline
- You estimate and pay what you owe by April
- You usually receive six more months to file
An extension protects you from the failure-to-file penalty. It does not protect you from the failure-to-pay penalty. That is why tax accountants treat the April payment as a hard deadline, even when the return itself can wait.
4. Business return deadlines
If you own a small business, the calendar becomes more strict. Different business types have different due dates. Missing these can damage both the business and your personal finances.
Common business return deadlines include:
- Partnerships filing Form 1065
- S corporations filing Form 1120 S
- C corporations filing Form 1120
Many of these returns are due earlier in the year than your personal return. That early date gives you time to use the business results on your own Form 1040. Careful tax accountants track both sets of dates so your business and personal returns line up.
5. Retirement account and HSA contribution deadlines
Some of the most helpful tax moves come at the end of the year. Yet many people do not know that they still have time up to the April deadline to finish some of them.
You can often make contributions for the prior year to:
- Traditional IRAs
- Roth IRAs
- Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs
These deadlines matter for two reasons. First, some contributions cut your taxable income. Second, even when they do not, they still build future security. Missing the deadline means you lose a full year of growth for that money. That loss adds up over a working life.
Key deadlines at a glance
Use this simple table as a quick check. Dates can shift when they fall on weekends or holidays. You should always confirm current-year dates on the IRS site.
| Deadline | Who it affects | Main form or action | Risk if you miss it
|
|---|---|---|---|
| April individual filing date | Most wage earners and families | Form 1040 and payment | Failure to file and failure to pay penalties |
| Four estimated tax dates | Self employed and gig workers | Form 1040 ES and payment | Underpayment penalties and large year-end bill |
| Extension request date | Anyone who cannot file by April | Form 4868 | Higher failure to file penalties |
| Business return dates | Partnerships, S corps, C corps | Forms 1065, 1120 S, 1120 | Business penalties and delayed personal filing |
| IRA and HSA contribution date | Workers with eligible accounts | Contribution with clear year label | Lost tax benefits and lost year of growth |
How to keep your family on track
Tax rules can feel cold. Still, you can shield your household from many harsh outcomes with a basic plan. You do not need complex tools.
Use three simple steps.
- Put the five key dates on a family calendar that everyone sees
- Set reminders one month, one week, and one day before each date
- Gather tax records in one box or folder as they arrive each year
If the process still feels heavy, you can ask for help. Many communities offer free tax help through programs linked by the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and by local agencies.
The tax system can feel harsh, but it also follows clear rules. When you respect these five deadlines, you protect your money, your sleep, and your family’s sense of safety.
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