2013 IRS Calendar and Deadlines

These IRS filing deadlines determine when you need to file your 2012 return and pay certain 2013 taxes

January 2013

• January 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for December 2012 must report them to their employer.
• January 15 – If you are not paying your 2012 taxes through withholding, you must pay the fourth and final installment of your 2012 estimated tax. However, you don’t have to pay this installment by January 15th if you file your 2012 return by January 31st.
• January 30 – The IRS starts processing both e-filed and paper 2012 returns.
• January 31 – If you are required to make estimated tax payments – but did not pay your last installment by January 15th – you can file your 2012 return and pay your tax liability by January 31st to avoid penalties for late payment of the last installment.

February 2013

• February 11 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for January must report them to their employer.
• February 15 – If you claimed an exemption from withholding on your W-4 last year, you must file a new W-4 to continue your exemption for the next year.

March 2013

• March 11 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for February must report them to their employer.

April 2013

• April 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for March must report them to their employer.
• April 15 – Tax Day – You must file your 2012 return by this date and pay any tax due OR request a six month extension to file your return and pay your estimated tax liability. Also if you are not paying your 2013 taxes through withholding, you must pay the first installment of your 2013 estimated tax.

May 2013

• May 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for April must report them to their employer.

June 2013

• June 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for May must report them to their employer.
• June 17 – This is the deadline for U.S. citizens or resident aliens living and working outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico (including military duty) to file their tax return and pay any tax due. Also, if you are not paying your 2013 taxes through withholding, you must pay the second installment of your 2013 estimated tax.

July 2013

• July 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for June must report them to their employer.

August 2013

• August 12 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for July must report them to their employer.

September 2013

• September 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for August must report them to their employer.
• September 16 – If you are not paying your 2013 taxes through withholding, you must pay the third installment of your estimated tax.

October 2013

• October 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for September must report them to their employer.
• October 15 – If you requested a six month extension to file your 2012 return it is due on this date as well as any tax due. This is the last chance to e-file 2013 taxes.

November 2013

• November 12 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for October must report them to their employer.

December 2013

• December 10 – Employees who received $20 or more in tips for November must report them to their employer.

What happens if you don’t abide by the deadlines listed above? Nothing, if you’re due a refund. The government just keeps your money longer than it has to. But if you owe the government money, you may have to pay a failure-to-file penalty, a failure-to-pay penalty, and/or interest.

Don’t get caught unaware by one of these deadlines. Get your taxes in to the IRS now before you get slammed with penalties and interest.

Photo via 401(K) 2012 on Flickr.