Business tax deadline guide for 2025

The deadlines for the 2025 tax year vary depending on your business type. Corporations filing Form 1120, for example, must meet the April 15, 2025, deadline, while partnerships and S corporations filing Forms 1065 and 1120-S are due by March 17, 2025. By keeping track of the deadlines, you can make sure your business is tax-compliant.

Key rules and considerations for tax deadlines

Missing a deadline doesn't just mean late fees—it can also result in penalties that grow over time. This makes it harder for your business to stay on top of your obligations. For instance, the IRS charges a penalty of 0.5% of unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month your payment is late, up to a maximum of 25%.

Federal tax deadlines and holiday schedules

When a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday like Independence Day or Thanksgiving, it automatically moves to the next business day. This gives you a little extra time to file or pay. For 2025, most deadlines, like the April 15 filing date for corporations, fall on weekdays, so no adjustments are needed.

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Legal holidays in Washington, D.C., can also affect federal deadlines nationwide, including IRS deadlines. The IRS incorporates these changes into their schedule, so it's important to update yourself with deadlines every year.

Tax law updates for 2025

To account for inflation, the IRS has increased the standard deduction across all filing categories. Married couples filing jointly can now claim $30,000, an $800 increase from 2024. Heads of households see their deduction rise to $22,500, up $600 from the previous year.

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Single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately will benefit from a $15,000 deduction, an increase of $400. Compared to 2024, these changes offer slightly higher deductions, allowing taxpayers to shield more of their taxable income.

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Additionally, income tax brackets have been adjusted for inflation. For example, the 35% tax rate now applies to single filers earning over $250,525 and married couples filing jointly earning over $501,050.

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Apart from higher tax deductions, contribution limits for 401(k) plans have also increased. Now, you can contribute up to $23,500, which is an increase of $500 compared to 2024. This increase also applies to those participating in 403(b), governmental 457 plans, and the federal government's Thrift Savings Plan.  

Disaster relief and deadline extensions

If your area is declared a federal disaster zone, you may automatically get extra time to file tax returns and make payments. These extensions often apply to income tax returns, business tax returns, estimated tax payments, and payroll taxes. This gives you time to focus on recovery without worrying about late fees or penalties.

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In 2024, the IRS granted tax extensions to areas hit by hurricanes and wildfires, allowing taxpayers to delay deadlines by several months. Similar relief is expected in 2025 for disaster-prone areas. Extensions usually last at least 60 days after the disaster is declared.

Federal business income tax return deadlines

Your tax filing dates vary based on your structure, as each business entity follows unique tax rules and reporting requirements. For example, corporations file directly based on their fiscal year, while pass-through entities like partnerships and S corporations must file earlier to allow business owners time to report income. Sole proprietors align their filings with individual income tax return deadlines.

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For C corporations, if you operate on a calendar year, your federal tax return (Form 1120) is due by April 15, 2025. If your corporation follows a fiscal year, the deadline is the 15th day of the fourth month after the fiscal year ends. For example, if your fiscal year ends on June 30, 2024, your return is due October 15, 2025.

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S corporations must file Form 1120-S by the 15th day of the third month after their tax year ends. S corps operating on a calendar year must file by March 17, 2025. You also need to issue Schedule K-1s to shareholders by this date.

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Partnerships and limited liability companies follow the same timeline as S corporations. If you're operating on a calendar year, you must file Form 1065 and provide Schedule K-1s to partners by March 17, 2025.

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If you're a sole proprietor or self-employed, you report business income and expenses on Schedule C, filed with your personal tax return (Form 1040). For 2025, the deadline for filing is April 15, 2025. You can request a six-month extension to file by October 15, 2025, but any taxes owed must still be paid by the original April deadline.

Estimated tax payment deadlines for 2025

These payment deadlines are important if you earn income and are not subject to tax withholding. Instead of filing once a year, you pay taxes throughout the year as you earn income. This "pay-as-you-go" system helps you meet your tax obligations and avoid penalties for underpayment.

Quarterly deadlines for corporations

Corporations are required to make estimated tax payments quarterly if they expect to owe $500 or more in federal taxes for the year. These payments ensure taxes are paid incrementally, avoiding a large lump sum at the end of the tax year.

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For tax year 2025, the quarterly deadlines between the first quarter and fourth quarter for corporate estimated tax payments are as follows:

• April 15, 2025
• June 16, 2025
• September 15, 2025
• January 15, 2026

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Corporations must e-file these payments using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

Quarterly deadlines for pass-through entities and sole proprietors

Sole proprietorships or pass-through entities, like a LLC, partnership or S corporation, don't pay taxes directly. This means that the businesses don't pay taxes at the entity level. Instead, the tax responsibility belongs to the owners, who must report their income and pay taxes on time.

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For tax year 2025, the quarterly tax payment deadlines are as follows:

• April 15, 2025
• June 16, 2025
• September 15, 2025
• January 15, 2026

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These corporate tax returns apply if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal taxes for the year.

Payroll tax deadlines for employers

Payroll taxes are mandatory taxes employers withhold from their employees' wages and pay directly to the government. These include federal income taxes, as well as FICA taxes. Employers are also responsible for contributing to federal unemployment taxes (FUTA). These taxes fund essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits.

Deposit schedules for FICA taxes

FICA taxes include Social Security and Medicare taxes, which you must withhold from your employee's wages and match with your own contributions. The IRS assigns deposit schedules based on your total payroll tax liability during the "lookback period." This period usually covers the 12 months ending on June 30 of the previous year.

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You must follow a monthly deposit schedule if your tax liability during the lookback period is $50,000 or less. This means you need to deposit FICA taxes by the 15th of the month following the payroll period. For example, taxes withheld in January are due by February 15.

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If your tax liability exceeds $50,000, you will follow a semiweekly deposit schedule. For payroll on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, deposits are due the following Wednesday. For payroll on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, deposits are due the following Friday.

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Missing a deadline can result in penalties, starting at 2% of the unpaid amount for deposits made 1–5 days late. To avoid penalties, you should make your FICA tax payments on time using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

Employment tax form filing deadlines

The employment tax forms report the payroll taxes you withhold, pay, or owe for your employees. The tax due dates depend on the form and reporting period.

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Form 941 is the Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return. It's due at the end of the month following the close of each calendar quarter. For tax year 2025, the deadlines are:

• April 30, 2025
• July 31, 2025
• October 31, 2025
• January 31, 2026

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If you deposit all taxes on time, you may qualify for an extra 10 days to file.

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If you employ farmworkers, you'll need to file Form 943 annually. The deadline for 2024 taxes is January 31, 2025, or February 12, 2025, if you deposit all taxes on time.

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Smaller employers who withhold less than $1,000 in payroll taxes can file Form 944, an annual return. This 2024 tax form is also due by January 31, 2025, with the same February 12 extension for timely deposits.

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If you withhold income taxes on non-wage payments, like pensions or gambling winnings, you must file Form 945. The last day to file for 2024 is January 31, 2025, or February 12 with timely deposits.

Unemployment tax (FUTA) payments

The Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) is a tax that you, as an employer, pay to help fund unemployment benefits for workers. Unlike other payroll taxes, FUTA is not deducted from your employee's wages. You calculate and pay this tax based on the first $7,000 of each employee's annual wages.

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For tax year 2025, you must make quarterly FUTA payments if your liability exceeds $500 in any quarter. The payment deadlines are as follows:

• April 15, 2025
• June 16, 2025
• September 15, 2025
• January 15, 2026

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If your quarterly liability is $500 or less, you can carry it forward to the next quarter. If your total liability for the year remains under $500, you can pay it all at once when you file IRS Form 940, the Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Return. It is due by January 31, 2026, for the 2025 tax year.

Return deadlines for non-employees

Non-employees are individuals or businesses who provide services to your company but are not on your payroll. They typically include independent contractors, sole proprietors, and anyone receiving payments for work performed outside of an employer-employee relationship.

1099 form reporting deadlines

When you pay your non-employees, these payments are reported using 1099 forms. The two most common forms are 1099-NEC for non-employee compensation and 1099-MISC for miscellaneous payments like rent or royalties.

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For 2024 tax year, you must provide Form 1099-NEC to recipients and file it with the IRS by January 31, 2025. This deadline applies to both paper and electronic filings. Use this form if you're paying your employees $600 or more.

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For Form 1099-MISC, the deadlines vary depending on how you file. You must send the 2024 tax year form to recipients by January 31, 2025. If you file with the IRS on paper, the deadline is February 28, 2025. For electronic filings, the deadline is March 31, 2025.

State and local tax deadlines

States and local governments set their own income, sales, and property tax schedules. These deadlines often differ from federal ones.

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State income tax deadlines usually match the federal deadline, like April 15, 2025. However, some states, such as California, may extend deadlines for those impacted by natural disasters. Sales tax deadlines vary by state and are often based on the amount of sales tax you collect. For example, monthly filers in New York must file by the 20th of the following month, while quarterly filers in Texas report by the 20th of the month after the quarter ends.

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Property tax deadlines depend on your local jurisdiction. In many Florida counties, businesses must pay property taxes by March 31, but other areas may have different rules.

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Each state also has its own extension policies. For instance, Pennsylvania gives corporations an extra month after their federal filing deadline to submit state returns. To avoid missed deadlines, check your state's tax agency website or use software that tracks state and local tax schedules.

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Marking these deadlines on your calendar helps you stay compliant and avoid costly fines.

Stay ahead of your tax obligations with confidence

By staying on top of your tax deadlines, you maintain financial stability, reduce stress, and show professionalism. It also lets you focus on growing your business instead of fixing compliance issues.

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Paying taxes on time with the help of a tax professional helps you manage your cash flow better. Incremental payments, like estimated taxes or payroll taxes, prevent you from facing a large bill at the end of the year. This keeps your resources available for other important priorities.

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You can streamline this process using accounting automation tools. Ramp automates expense tracking and categorization and integrates with your existing accounting systems, enabling you to close your books up to eight times faster.