Remote Operations

A complete guide on due dates for business taxes

January 30, 2024
Minh Mai

Business owners often wait until the latest minute to file their taxes. While there's no penalty for doing so, it’s better to get it done early. 

Early filers enjoy faster tax refunds. They also have a lower risk of facing penalties. 

Usually, taxpayers are subject to a failure-to-file penalty of 5% every month for tax owed, up to a maximum of 25%. This can impact your bottom line and ability to allocate funds to vital business processes. Avoid penalties by filing your taxes before the due date. 

Stable can help you by providing a permanent business address for all vital correspondence. We'll manage and store your company’s crucial business-related mail, ensuring you have all you need to file your taxes. 

What day is “tax day”?

Understanding tax season is crucial to avoiding late or failure-to-file penalties. 

Tax season fluctuates slightly from year to year, but typically starts a few weeks into the year (usually at the end of January) and runs until mid-April

The official tax day is the 15th day of the fourth month—the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS's) tax deadline.

However, the IRS can push the deadline to the next business day if the due date falls on a weekend or legal holiday. For example, 2023's tax day was pushed to April 18 because April 15 fell on a Saturday, and the following Monday was Emancipation Day, a holiday in Washington D.C. that celebrates the abolition of slavery. 

Your business's tax day may be pushed further if you file for a tax extension. Business entities can request an extension deadline if they're sure they can't meet the IRS's business tax deadlines. An extension can help you avoid a failure-to-file deadline, which can add up to 25% of owed tax. 

If you file for an extension, you get an additional six months from the official tax day to file your taxes. This typically puts your extension deadline at October 15, after which your small business becomes subject to the failure-to-file deadline. 

Federal tax deadlines for businesses

Business tax deadlines may vary depending on your entity's structure. Sole proprietorships have different deadlines from limited liability companies (LLCs), which have varying deadlines from corporations, and so on.

Here's an in-depth look at various entities' federal tax forms and deadlines:

C corporation tax deadlines and forms (C-corp)

The IRS tax return deadline for C corporations, also known as C-corp, is due on April 15, 2024.

Forms include the U.S Corporation Income Tax Return, known as Form 1120 (Note: This is the 2022 tax year form). 

This document needs to be submitted to the IRS so that C corporations can understand their tax liability and find out how much they owe.

Additional Links for C corporation

What is an 1120 Tax Form?

Form 1120 Instructions, the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return

S corporation tax deadlines and forms (S-corp)‍

The IRS tax return deadline for S corporations, also known as S-corp, is March 15, 2024

Forms include the U.S Income Tax Return for S Corporations, known as Form 1120S and Schedule K-1 (Note: These are the 2022 tax year forms). 

These need to be submitted to the IRS so that S Corporations can understand their tax liability, find out how much business tax they owe, and report each party's share of the corporation's income, deductions, credits, etc. 

Additional Links for S corporation

What is a Schedule K-1 Tax Form?

About Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S), Shareholder's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.

Form 1120-S Instructions, the U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporations 

Partnerships and multi-member LLCs tax deadlines and forms

The IRS tax return deadline for partnerships and multi-member LLCs is due on March 15, 2024.

‍Forms include a U.S. Return of Partnership Income, known as Form 1065, and Schedule K-1 (Note: These are the 2022 tax year forms).  

These need to be submitted to the IRS so that partnerships and multi-member LLCs can understand their tax liability, find out how much business tax they owe, and report the tax amount that is being passed to each partner.

Additional links for partnerships and multi-member LLCs

What is Form 1065?

About Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.

About Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income

Sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs tax deadlines and forms

The IRS tax return deadline for sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs is due on April 15, 2024. 

Forms include the U.S Individual Income Tax Return, known as Form 1040, and a Profit or Loss from Business, known as a Schedule C (Note: These are the 2022 & 2023 tax year forms, respectively).  

These tax forms need to be submitted to the IRS so that sole proprietors and single-member LLCs can understand their tax liability, find out how much business tax they owe, and report income or losses. 

Additional links for sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs

What Is an IRS 1040 Form?

About Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship)

About Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

You can change your business's tax classification by filing Form 8832. Consult with a tax advisor to determine your eligibility for the change and how to proceed. 

State tax deadlines

Businesses and taxpayers in the U.S. are subject to a multitiered tax system, which requires them to pay taxes at the federal, state, and — in some cases — local levels. 

The IRS collects federal taxes, but each state has a designated taxing authority responsible for state taxes. 

These deadlines often correspond with the IRS's tax deadline — typically April 15. But this isn't always the case. Your state may require you to file your corporate tax returns earlier, or they could provide a more extensive filing period.

This makes it essential to understand your state's unique requirements. Click on your state for additional information. 

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

The IRS also requires filers whose income isn't subject to automatic withholding to make quarterly estimated tax payments on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.

Filers required to make estimated tax payments include independent contractors, small business owners, self-employed individuals, and people who receive royalties on their work. 

A quick note on extensions and special circumstances

As previously stated, tax filing deadlines aren't set in stone — the IRS can extend the deadline if it falls on a weekend or legal holiday. But these aren't the only circumstances. 

The tax deadline can also be extended in a public crisis or natural disaster. For example, the IRS extended 2021's tax due date to May 17 because of the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, Texas residents were given a tax extension in 2021 when FEMA declared the winter storms in the state a natural disaster. 

You can also file for an extension if you're sure you won't complete the process by April 15. To do so, submit your estimated tax payment and the relevant paperwork before the tax filing deadline. 

  • For sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs, file Form 4868
  • If you're filing taxes for a partnership, corporation, or LLC, file Form 7004

You can send your extension request by mail, or electronically through an approved IRS Modernized e-File (MeF) Business Provider

An extension doesn't extend your payment deadline — only your filing deadline. This means you must estimate your tax bill before the deadline and pay it.

Also, you only get a single extension. Ensure you file your business income tax before the six-month extension deadline lapses to prevent penalties. 

Penalties for late filing

There's no penalty for late filing if the IRS owes you a tax refund. 

But, penalties can be significant if you owe taxes and delay filing. The IRS charges a 5% failure-to-file penalty per month (usually capped at 25%) on taxes filed after the due date unless there's a reasonable cause for the delay. 

If you fail to file your taxes, the IRS may do so for you. This is referred to as a Substitute for Return (SFR). While it may sound convenient, you might receive a higher tax bill than anticipated. 

The SFR is based on available documents like Form 1099 and Form W-2, which don't typically provide details on deductions, exemptions, or tax credits. Failure to contest or pay your tax bill can result in collection by the IRS through means like levies on your bank account. 

The best way to mitigate penalties if you miss a deadline is to file and pay your taxes as soon as possible. The faster you file, the lower your penalties will be. 

You can also mitigate penalties by demonstrating you acted in good faith and exercised prudence but could not meet the deadline because of reasonable causes. They could include natural disasters, system delays, and the inability to retrieve your records. If, after assessment, the IRS determines you had a reasonable cause for late filing, it may remove or reduce the penalties. 

Never miss a business tax deadline with Stable

Filing your business taxes early allows you to claim and receive your refunds faster. It also reduces your risk of penalties and keeps you in good standing with the IRS and your state tax agency. 

At Stable, we're committed to improving numerous aspects of your business, including tax filing. Stable's Reminders feature sends notifications directly to your inbox when federal tax filing dates are near. Forget about last-day rushes, missed deadlines, and penalties when you sign up for a Stable account. 

Ready to make your tax filing process more efficient? Click here to get started!

Get 50% off your first year with Stable

Get a special discount on our virtual address + mailroom sent to your inbox
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
A virtual address + mailroom for businesses
Learn More

Get 50% off our Grow plan

Get a special discount on our virtual address + mailroom sent to your inbox
Thank you! We'll email you soon with the referral code.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.