Filing your taxes can seem like a maze of dates and forms. Get one wrong, and you’ve wasted a lot of time and may have incurred late fees.
We’ve put a simple guide together to help you navigate the forms and their related due dates. The following dates are based on the tax year 2019, coming due in 2020.
The main tax deadline for personal taxes is updated to Wednesday, July 15, 2020.
Update: Trump announced that the IRS is going to move the tax deadline in 2020 to July 15, 2020. This is a change from the previous announcement where only payments were delayed,
We also included the estimated tax deadlines for 2020, since making estimated tax payments can always be annoying.
Annual Tax Filing
Individuals and Families - Annual personal income tax filings (Form 1040) are due on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. The majority of people file a 1040.
Note: For 2020, President Trump delayed the tax refund filing and payment deadline to July 15, 2020. No interest will accrue on late payments until July 16, 2020. See the IRS rules here.
Corporations (including S and C Corps) - C corporations (Form 1120) also file on July 15. S corporations (Form 1120S) and partnerships (Form 1065) file on March 15.
Estimated Tax Deadlines For 2020
Note: There is pending legislation that may move all of these deadlines to October... it's an evolving situation so stay tuned.
Payments for estimated taxes are due on four different quarterly dates throughout the year:
- 1Q — April 15 (this has been delayed until July 15, 2020 as well)
- 2Q — June 15 (this has also been delayed un July 15, 2020)
- 3Q — September 15
- 4Q — January 15 of the next year
Federal estimated taxes can be paid at https://www.irs.gov/payments. Estimated state taxes can be paid through most state department of revenue websites. If not, you may need to mail in your payment.
Estates and Trusts
Estates and trusts file Form 1041. This is also due on July 15, 2020.
Extended Returns
Extended returns have different filing dates depending on the type of tax form being filed:
- Form 1065 extended return — September 15
- Form 1120S extended return — September 15
- Form 1041 extended return — September 30
- Form 1120 extended return — October 15
- Form 1040 extended return — October 15
Filing Your Taxes
Where and how should you file your taxes? Most tax software will handle annual income tax filings and extensions. Check here for the best tax software.
Note that some of the free tax filing software may not offer as much customer service as paid versions. If you want specific questions answered or need guidance from a real person, be sure to check that those services are offered with the software.
If your taxes are fairly simple, filing online or through tax software is not difficult and will save your money. If your taxes are on the more complex side or you just don’t want to deal with filing, you’ll need to hire a tax professional, which will be more costly.
Tax professionals can be found locally, or you can visit any of the large tax brands such as H&R Block. Both have physical locations that allow you to speak to someone in person and have your questions answered.
Robert Farrington is America’s Millennial Money Expert® and America’s Student Loan Debt Expert™, and the founder of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to helping millennials escape student loan debt to start investing and building wealth for the future. You can learn more about him here and here.
He regularly writes about investing, student loan debt, and general personal finance topics geared towards anyone wanting to earn more, get out of debt, and start building wealth for the future.
He has been quoted in major publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Fox, ABC, NBC, and more. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes.
Michael Ferrell says
How can I start making estimated federal tax payments for tax year 2020?
I cannot locate a 2020 Form 1040-V or a 2020 Form 1040-ES on the IRS website.
Thanks
Robert Farrington says
You don’t need a form, just make the payment. See this: How To Make Estimated Tax Payments.
Donna says
I need the actual form for records.
Robert Farrington says
Once you make a payment, you get a confirmation at the end for your records that has everything you need. If you want the worksheet, you can create it when they create the form – usually in another month or so.
James Rogers says
If you’re going to make a payment by check, you should complete and use Form 1040-ES (see link). On your check, write in the memo line: “xxx-xx-[last 4 of SSN].” Across the top of your check, write: “2020 Form 1040-ES.” It takes only a minute to do this, and it could save you a correspondence hassle with the IRS if they misapply your payment.
Here’s the URL:
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf
Alternatively, you can pay online. Here’s the URL for this:
https://www.irs.gov/payments/direct-pay
If you pay online using your bank account, there is no fee. If you use a credit card, the IRS will assess a processing fee, because they’re required to collect all the tax, not an amount net of a credit card processing fee.
Dave says
No, but you DO need to “select a form” on the EFTPS website (the site the IRS uses to accept estimated tax payments). I did it all last year and one pay in 2018 — but right now there is nothing to select for estimated taxes. I cannot schedule them — and I want to get it out of the way (or i’ll forget and never pay all year).
Robert Farrington says
If you’re making personal tax payments, use the DirectPay webpage – you can choose ES for 2020: https://directpay.irs.gov/directpay/payment
If you’re making business payments, it should be on EFTPS, but I’m not sure 100%.
Dave says
Figured it out! You have to type in 1040 in the first box — THEN and only then will it give you a list that includes 1040ES (which is nuts since they have other 1040 forms on that first page). Hope this helps someone that runs into this! Cheers…
Robert Farrington says
Thanks for sharing!
jose says
When will you think ill get my refund I filed on March 28 thru mail still haven’t gotten any progress in my wheres my refund it just says check your information
Robert Farrington says
If you filed through the mail – not until September or October. The IRS is backlogged with paper returns and letters and hasn’t been processing them.
Matthew Brady says
what happens if my tax refund is more than $10,000.00?
Brady Brady says
My federal taxes was accepted on Jan 27, 2020 and says still being processed with tax code 152. What does that mean?
Robert Farrington says
See this: Common IRS questions.
Robert Farrington says
Nothing, but you should probably change your tax withholdings unless you had some type of unexpected event.
Ellen Horn says
I have already filed my taxes and requested a debit from my checking account on April 15. How do I change the debit date to July 15?
Robert Farrington says
Once your return is accepted, information pertaining to your payment, such as account information, payment date, or amount, cannot be changed. If changes are needed, the only option is to cancel the payment and choose another payment method.
Call IRS e-file Payment Services 24/7 at 1-888-353-4537 to inquire about or cancel your payment, but please wait 7 to 10 days after your return was accepted before calling.
Mark says
Is the deadline for 2019 Sep-IRA Contributions extended to July 15th as well?
Robert Farrington says
Yes, they are likely extended as well although the IRS hasn’t provided specific guidance. The reason is the law says they are due by “your tax filing”, so since that is delayed, your IRA contribution deadline should be as well. More to come.
robert endter says
What is the status of the 4868 form to extend the filing date from 04/15/20 to 10/15/20 given that the 04/15 date is now 07/15 ? When does the 4868 need to be filed and what is the extension date ?
Robert Farrington says
You need to file the extension request by 7/15, but the IRS hasn’t made clear yet whether that’s October due date or later.
Mary Ann Lancaster says
I haven’t filed for 2018 or 2019. What should I do?
Robert Farrington says
You should probably file if you’re required to…
ashlee robnett says
how do you track a return that has to be mailed in? nothing is pulling up in the system it won’t even tell me if it is accepted etc.
Robert Farrington says
You should send your return certified mail – so you know when it’s received.
Then, you should allow about 8 weeks for them to input your return into the system. At that time, you can use normal tools (like Where’s my Refund or the IRS2Go app) to track your return.
Given that many IRS offices are closing, that 8 week processing time may be much longer.
If you can efile, it’s highly recommended you do that.
Ashlee Robnett says
I can’t efile due to my mother claiming my son when she wasn’t suppose to. that is why i had to send in my return certified mail. they received it march 16th i sent it in march 13th. i got the green card back stating they received it march 16th.. next question- do i need to send in any proof of me having my son in my custody for 8 months i had him with me? if so what do i need to get.
nobody says
I believe the IRS will send you a letter if they require evidence to justify your dependent claim. You shouldn’t need to send anything to the proactively to prove you had custody. However, if your son stayed with your mother (overnights) while you had custody, you may want to just document the number of nights that your son stayed with you to ensure it totals to 6 months or more.
ashlee robnett says
when are we suppose to get our stimulus checks?
Robert Farrington says
The IRS claims 3 weeks or so. We think it will be more like May.
Lou Barth says
Has the IRS extended the payment date for Payment Voucher 1/2020 Estimated Tax to a later date as they did for the regular deadline of April 15 to July 15, 2020? Thank you.
Robert Farrington says
Estimated taxes due on April 15 have been moved to July 15. However, we’re still waiting for confirmation on payment deadline #2 which should be June 15 right now. I’m sure it will move, but it’s not official yet.
ted says
how are 2nd Qt taxes due on June 15 if the quarter dose not end until june31
Robert Farrington says
The IRS dates are for their filings are:
Q1 – Jan 1 – March 31
Q2 – April 1 – May 31
Q3 – June 1 – August 31
Q4 – Sept 1 – December 31
joyce says
I have not seen anything that substantiates your statement that the second quarterly estimated tax payment is also extended until July 15, 2020. Kindly verify.
Robert Farrington says
Here is the IRS news release from yesterday.
Kris says
Our tax preparers were unable to submit our returns electronically because our 15 year old daughter’s social was kicked back. Our state and federal returns were mailed on March 16 and was received on March 18. The state at least says they have it now but the federal claims they don’t have it on the website. As an added kicker our 15 year old daughter received a stimulus check for 1200.00. We can’t get anyone to answer the phone and we stuck the check in a drawer. What should we do???????
Robert Farrington says
You’re going to have to wait it out. The IRS is storing mailed tax returns in a warehouse and not going to get to them for months. See this update.
Elmer P Gates says
The IRS has not cashed my Estimated Tax check which I mailed in Early April. Are they just holding it to process it at the extended July 15 due date or do I consider it lost?
Robert Farrington says
If you mailed a check, it’s sitting in a warehouse somewhere. The IRS hasn’t processed much (or any) mail since mid-March. This is causing delays across the board.
Elmer Gates says
Are RMD’s cancelled for 2020?
Robert Farrington says
Correct, you don’t have to take a required minimum distribution for 2020.