January 2026 Key Fiscal Deadlines for Businesses

As the calendar turns to January 2026, businesses, employers, farmers, and fishermen face pivotal tax deadlines. Staying proactive is essential to ensure compliance and minimize penalties.

January 15 - Employer's Monthly Tax Obligations

For employers, January 15 is a critical date. If your business follows the monthly deposit rules, this is when you'll need to remit your Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for December 2025. Additionally, if the monthly deposit rule applies to nonpayroll withholdings, those are due today as well. Notably, electronic payment is mandatory, except for those with a deposit liability under $2,500, who may submit payments quarterly or annually along with their return.

Image 1 January 15 - Farmers and Fishermen

Farmers and fishermen have a separate, crucial deadline. Your estimated tax payment for 2025, made using Form 1040-ES, is due. While you have until April 15 to file your 2025 tax return (Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR), failure to pay estimated taxes by January 15 requires filing your return and settling any owed taxes by March 2, 2026, to sidestep an estimated tax penalty.

Handling Holidays and Weekends

If a tax deadline coincides with a weekend or legal holiday, it's automatically extended to the next business day that's not a holiday.

Image 2 Extensions for Disaster Areas

Designations of disaster areas trigger filing extensions. To check if your area qualifies for such extensions, access the following resources for updates:
FEMA: Disaster Declarations
IRS: Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

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