Tax Calendar

3 – Time to Call For Your Tax Appointment

January is the beginning of tax season. If you have not made an appointment to have your taxes prepared, we encourage you do so before the calendar becomes too crowded.

10 – Report Tips to Employer

If you are an employee who works for tips and received more than $20 in tips during December, you are required to report them to your employer on IRS Form 4070 no later than January 10.

15 – Employer’s Monthly Deposit Due

If you are an employer and the monthly deposit rules apply, January 15 is the due date for you to make your deposit of Social Security, Medicare and withheld income tax for December 2012. This is also the due date for the nonpayroll withholding deposit for December 2012 if the monthly deposit rule applies. employment tax deposits must be made electronically (no more paper coupons), except employers with a deposit liability under $2,500 for a return period may remit payments quarterly or annually with the return.

15 – Farmers & Fishermen Estimated Tax Payment Due

If you are a farmer or fisherman whose gross income for 2011 or 2012 is two-thirds from farming or fishing, it is time to pay your estimated tax for 2012 using Form 1040-ES. You have until April 15, 2013 to file your 2012 income tax return (Form 1040). If you do not pay your estimated tax by January 15, you must file your 2012 return and pay any tax due by March 1, 2013 to avoid an estimated tax penalty.

15 – Individual Estimated Tax Payment Due

It’s time to make your fourth quarter estimated tax installment payment for the 2012 tax year.

31 – 1099s Due To Service Providers

If you are a business or rental property owner and paid $600 or more for the services of individuals (other than employees) during a tax year, you are required to provide Form 1099 to those workers by January 31st. “Services” can mean everything from labor, professional fees and materials, to rents on property. In order to avoid a penalty, copies of the 1099s need to be sent to the IRS by February 28, 2013 (April 1, 2013 if filed electronically). They must be submitted on optically scannable (OCR) forms. This firm prepares 1099s in OCR format for submission to the IRS with the 1096 submittal form. This service provides both recipient and file copies for your records. Please call this office for preparation assistance.

Payments that may be covered include the following:

• Cash payments for fish (or other aquatic life) purchased from anyone engaged in the trade or business of catching fish
• Compensation for workers who are not considered employees (including fishing boat proceeds to crew members)
• Dividends and other corporate distributions
  Interest
• Amounts paid in real estate transactions
• Rent
• Royalties
• Amounts paid in broker and barter exchange transactions
• Payments to attorneys
• Payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members
• Profit-sharing distributions
• Retirement plan distributions
• Original issue discount
• Prizes and awards
• Medical and health care payments
• Debt cancellation (treated as payment to debtor)

31 – W-2 Due to All Employees

All employers need to give copies of the W-2 form for 2012 to their employees. If an employee agreed to receive their W-2 form electronically, post it on a website and notify the employee of the posting.

31 – File Form 941 and Deposit Any Undeposited Tax

File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 2012. Deposit any undeposited Social Security, Medicare and withheld income tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time, you have until February 11 to file the return.

31 – Certain Small Employers

File Form 944 to report Social Security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2012. Deposit or pay any undeposited tax under the accuracy of deposit rules. If your tax liability is $2,500 or more for 2012 but less than $2,500 for the fourth quarter, deposit any undeposited tax or pay it in full with a timely filed return.

31 – File Form 943

All farm employers should file Form 943 to report Social Security, Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 2012. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 11 to file the return.

31 – W-2G Due from Payers of Gambling Winnings

If you paid either reportable gambling winnings or withheld income tax from gambling winnings, give the winners their copies of the W-2G form for 2012.

31 – File 2012 Return to Avoid Penalty for Not Making 4th Quarter Estimated Payment

If you file your prior year’s return and pay any tax due by this date, you need not make the 4th Quarter Estimated Tax Payment (January calendar).

31 – File Form 940 – Federal Unemployment Tax

File Form 940 (or 940-EZ) for 2012. If your undeposited tax is $500 or less, you can either pay it with your return or deposit it. If it is more than $500, you must deposit it. However, if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 11 to file the return.

31 – File Form 945

File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 2012 on all non-payroll items, including back-up withholding and withholding on pensions, annuities, IRAs, gambling winnings, and payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 11 to file the return.