Small Business 2023 Tax Deadlines — What You Need to Know

Knowing the important tax deadlines for small businesses is a lot to keep track of, but we’re here to help.

Let’s take each small business tax deadline for 2023 in order.

Small Business Tax Deadlines in 2023

So, what is the tax deadline for 2023? Here are the dates you need to know.

January 31, 2023

February 28, 2023

March 15, 2023

March 31, 2023

April 18, 2023

June 15, 2023

September 15, 2023

October 16, 2023

November 1, 2023

December 31, 2023

January 15, 2024

January 31, 2023

The end of January marks the deadline for issuing tax documents for your employees and contractors.

Form W-2 Deadline

If you have employees, you’ll need to file a Form W-2 for each of your employees. One copy needs to go to the IRS. The other one should be sent to the employee. Both need to be sent out by January 31, 2023 (via mail or electronically).

You can get the Form W-2, Wage, and Tax Statement, free from the IRS.

Form 1099-NEC Deadline

Form 1099-NEC (nonemployee compensation) is similar to the W-2, except that it's used for independent contractors.

When are 1099 NEC forms due? Copy A must be filed with the IRS, and Copy B must be sent to the contractor by January 31, 2023.

Form 1099-MISC Copy B Deadline

Use this form to report payments other than nonemployee compensation made by a trade or business to others. This includes payments of at least $600 in rents, royalties, prizes, and awards.

As with the 1099-NEC forms above, Copy B must be sent to the payee by January 31, 2023.

February 28, 2023

Send Form 1099-MISC Copy A to the IRS.

While you are required to send Copy B to payees by January 31, Copy A needs to be filed with the IRS by February 28 (March 31, if filing electronically). To order Copy A for filing with the IRS, go here. Click on the “Online Ordering for Employer Returns” link, follow the instructions, and the IRS will mail you the form.

March 15, 2023 - Due Date for S Corporation and Partnership Tax Returns

S Corporation and partnership tax returns.

If your business is structured as a partnership (Form 1065) or S Corp (Form 1120-S), your tax returns must be filed by March 15, 2023.

This also is the deadline to file for an extension for S-corp and partnership tax returns.

March 31, 2023 - Due Date for Form 1099-MISC Copy A

Electronic filing of Form 1099-MISC Copy A.

As we mentioned above, this is the date for filing Copy A of this form with the IRS. Please be aware that this due date is for electronic filings only.

April 18, 2023

Since April 15 is on a Saturday and the 17th is Emancipation Day, this year’s deadline for individual filers, sole proprietors, and C corporations falls on April 18, 2023.

Estimated quarterly payments

For many taxpayers, April 18, 2023, is the deadline for filing individual income tax returns and often represents the end of the annual tax season. However, if your business pays taxes each quarter, the cycle begins anew.

Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals (Payment Voucher 1) must be filed with your first 2023 estimated quarterly tax payment. This form helps you calculate your estimated quarterly payment.

Individual tax returns are due April 18, 2023.

Tax day can be stressful for many of us. It’s the deadline to file individual tax returns (Form 1040).

You may be able to qualify for Free File software from the IRS if your adjusted gross income is $73,000 or less. According to the IRS, you’ll need a computer and an email address in order to get started on the Free File website.

Reporting Income or Loss as a Sole Proprietor

You’ll need to use Schedule C (Form 1040) to report income or loss from a business that you operated as a sole proprietor. The IRS considers you a business if:

• Your primary purpose for engaging in the activity is for income or profit
• You are involved in the activity with continuity and regularity

2023 Tax Deadline Extensions

Tax deadlines can sneak up on us. If you find yourself needing more time to complete your forms, you can file for an extension. While that will buy you some time, there are some important things to be aware of.

It’s more time to file, not more time to pay — Using Form 4868 gets you only more time to file your tax forms. If you owe money to the IRS, you’re still required to make a payment by April 18, 2023.

It can be better to overpay — If you’re unsure about the amount you may owe, some find it a good idea to send the IRS a bit more. If, in the end, you overpay, you’ll get a refund. On the other hand, if you end up underpaying, you’ll likely have to pay interest on the additional amount you owed.

Disaster situations

Individuals and businesses affected by tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters can be granted extensions and other tax relief from the IRS. If natural disasters have had a negative impact on you or your business, you can find out about any potential extensions or other relief on the IRS website.

C Corporation tax return deadline

April 18 is the deadline for filing C Corporation tax returns (Form 1120). It’s also the deadline if you need to file for an extension (Form 7004).

State tax returns

Laws and requirements for filing taxes vary among states. You can get some quick information about your particular state here.

June 15, 2023 Tax Deadline

Estimated quarterly payments

This is when your second 2023 estimated quarterly tax payment is due. You should use Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals (Payment Voucher 2).

September 15, 2023 Tax Deadline

Time for Round 3 of your estimated quarterly tax payments. You’ll need to complete Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals (Payment Voucher 3).

S Corporation extension due date

If you filed an extension for your S Corporation or partnership, your tax return needs to be filed by September 15, 2023.

Here are two forms you may need:

Form 1120S, Income Tax Return for an S Corporation

Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income

October 16, 2023 Tax Deadline

If your business is a C Corporation and you filed for an extension, your time is up. This is also true for sole proprietorships. Corporations will use Form 1120, while sole proprietorships should file with the appropriate individual income tax return.

November 1, 2023 Tax Deadline

Get ready for a new year of tax deadlines.

One way to help take the worry and anxiety out of tax filing is by being prepared. Making the right end-of-year tax moves may not only help reduce tax-related stress, it also could reduce your tax burden.

This would be a good time to talk with your accountant or tax preparer to see what are the best steps for your business.

We also recommend checking out this handy guide on how to make tax planning easier.

December 31, 2023 Tax Deadline

Remember those steps you discussed with your tax professional back in November? This is the last day you can implement them for the 2023 tax year.

Are you self-employed and thinking about setting up a solo 401(k)?

If the range of your thinking and planning extends beyond the upcoming tax cycle and into your retirement years, you may want to look into the tax and other advantages of a solo 401(k) plan.

January 15, 2024 Tax Deadline

OK, we may be jumping the gun a bit here by looking into 2024, but if you’re making your last estimated payment for 2023, it’s helpful to know that your 2023 fourth payment is actually due in January 2024.

Looking for Help to Keep Track of Tax Deadlines for Your Small Business?

In any given tax year, there’s a lot you need to be aware of. Missing a deadline can land you in trouble and can often cost you money as well, so it makes sense to stay on top of key tax dates throughout the year.

The good news is that there are a number of tools that can help you. Even better, some of the most helpful ones come from the IRS, and they’re free. Here’s a short list to get you started.

• An online Tax Calendar. You can check it out on your mobile device too.
• Emailed calendar reminders. Once you sign up, the IRS will email you reminders one or two weeks in advance of when a payment is due.
• Tax calendar import. You can subscribe or download the IRS’s Tax Calendar so it shows up in your Outlook email program.

One more thing to consider: Find a good accountant or tax professional. Many of them are small business owners themselves, so they know what it’s like to run a business and stay on top of changing tax regulations and annual deadlines.

*Source.

Many of the dates provided in this article were taken from this article by the small business tax experts at Bench.co.