Employer's Tax Calendar

First Quarter

The first quarter of a calendar year is made up of January, February, and March.

Note: If you are subject to the semiweekly deposit rule, use Table 2, at the end of this publication, for your deposit due dates.

January

All employers. Give your employees their copies of Form W–2 for 1997 as soon as possible. The due date is February 2.

January 2

Earned income credit. Stop advance payments of the earned income credit for any employee who did not give you a new Form W–5 for 1998.

January 15

Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in December 1997.

Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in December 1997.

February 2

All employers. Give your employees their copies of Form W–2 for 1997.

Payers of gambling winnings. If you either paid reportable gambling winnings or withheld income tax from gambling winnings, give the winners their copies of Form W–2G.

Nonpayroll taxes. File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 1997 on all non-payroll items, including backup withholding and withholding on pensions, annuities, gambling winnings, and payments of Indian gaming profits to tribal members. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If the total is less than $500 and not a shortfall, you can pay it with the return.) If you have deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.

Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 1997. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If the total is less than $500 and not a shortfall, you can pay it with the return.) If you have deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.

Farm employers. File Form 943 to report social security and Medicare taxes and withheld income tax for 1997. Deposit any undeposited tax. (If the total is less than $500 and not a shortfall, you can pay it with the return.) If you have deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.

Federal unemployment tax. File Form 940 (or 940–EZ) for 1997. If your undeposited tax is $100 or less, you can either pay it with your return or deposit it. If it is more than $100, you must deposit it. However, if you have already deposited the tax you owe for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.

February 10

Nonpayroll taxes. File Form 945 to report income tax withheld for 1997 on all non-payroll items. This due date applies only if you had deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.

Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. File Form 941 for the fourth quarter of 1997. This due date applies only if you had deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time.

Farm employers. File Form 943 to report social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for 1997. This due date applies only if you had deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.

Federal unemployment tax. File Form 940 (or 940–EZ) for 1997. This due date applies only if you had deposited the tax for the year in full and on time.

February 17

Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in January.

Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in January.

All employers. Begin withholding income tax from the pay of any employee who had claimed exemption from withholding in 1997, but did not give you a new Form W–4 to continue the exemption this year.

March 2

Payers of gambling winnings. File Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns, along with Copy A of all the Forms W–2G you issued for 1997.

All employers. File Form W–3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, along with Copy A of all the Forms W–2 you issued for 1997.

Large food and beverage establishment employers. File Form 8027, Employer's Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips. Use Form 8027–T, Transmittal of Employer's Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, to summarize and transmit Forms 8027 if you have more than one establishment.

March 16

Social security, Medicare, and withheld income tax. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in February.

Nonpayroll withholding. If the monthly deposit rule applies, deposit the tax for payments in February.

[Return to Tax Calendar] [Go to Second Quarter]