April 2021 tax and compliance deadlines

Editor’s note: In March 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department and IRS extended the federal income tax year 2020 filing due date for individuals from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.

Welcome to your April 2021 list of tax and compliance deadlines. Be sure to review the list and pass these along to your clients.

In April, it’s recommended that you:

• Conduct reviews of clients’ prior year returns to determine the need for amended returns.
• File extensions for corporate clients who will not meet April 15 filing deadline.

Key Compliance Dates:

Friday, April 2 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on March 27–30.

Wednesday, April 7 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on March 31–April 2.

Friday, April 9 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on April 3–6.

Monday, April 12 – Tipped employees who received $20 or more in tips during March report them to the employer on Form 4070, Employees Report of Tips to Employer.

Wednesday, April 14 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on April 7–9.

Thursday, April 15 (now May 17; see editor’s note above)

• Individuals file 2020 returns (Form 1040, Form 1040A, or Form 1040EZ); alternatively, file for an automatic six-month extension (Form 4868, Application for an Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return).
• Calendar-year C corporations file 2020 returns on Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return; alternatively, file for an automatic six-month extension.
• Individuals and calendar-year corporations pay first installment of 2021 estimated tax.
• Monthly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax for March.

Monday, April 19 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on April 10–13.

Wednesday, April 21 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on April 14–16.

Friday, April 23 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on April 17–20.

Wednesday, April 28 – Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on April 21–23.

Friday, April 30:

• Employers file Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return, for the first quarter of 2021 (if tax for the quarter was deposited in full and on time, file by May 11).
• Employers deposit federal unemployment tax owed through March if more than $500.
• Semiweekly depositors deposit FICA and withheld income tax on wages paid on April 24–27.

Intuit Accountants Resources:

• The April 2021 calendar with filing deadlines and reminders for you and your clients.
• Key tax facts for 2020
• State tax deadlines

As always, visit Intuit Accountants for more information and training resources.