Resources
Dates, forms and references.
The deadlines, forms and guidelines I use with clients, gathered in one place. Every form links straight to the official IRS or state page, so you always get the current version.
Tax calendar
Upcoming federal deadlines for calendar-year businesses and individuals, plus Kansas and Missouri individual returns. Dates already account for weekends and federal holidays.
Fiscal-year businesses and some situations follow different dates. If you’re unsure which apply to you, that’s exactly the kind of thing to ask.
October 2026
Extended 2025 individual returns dueIndividual
Form 1040 for anyone who filed an extension.
Extended 2025 C corporation returns dueBusiness
Form 1120, calendar-year corporations that extended.
November 2026
Third-quarter payroll returnPayroll
Form 941 for July through September.
December 2026
Fourth-quarter corporate estimated taxBusiness
Calendar-year C corporations.
January 2027
Fourth-quarter 2026 estimated taxIndividual
Individuals, including owners of S corps, partnerships and sole proprietorships (Form 1040-ES).
February 2027
W-2s and 1099-NECs duePayroll
W-2s to employees and the Social Security Administration; 1099-NECs to contractors and the IRS.
Annual unemployment and Q4 payroll returnsPayroll
Form 940 for 2026 and Form 941 for October through December.
March 2027
S corporation and partnership returns dueBusiness
Form 1120-S or Form 1065, or extension Form 7004. Owners' K-1s are due the same day.
Deadline to elect S corporation status for 2027Business
Form 2553 for a calendar-year business.
April 2027
Individual returns dueIndividual
Form 1040, or extension Form 4868. An extension extends the time to file, not to pay.
First-quarter 2027 estimated taxIndividual
Individuals (Form 1040-ES) and calendar-year corporations.
C corporation returns dueBusiness
Form 1120, or extension Form 7004.
Kansas and Missouri individual returns dueKansas & Missouri
Kansas Form K-40 and Missouri Form MO-1040.
First-quarter payroll returnPayroll
Form 941 for January through March.
June 2027
Second-quarter estimated taxIndividual
Individuals and calendar-year corporations.
August 2027
Second-quarter payroll returnPayroll
Form 941 for April through June.
Retirement plan annual reportBusiness
Form 5500 for calendar-year plans (or file Form 5558 to extend).
September 2027
Third-quarter estimated taxIndividual
Individuals and calendar-year corporations.
Extended S corporation and partnership returns dueBusiness
Form 1120-S and Form 1065 for businesses that extended.
October 2027
Extended individual and C corporation returns dueIndividual
Form 1040 and Form 1120 for anyone who extended.
November 2027
Third-quarter payroll returnPayroll
Form 941 for July through September.
December 2027
Fourth-quarter corporate estimated taxBusiness
Calendar-year C corporations.
Forms business owners use most
Each link opens the official page with the current form and its instructions.
Starting or changing a business
Employees and contractors
Business tax returns
Individual returns and estimates
Working with your accountant
These let me talk to the IRS or request records on your behalf.
Payments & accounts
Official IRS sites for making payments and checking your account. The IRS will never ask you to pay by gift card or wire, or call demanding immediate payment.
How long to keep records
The IRS’s general guidelines for income tax records. Lenders, insurers and state agencies may want you to keep some records longer, so check before you shred.
| Keep for | When it applies |
|---|---|
| 3 years | Most records supporting income, deductions and credits on a filed return. |
| 3 years from filing or 2 years from paying, whichever is later | If you file a claim for a credit or refund after filing. |
| 4 years | Employment tax records, after the tax is due or paid, whichever is later. |
| 6 years | If you left out income that's more than 25% of the gross income on your return. |
| 7 years | If you claim a loss from worthless securities or a bad-debt deduction. |
| Until 3+ years after you sell it | Records for property (real estate, equipment, investments): keep until the limitations period ends for the year you dispose of it. |
| Indefinitely | If a return wasn't filed, or was fraudulent. |
Source: IRS, “How long should I keep records?” (opens in a new tab)
Financial ratios worth knowing
A handful of numbers I look at with every business. Most come straight from your balance sheet and income statement.
| Measure | How to calculate it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Current ratio | Current assets ÷ current liabilities | Whether you can cover the bills coming due in the next year. |
| Quick ratio | (Cash + receivables) ÷ current liabilities | The same question, without counting on inventory selling. |
| Gross margin | (Revenue − cost of sales) ÷ revenue | How much each sales dollar contributes toward overhead and profit. |
| Net profit margin | Net income ÷ revenue | What you actually keep after everything. |
| Days sales outstanding | Receivables ÷ revenue × 365 | How long customers take to pay you. Often the hidden cause of tight cash. |
| Debt-to-equity | Total liabilities ÷ owner’s equity | How much of the business is financed by lenders versus you. |
| Months of cash | Cash ÷ average monthly expenses | How long you could operate if revenue paused. |
Insights & articles
Short, practical articles on running the numbers and running the business. Subscribe and I’ll send new ones as they’re published. No daily emails, no financial jargon.
- AccountingNavigating by the Numbers: Why a Timely Monthly Close Is Your Best CompassClosing your books by the 10th to 15th of the next month lets you correct course, seize opportunities and catch errors early. What to track each month.2 min read
- SecurityThe Passphrase Revolution: Rethinking Digital SecurityNIST now advises against scheduled password resets. Why one long passphrase beats frequent changes and character rules, and how a password manager helps.2 min read
- SecurityThe Death of the Password: Why Your Computer Wants You to Use PasskeysA passkey replaces your password with a face scan, fingerprint or PIN. How passkeys work, why they stop phishing, and how to avoid a lockout.4 min read
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This page is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation. Deadlines and forms change; confirm with the IRS or your state before relying on them.
Not sure which of these apply to you?
That’s what I’m here for. Call and we’ll sort out what your business actually needs to file, and when.