When are taxes due? Every deadline for the self-employed
For most employees, "tax day" is a single date in April. For the self-employed, the calendar has more on it: one annual filing deadline plus four estimated-tax payments spread across the year. It sounds like more to track, but it's really just a handful of dates. Put them in your calendar once and the whole year gets calmer. Here's the full picture.
The annual filing deadline
Your federal income tax return — where you report the full year's income, deductions, and self-employment tax — is typically due around April 15. When the 15th lands on a weekend or a holiday, the deadline slides to the next business day, so the exact date shifts slightly year to year. This is the deadline everyone knows, and it's the day your prior-year taxes are settled up. Always confirm the current-year date on the IRS "When to File" page.
The four quarterly estimated deadlines
Because no employer withholds tax from your pay, you're generally expected to pay throughout the year in four installments. These are the dates that catch new freelancers off guard — especially the January payment, which arrives just after the holidays. The due dates are typically:
| Payment | Income period | Typical due date |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 estimate | January 1 – March 31 | Around April 15 |
| Q2 estimate | April 1 – May 31 | Around June 15 |
| Q3 estimate | June 1 – August 31 | Around September 15 |
| Q4 estimate | September 1 – December 31 | Around January 15 (following year) |
Notice that Q1's payment shares the April date with your annual return — so in spring you may be settling last year and paying the first installment of the current year at the same time. The "quarters" are also uneven (Q2 spans two months, Q4 spans four), which is why memorizing "every three months" leads people astray. See the IRS estimated taxes page for the current dates, and learn how much to set aside so each payment is already waiting in your tax account.
Other dates self-employed people should know
- 1099 forms arrive (late January). Clients who paid you as a contractor generally must issue Form 1099-NEC by around the end of January. Use them to reconcile your own records — but report all income even if a form never shows up.
- Retirement contribution deadlines. Some self-employed retirement contributions (for example, to a SEP-IRA) can often be made up until your filing deadline, including extensions — a useful late lever to lower your tax. See our retirement guide.
- State deadlines. Many states have their own annual and quarterly deadlines that may differ from the federal dates. Check your state's tax authority.
Extensions: more time to file, not to pay
If you can't finish your return by the spring deadline, you can request an automatic extension to file, which typically moves the paperwork deadline to around mid-October. This is the single most misunderstood rule in taxes, so it bears repeating clearly:
So if you extend, send your best estimate of what you owe in April, then finish the paperwork later. The IRS explains the current extension process.
What happens if you miss a deadline
Missing a date isn't the end of the world, but it does cost money, and the cost grows the longer you wait. The main consequences:
- Failure-to-file penalty. If you don't file your annual return (and didn't get an extension), the penalty is generally based on the tax owed and accrues per month, up to a cap — it's usually the steepest of the penalties, which is why filing on time matters even if you can't pay in full.
- Failure-to-pay penalty. If you file but pay late, a smaller monthly penalty plus interest accrues on the unpaid amount until it's cleared.
- Underpayment penalty. If you skip or underpay a quarterly estimate, the IRS may charge a penalty that works like interest on the shortfall for the time it was late. Our quarterly taxes guide covers the safe-harbor rule that helps you avoid it.
The through-line: file on time even if you can't pay in full, and pay as much as you can as soon as you can. Both actions shrink what you ultimately owe. If you're behind, the IRS also offers payment plans — and a tax professional can help you sort out the fastest way to stop the meter.
A simple deadline system
- Add all five dates to your calendar now — the April filing date and the four estimates — with a reminder a week ahead of each.
- Fund a separate tax savings account as you get paid, so the money is ready before each deadline. See business banking.
- Subscribe to reminders. Keldwell's quarterly nudge sends one calm email before each estimated-tax deadline.
Frequently asked questions
When are taxes due for self-employed people?
The annual federal return is typically due around April 15. On top of that, most self-employed people make four quarterly estimated payments, generally due around April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. Dates shift for weekends and holidays — confirm current-year dates with the IRS.
What are the four quarterly deadlines?
Typically around April 15 (Q1), June 15 (Q2), September 15 (Q3), and January 15 of the next year (Q4). The periods aren't equal three-month blocks, and dates move for weekends and holidays.
Does an extension give me more time to pay?
No. A filing extension moves the paperwork deadline to around mid-October but doesn't extend time to pay. You're still expected to pay what you owe by the original spring deadline, or interest and penalties can accrue.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
Missing the filing deadline without an extension can trigger a failure-to-file penalty; paying late can trigger a failure-to-pay penalty plus interest; missing an estimate can trigger an underpayment penalty. Filing and paying as soon as possible reduces what you owe.
When are 1099 forms due to me?
Businesses that paid you as a contractor generally must send Form 1099-NEC by around the end of January. If an expected form hasn't arrived by early February, follow up — but report all income even if a form never comes.