Blogs

• Contractors must begin using new (2010) census EEO tabulation/data for AA plan creation by January 1, 2014 (but may start earlier if they want).

January 15:

• Last required quarterly contribution for defined benefit (DB) plans: Due 15 days after last plan year quarter end.

January 31:

• Form 940: Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return for previous year. If all FUTA tax was deposited when due, employers are allowed 10 additional days.
• Form 941 or Form 944: Form 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return, for the fourth quarter of 2012 and deposit any undeposited income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. Employers may pay these taxes with Form 941 if the total tax liability for the quarter is less than $2,500. An employer should file Form 944, Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return, for the previous calendar year instead of Form 941 if the IRS has notified the employer in writing to file Form 944, and pay any undeposited income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. Employers may pay these taxes with Form 944 if their total tax liability for the year is less than $2,500.
• Form 945. File Form 945, Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax, to report any nonpayroll income tax withheld in 2012. However, if all of the taxes were deposited when due, there are 10 additional days to file.
• Form W-2: Furnish each employee with a completed Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.
• Participant data for average deferral percentage (ADP)/average contribution percentage (ACP), top heavy and 402(g) compliance testing to be returned by this date.
• Form 1099: Furnish each independent contractor with a completed Form 1099.
• Form 1099-R: Deadline for sending to participants who received pension distributions during the previous year.
• Deadline for submitting individually designed plans to the IRS determination letter program. (For 2011, this applies to employers with identification numbers that end in 0 or 5.)
• DB Notice of Benefit Restrictions must be provided to participants and beneficiaries of any benefit restrictions that apply due to the plan being less than 80% funded. Note: Due January 31, or 30 days after valuation date at which the restriction is determined.

February 1:

• OSHA Form 300A: Post February 1st – April 30th each year.

February 15:

• Effective Period of Withholding Exemption Certificate: A Form W-4 filed by an employee expires on February 15th of the year following the year in which the Form W-4 was given to employer. The employer must now begin withholding for any employee who previously claimed an exemption, but has not given the employer a new Form W-4 for the current year. If the employee does not give the employer a new Form W-4 (see December), withhold tax as if the employee is single, with zero withholding allowances. See the Internal Revenue Service Calendar.
• Quarterly Benefit/Disclosure Statement for participant-directed defined contribution (DC) plans. Good Faith Compliance due 45 days after the end of the quarter.

February 28:

• Form 1099-R: Deadline for filing with the IRS to report pension distributions made in the previous year (if not filed electronically).
• PBGC Form 1-ES: Estimated Premium Payment (flat-rate premium for plans with >500 participants) due. Note: This is due by the last day of the second month in the premium payment year.
• Forms 1099 and 1096: File Copy A of all Forms 1099 with Form 1096, Annual Summary and Transmittal of U.S. Information Returns, with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (For electronically filed returns, the date is March 31.)
• Forms W-2 and W-3: File Copy A of all Forms W-2 with Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, with the Social Security Administration (SSA). (For electronically filed returns, the date is March 31.)
• Form 8027: File Form 8027, Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income and Allocated Tips, with the IRS. (For electronically filed returns, the date is March 31.)

March 15:

• Employer contributions due for 12/31 fiscal year-ends in order to take deduction with no corporate tax extension.
• Forms 1042S and 1042: File with IRS to report retirement plan distributions made to nonresident aliens and income tax withheld from distributions made to nonresident aliens.
• Deadline for ADP/ACP refunds without 10% excise tax on employer (due 2½ months following plan year-end). Note: A special deadline applies to plans satisfying the requirements of an EACA. See June.
• Application of Waiver for Minimum Funding Standard for DB and money purchase pension plans. Due no later than the 15th day of the third month after the close of the plan year for which the waiver is requested.

March 31:

• Electronic 1099-R: File electronic Form 1099-R for pension distributions due to IRS.
• Electronic Forms 1099, W-2, and 8027: File electronic Forms 1099 and 8027 with the IRS. File electronic Forms W-2 with the SSA.
• For employers whose fiscal years coincide with the calendar year, Form LM-10, which is issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Nongovernmental employers must file the form annually to disclose financial dealings with union officials and representatives. For employers with a different fiscal year, the report must be made within 90 days after the end of the employer’s fiscal year.