Wagepoint American Small Business Payroll Calendar
This is the 2021 American Payroll Calendar. If you're looking for the Canadian Calendar, click here.
Keeping up with payroll dates and holidays can be a challenge, which is why we put together the Wagepoint 2021 Payroll Calendar.
It gives you a year-long overview of key small business payroll deadlines — so you can focus on running your business without worrying about missing important dates.
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Download a PDF copy of the calendar that you can keep at your desk
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2021 Payroll Calendar Dates [List Format]
January
Jan. 1 — New Year’s Day — All banks closed*
Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29 — Semi-Weekly Depositor Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. – Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Jan. 11 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Jan. 15 — Payment Deadline:
Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
4th Quarter 2020 Estimated Business Tax Payments (Self-Employed or applicable small business)
Jan. 18 — MLK Day — All banks closed*
February
Feb. 1 — Payment Deadline:
Annual Reporter Payroll Tax Deposit Due
Filing Deadline:
Form W-2s with Form W-3s (File with the SSA and provide copies to employees)**
Form 940 — Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Form 941 Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return
Form 944 — (If notified by the IRS to do so)
Form 945 — Non-Payroll Withholding
Copy A of Paper Form 1099 (Nonemployee compensation) with Form 1096 — with Entries for Box 1 (Payments to Contract Workers)
Feb. 2 — Groundhog Day
Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payroll Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. – Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Feb. 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Feb. 14 — Valentine’s Day
Feb. 15 — Presidents’ Day (All except DE, GA, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, NC, NM, RI, WI) — All banks closed*
Feb. 16 — Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
Feb. 26 — Manual Filing Deadline:
Copy A of Paper Form 1099 (Miscellaneous Income) with Form 1096 — With NO Entries for Box 7 (Payments to Contract Workers)
Paper Form 8027 (Employer’s Report of Tipped Income)
Paper W-2s (AZ, AK, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NJ, NM, WV)
Paper and Electronic W-2s (OK)**
March
Mar. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Mar. 5, 12, 19, 26 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Mar. 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Mar. 15 — Payment Deadline:
Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits
Tax Filing Deadline:
C, S-corps and partnerships
Mar. 17 — St. Patrick’s Day
Mar. 31 — Electronic Filing Deadline:
Forms 1099 and 8027
State W-2s and 1099s (AZ, AK, KS, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NJ, NM, WV)**
April
Apr. 2 — Good Friday
Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Apr. 4 — Easter
Apr. 5 — Easter Monday
Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Apr. 9 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Apr. 15 — Payment Deadline:
Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
1st Quarter Estimated Business Tax Payments (Self-Employed or applicable small business)
Filing Deadline:
Federal income tax (individuals and sole proprietors)
Final day to make estimated tax payments for 2019 (C-corps)
Last day to contribute to retirement and health savings accounts
Apr. 30 — Quarterly Filing Deadline:
Form 941 Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return
May
May 5 — Cinco de Mayo
May 5, 12, 19, 26 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
May 7, 14, 21, 28 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
May 9 — Mother's Day
May 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
May 17 — Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
May 31 — Memorial Day — All banks closed*
June
Jun. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Jun. 4, 11, 18, 25 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Jun. 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Jun. 15 — Payment Deadline:
Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
2nd Quarter Estimated Business Tax Payments (Self-Employed or applicable small business)
Jun. 20 — Father's Day
July
Jul. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Jul. 4 — Independence Day
Jul. 5 — Independence Day Observed — All banks closed*
Jul. 7, 14, 21, 28 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Jul. 9 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Jul. 15 — Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
August
Aug. 2 — Quarterly Filing Deadline:
Form 941 Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return
Aug. 4, 11, 18, 25 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Aug. 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Aug. 16 — Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
September
Sep. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Sep. 3, 10, 17, 24 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Sep. 6 — Labor Day — All banks closed*
Sep. 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Sep. 15 — Payment Deadline:
Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
3rd Quarter Estimated Business Tax Payments (Self-Employed or applicable small business)
October
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Oct. 11 — Columbus Day | Indigenous People’s Day ME, NM, SD — All banks closed*
Oct. 12 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Oct. 15 — Payment Deadline:
Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
Individuals and sole proprietors that filed an extension in April
Filing Deadline:
C-corps using electronic Form 1120
Oct. 31 — Halloween
November
Nov. 1 — Quarterly Filing Deadline:
Form 941 Employer’s QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return
Nov. 3, 10, 17, 24 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payroll Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Nov. 5, 12, 19, 26 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Nov. 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Nov. 11 — Veterans Day — All banks closed*
Nov. 15 — Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving — All banks closed*
December
Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes or Payrolls Issued Wed. - Fri. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 — Semi-Weekly Payroll Taxes for Payrolls Issued Sat. - Tues. (Due one week after the payroll is issued)
Dec. 10 — Tipped Income Reports Due
Dec. 15 — Monthly Depositor Payroll Tax Deposits Due
Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve
Dec. 25 — Christmas Day
Dec. 31 — New Year’s Eve
Enjoy the calendar! If you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know in the comments below. Your comments can help us make this tool even better.
*For holidays and bank closures, allow at least one extra business day for direct deposit. Federal employment and unemployment tax deposits must be made on a business day, Monday to Friday. If a deposit is required on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, you must make your deposit by the close of the following business day.
**Certain states follow the federal W-2 deadlines while others have different schedules. If you are handling your end-of-year manually, you will need to verify the dates for the states in which you operate/pay employees through the appropriate state websites. You should also verify that you have used the correct rate tables for your state W-2s and 1099s.
The advice we share on our blog is intended to be informational. It does not replace the expertise of accredited business professionals. Wagepoint assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this document.
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