Your Guide to February 2026 Business Tax Deadlines

Your Guide to February 2026 Business Tax Deadlines

As we move past the initial rush of the new year, February presents a series of crucial tax deadlines for business owners. Properly managing these dates is key to maintaining compliance and avoiding unnecessary penalties. This guide covers the essential filings for the 2025 tax year that are due in February 2026, from information returns to payroll tax reports.

Key Deadline: Monday, February 2, 2026

This is arguably the most significant date of the month, with several critical forms due to both recipients and government agencies.

W-2s and 1099-NECs

Your top priority should be furnishing Forms W-2 to all employees and Forms 1099-NEC to independent contractors you paid $600 or more for services during 2025. This isn't just about sending copies to the recipients; you must also file them with the appropriate agencies—W-2s with the Social Security Administration and 1099-NECs with the IRS—by this same date. Meeting this deadline is non-negotiable to avoid penalties.

Other Information Returns Due to Recipients

You must also provide copies of various other forms to recipients by February 2. These include:

  • Form 1098 (Mortgage Interest Statement)
  • Other Forms 1099 (reporting income like rent, royalties, dividends, prizes, etc.)
  • Form W-2G (Certain Gambling Winnings)

Note that for most 1099s (excluding the 1099-NEC), the IRS copy isn't due until later in the spring.

Annual and Quarterly Payroll Tax Forms

Several key payroll tax forms for the 2025 tax year also have an initial due date of February 2:

  • Form 940 (Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment Tax Return): For your 2025 FUTA taxes.
  • Form 941 (Employer's QUARTERLY Federal Tax Return): For the fourth quarter of 2025.
  • Form 943 (Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees): For 2025 farm employment taxes.
  • Form 945 (Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax): For nonpayroll withholding in 2025 (e.g., backup withholding or pension distributions).

Extended Filing Deadline: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Did you deposit all your employment taxes for the reporting period on time and in full? If so, the IRS grants you an automatic extension to file Forms 940, 941, 943, 944, and 945. This 10-day grace period rewards diligent depositing but requires that your payments were flawless throughout the year or quarter.

Arrows pointing in different directions, symbolizing tax deadlines

Mid-Month Deadlines: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

A few more deadlines arrive after the Presidents' Day holiday.

Specific Information Statements

The deadline to furnish recipients with the following forms for 2025 transactions is February 17:

  • Form 1099-B (Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions)
  • Form 1099-S (Proceeds from Real Estate Transactions)
  • Form 1099-MISC (Miscellaneous Income), only when reporting substitute payments or gross proceeds paid to an attorney.

Monthly Tax Deposits

If you are a monthly depositor for Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income taxes (both payroll and nonpayroll), your deposit for January 2026 is due on this date.

Withholding for Exempt Employees

This is the deadline to begin withholding income tax for employees who claimed exemption from withholding in 2025 but did not submit a new Form W-4 to continue their exemption for 2026.

A Note on Weekends, Holidays, and Disasters

Remember, if a tax deadline falls on a weekend or a legal holiday, the due date is automatically pushed to the next business day. Additionally, the IRS often provides filing extensions for taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas. You can verify locations and extended dates on the official FEMA and IRS websites.

  • FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations
  • IRS: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations

Navigating these dates can be complex. At Tax Lady 1040, we handle year-end information returns and payroll filings to ensure your business stays compliant. Contact us today for assistance.

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