Key January 2026 Tax Deadlines for Individuals

New year, new tax responsibilities. In January 2026, crucial deadlines loom for individual taxpayers focusing on estimated payments, tip declarations, and strategic tax planning. Be sure to mark your calendars and prepare accordingly.

January 2 - Schedule Your Tax Preparation Appointment

The beginning of January marks the kickoff of tax season. We encourage you to schedule your tax preparation appointment now, before schedules fill up. A timely appointment ensures a stress-free tax season.Image 2

January 12 - Report Your Tips to Your Employer

If you earn tips as part of your income and received over $20 in tips during December, remember to report these to your employer by January 12. Utilize IRS Form 4070 or submit a statement including your signature, full name, address, and Social Security number; along with details of your employer and the total tips received within the reported period.

Your employer is tasked with withholding FICA and income taxes from your wages based on these reported tips. Should these wages be insufficient to cover taxes, any uncollected withholding amounts will be noted in box 8 of your W-2, requiring settlement upon filing your return.

Virtual AI
If you’re ready to get a handle on your tax situation, reach out and we’ll guide you through each step.
Let’s Sort This Out

January 15 - Final Day for Individual Estimated Tax Payments

Ensure you pay your fourth-quarter estimated tax installment for the 2025 tax year by January 15. Missing this window necessitates filing your 2025 return and settling all due taxes by February 2, 2026, to evade penalties for underpayment.Image 3

Handling Weekends & Holidays:

Any taxable event or due date landing on a weekend or recognized holiday will shift to the next available business day that isn’t a holiday itself.

Extensions in Disaster Zones:

In areas designated as disaster zones, deadline extensions apply. For details on disaster designations and extension dates, visit:
FEMA: FEMA Disaster Declarations
IRS: IRS Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

If any of this feels daunting, rest assured, we're here to walk you through the process step by step. Let’s make this tax season manageable together.

Virtual AI
If you’re ready to get a handle on your tax situation, reach out and we’ll guide you through each step.
Let’s Sort This Out
Share this article...

Want tax & accounting tips and insights?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .