United States · tax year 2026

Payroll tax form deadlines, tax year 2026

For 2026, quarterly Form 941 is due April 30, 2026, July 31, 2026, November 2, 2026 and February 1, 2027. Annual Forms 940 and 944 and Form W-2 are due February 1, 2027. The third-quarter and January dates move because October 31, 2026 is a Saturday and January 31, 2027 is a Sunday.

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At a glance · tax year 2026

Next Form 941
November 2, 2026
Forms 940 and 944
February 1, 2027
Forms W-2 and W-3
February 1, 2027

Written and reviewed by Godwin Pinto, ACA (ICAI) · checked October 1, 2026

FormPeriodDueSource
941 Quarter ending March 31, 2026 April 30, 2026 IRS Instructions for Form 941 (03/2026), When Must You File?
941 Quarter ending June 30, 2026 July 31, 2026 IRS Instructions for Form 941 (03/2026), When Must You File?
941 Quarter ending September 30, 2026 November 2, 2026 IRS Instructions for Form 941 (03/2026), When Must You File?
941 Quarter ending December 31, 2026 February 1, 2027 IRS Instructions for Form 941 (03/2026), When Must You File?
944 Calendar year 2026 February 1, 2027 IRS Topic 758, Form 944
940 Calendar year 2026 February 1, 2027 IRS Topic 759, When to file?
W-2 and W-3 Calendar year 2026 February 1, 2027 SSA, Deadline Dates to File W-2s; IRS Topic 752, General instructions

Tax year 2026. An employer files Form 941 or Form 944, not both, depending on what the IRS has told it to file.

What is the rule for Form 941?

“Your Form 941 is due by the last day of the month that follows the end of the quarter.” (IRS Instructions for Form 941 (03/2026), When Must You File?). There is a later date for employers who deposited on time: “If you made timely deposits in full payment of your taxes for the quarter, you may file by the 10th day of the 2nd month that follows the end of the quarter.”

And for Form 940?

“The due date for filing the Form 940 is January 31.” “However, if you deposited all FUTA tax when due, you have until February 10 to file.” (IRS Topic 759, When to file?)

What does Nella show?

The payroll returns your business says it files, Form 941 or Form 944, with Form 940 and Form W-2 for the year. If the business has not said which payroll return it files, Nella lists that as a gap. Nella does not run payroll or calculate payroll taxes.

Nella provides financial information and education, not accounting or tax advice. Facts for tax year 2026, taken from the sources linked on this page. Created by the accountants at AccTek Ltd — an ICPA and AIA member firm.

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FAQ

Questions people ask

When is the third-quarter 2026 Form 941 due?
November 2, 2026, because October 31, 2026 falls on a Saturday.
When are Forms W-2 for 2026 due?
February 1, 2027, to the SSA and to employees.