January 2026 Key Tax Deadlines for Individuals

With the new year comes new tax responsibilities. January 2026 is packed with crucial deadlines for individual tax payments, tip reporting, and strategic tax planning. It's vital to stay informed and prepare accordingly to avoid potential penalties.

Image 1

January 2 - Schedule Your Tax Consultation

Tax season kicks off in January. If you haven’t arranged a meeting with your tax advisor, it’s prudent to do so promptly to secure a spot in what promises to be a busy calendar.

January 12 - Tips Reporting Deadline

For employees earning tips, if you received over $20 in tips during December, you must report these to your employer by January 12. This can be done using IRS Form 4070 or a personal statement that includes your signature, personal details, your employer’s information, the month covered by the report, and the total tips received.

Image 2

Your employer is responsible for withholding FICA taxes and income tax on these tips. Should your regular wages not suffice to cover these withholdings, any uncollected amount will appear in box 8 of your W-2 form, and you’ll need to cover these costs when filing your annual return.

Ready to leap?
Our team is standing by to help!
Reach out now

January 15 - Final Estimated Tax Payment for 2025

Ensure your fourth quarter estimated tax payment for the 2025 fiscal year is submitted by this date. If you miss the January 15 deadline, you must file your 2025 return and settle any taxes by February 2, 2026, to avoid penalties on estimated taxes.

Weekend and Holiday Extensions

Should a deadline fall on a weekend or holiday, the due date automatically extends to the next business day that is not a holiday.

Image 3

Extensions for Disaster Areas

Areas declared as disaster zones may be eligible for deadline extensions. Stay informed about designated areas and extended deadlines through the following resources:
FEMA Disaster Declarations
IRS Tax Relief in Disaster Situations

Ready to leap?
Our team is standing by to help!
Reach out now
Share this article...

Sign up for our newsletter.

Each month, we will send you a roundup of our latest blog content covering the tax and accounting tips & insights you need to know.

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 .