If you miss a tax deadline, the IRS can hit you hard with penalties and interest. For instance, the standard penalty for failing to file your annual tax return on time is 5% of the amount due for each month your return is late. If you pay your taxes late, the monthly penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid amount, up to 25% of what you owe, plus interest on the unpaid taxes. Similar penalties apply for missing other deadlines. And there could also be other negative consequences for being late, like losing out on a valuable tax break.

It’s easy to avoid these headaches, though — just don’t miss the deadline! But we realize that it’s not always easy keeping track of all the various IRS due dates. So, for those of you who need a little help remembering when to file a return, submit a report or pay a tax, we pulled together a list of the most important 2022 federal income tax due dates for individuals. There’s at least one deadline in every month of the year, so play close attention…we don’t want you to get in trouble with the IRS.

NOTE: Some of the 2022 due dates listed below are extended for victims of recent natural disasters. In addition, several 2021 due dates were extended to January 3, 2022, for other natural disaster victims. In the case of Mississippi water crisis victims, several 2022 deadlines are pushed into 2023. For more information on these extensions, see our articles for victims of:

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DateDeadlineJanuary 3Self-Employed Individuals Pay Half of Deferred 2020 Social Security TaxesJanuary 10Tips for December 2021 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)January 18Estimated Tax Payment for 4th Quarter of 2021 (Form 1040-ES)January 18Farmers and Fishermen Pay Estimated Tax for 2021 (Form 1040-ES)January 24IRS Begins Accepting and Processing 2021 Tax Returns (Form 1040)January 31File 2021 Tax Return (Form 1040) to Avoid Penalty if Last Installment of Estimated Tax Not Paid by January 18

We start off the year with several important due dates in January. First, the CARES Act allowed self-employed people to defer payment of certain 2020 Social Security taxes for two years. Half of the deferred tax is due January 3 (the remainder will be due January 3, 2023). Second, employees who received at least $20 in tips during December 2021 must report those tips to their employer by January 10. (This is a monthly requirement for workers who collect tips.)

Three other January deadlines involve estimated tax payments. January 18 is the last day for most people to pay estimated taxes for the 4th quarter of 2021. However, you don’t have to make a payment by that date if you file your 2021 tax return by January 31 and pay the entire balance due with your return. Farmers and fishermen can make a single payment of 2021 estimated taxes (instead of making quarterly payments) — that payment is due January 18.

Finally, while not actually a due date, we should note that tax filing season begins on January 24. That’s the day the IRS begins accepting and processing 2021 income tax returns.

DateDeadlineFebruary 10Tips for January 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)February 15File Form W-4 to Reclaim Exemption from Withholding for 2022February 15Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania Hurricane Ida Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from January 1 to February 14February 28Alabama Storm and Flooding Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from January 1 to February 27

The monthly tip reporting deadline is February 10. This time it’s for tips received in January.

In addition, if you were exempt from income tax withholding in 2021 and want to reclaim the exemption for 2022, you need to fill out a new W-4 form and give it to your employer. (Note that you must qualify to claim an exemption.)

Finally, victims of two of last year’s natural disasters get extensions to February for certain federal tax filing and payment requirements. People in Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania impacted by Hurricane Ida have until February 15 to file returns and pay taxes originally due from the time the hurricane hit up to February 14. Victims of the severe storms and flooding in Alabama that began on October 6, 2021, have until February 28 to file and pay taxes due from October 6 to February 27.

DateDeadlineMarch 10Tips for February 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)March 15Washington Flooding and Mudslide Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from January 1 to March 14

March is pretty slow for individual taxpayers – but it’s a calm before the storm.

Employees must report February tips to their employer by March 10.

Victims of the flooding and mudslides in Washington State that began on November 13, 2021, have until March 15 to file federal returns and pay federal taxes originally due from November 13 to March 14.

DateDeadlineApril 1First Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) by Individuals Who Turned 72 in 2021April 11Tips for March 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)April 18File 2021 Tax Return (Form 1040) and Pay Tax Due (except for residents of Maine and Massachusetts)April 18File Form 4868 to Request 6-Month Income Tax Return Filing Extension (payment of tax not extended)April 18File Schedule H (1040) and Pay Employment Taxes for Household Employees (file separately if Form 1040 is not filed)April 18Estimated Tax Payment for 1st Quarter of 2022 (Form 1040-ES), including for residents of Maine and MassachusettsApril 18Farmers and Fishermen File 2021 Tax Return (Form 1040) to Avoid Penalty if Estimated Tax Not Paid by January 18April 18Contribute to Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for 2021April 18Withdraw Excess IRA Contributions in 2021 to Avoid Penalty if Filing of Form 1040 Was Not ExtendedApril 18Contribute to Health Savings Account (HSA) for 2021April 18Contribute to Solo 401(k) Plan or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plan for 2021 by Self-Employed if Filing of Form 1040 Was Not ExtendedApril 18File 2018 Tax Return (Form 1040) to Request Unclaimed Tax Refund for the 2018 Tax YearApril 19File 2021 Tax Return (Form 1040) and Pay Tax Due for Residents of Maine and Massachusetts (most other federal income tax deadlines on April 18 are also extended to April 19)

April is the most important month on the tax calendar. For most people, April 18 is the last day file a 2021 tax return…unless you file an application for an automatic six-month extension with the IRS, which is also due on April 18. If you employ a nanny, maid, gardener or other household worker, you also have until April 18 to file Schedule H and pay their employment taxes. If you live in Maine or Massachusetts, those due dates fall on April 19, since April 18 is a holiday (Patriot’s Day) in those states.

Farmers and fishermen who didn’t pay all their 2021 estimated taxes by January 18 must also file their 2021 tax return by April 18. This deadline is normally on March 1, but the IRS extended the due date this year because there were problems with e-filing a certain form before the regular deadline. See IRS Offers Estimated Tax Relief for Farmers and Fishermen for details.

There are some special deadlines in April for retirees and anyone saving for retirement, too. If you turned 72 in 2021, you must take your first required minimum distribution (RMD) from your traditional IRAs and 401(k) plans by April 1. April 18 is also the last day that you can contribute to an IRA or health savings account (HSA) for 2021. In addition, except for those who request an extension to file their 2021 tax return, April 18 is the due date for (1) self-employed people to contribute to a solo 401(k) or a simplified employee pension (SEP) plan for 2021, or (2) withdrawing excess IRA contributions made in 2021. Once again, these April 18 deadlines are pushed back to April 19 for Maine and Massachusetts residents.

Finally, workers must report March tips to their employer by April 11, estimated taxes for the 1st quarter of 2022 are due April 18, and April 18 is the last day to claim a tax refund for the 2018 tax year.

DateDeadlineMay 10Tips for April 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)May 16Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee Storm, Tornado and Flooding Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from January 1 to May 15May 16Colorado Wildfire Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from January 1 to May 15

After a busy April, things slow down considerable in May for most people. There’s the typical deadline for employees to report tips received in April to their boss. That’s due by May 10.

In addition, victims of certain natural disasters also have extended due dates on May 16. First, victims of the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee that began on December 10, 2021, can wait until May 16 to file federal returns or pay federal taxes that were supposed to be due between December 10 and May 15. People impacted by the Colorado wildfires that started on December 30, 2021, also have until May 16 to file returns and pay taxes originally due from December 30 to May 15.

DateDeadlineJune 10Tips for May 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)June 15Estimated Tax Payment for 2nd Quarter of 2022 (Form 1040-ES)June 15U.S. Taxpayers Living and Working Abroad File 2021 Tax Return (Form 1040)June 15U.S. Taxpayers Living and Working Abroad File Form 4868 to Request 4-Month Income Tax Return Filing Extension (payment of tax not extended)June 15Military Personnel on Duty Outside the U.S. File 2021 Tax Return (Form 1040)June 15Military Personnel on Duty Outside the U.S. File Form 4868 to Request 4-Month Income Tax Return Filing Extension (payment of tax not extended)June 15Puerto Rico Storm, Flooding and Landslide Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from February 4 to June 14

Military personnel and other taxpayers who are serving or living outside the U.S. have until June 15 to file their 2021 tax return. If they want a four-month filing extension, they must submit an application by June 15.

Estimated tax payments for the 2nd quarter of 2022 are also due June 15, while the tip reporting deadline for workers who received tips in May is June 10.

Victims of the severe storms, flooding, and landslides in Puerto Rico that began on February 4, 2022, can wait until June 15 to file federal returns or pay federal taxes that are ordinarily due between February 4 and June 14.

DateDeadlineJuly 11Tips for June 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)

For July, employees need to report any tips receive in June to their employer by July 11. Other than that, you can enjoy your time at the pool or beach without having to worry about tax deadlines!

DateDeadlineAugust 10Tips for July 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)

The summer slowdown for tax deadlines continues in August. The only due date for individuals is the monthly tip report. Workers who received tips in July must report them to their employer by August 10.

DateDeadlineSeptember 1Oklahoma Storm, Tornado, and Flooding Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from May 2 to August 31September 12Tips for August 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)September 15Estimated Tax Payment for 3rd Quarter of 2022 (Form 1040-ES)September 30New Mexico Wildfire and Straight-Line Wind Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from April 5 to September 29

There are four notable tax due dates in September. First, victims of the Oklahoma severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that began on May 2, 2022, have until September 1 to file federal returns and pay federal taxes originally due from May 2 to August 31. Second, employees must report August tips to their employer by September 12. Third, estimated tax payments for the 3rd quarter of 2022 are due by September 15. And fourth, victims of the wildfires and straight-line winds in New Mexico that began on April 5, 2022, can wait until September 30 to file federal returns or pay federal taxes that were supposed to be due between April 5 and September 29.

DateDeadlineOctober 11Tips for September 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)October 17File Extended 2021 Tax Return (Form 1040) and Pay Tax DueOctober 17Withdraw Excess IRA Contributions in 2021 to Avoid Penalty if Filing of Form 1040 Was ExtendedOctober 17Contribute to Solo 401(k) Plan or Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Plan for 2021 by Self-Employed if Filing of Form 1040 Was ExtendedOctober 17Montana Storm and Flooding Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from June 10 to October 16

If you were granted an extension to file your 2021 tax return, now’s the time to send that return to the IRS. The due date for extended returns is October 17. For those who received an extension, October 17 is also the last date for (1) self-employed people to contribute to a solo 401(k) or a simplified employee pension (SEP) plan for 2021, or (2) withdrawing excess IRA contributions made in 2021.

For workers who received tips in September, the deadline to report those tips to your employer is October 11.

Victims of the Montana severe storms and flooding that began on June 10, 2022, have until October 17 to file federal returns and pay federal taxes originally due from June 10 to October 16.

DateDeadlineNovember 10Tips for October 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)November 15Arizona Storm Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from July 17 to November 14November 15Missouri Storm and Flooding Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from July 25 to November 14

November 15

Kentucky Storm, Flooding, Landslide and Mudslide Victims’ Extended Deadline for Filing and Payment Obligations from July 26 to November 14

November is another slow month on the tax calendar. The only recurring deadline is for employees reporting tips earned in October to their boss. That report is due November 10.

There are three other deadlines for victims of natural disasters. The first one is for victims of the Arizona severe storms on July 17 and 18, 2022. The second one is for victims of the Missouri storms and flooding that began on July 25, 2022. The third deadline is for people and businesses impacted by the Kentucky storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began on July 26, 2022. In all three cases, the victims now have until November 15 to file federal returns and pay federal taxes originally due from the date the natural disaster began to November 14.

DateDeadlineDecember 12Tips for November 2022 Reported to Employer (Form 4070)December 31Contribution to Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan for 2022 (401(k), 403(b), 457 or federal thrift savings plans)December 31Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) by Individuals Who are 73 or Older at the End of 2022

December is the time to make any last-minute moves to lower your tax bill for the year. But there are also some other important due dates that you need to be aware of to stay out of hot water with the IRS. There’s the monthly tip reporting deadline, which is December 12 for reporting November tips to your employer. Plus, 2022 contributions to employer-sponsored retirement plans (e.g., 401(k), 403(b), 457 or federal thrift savings plans) must be in by December 31. That’s also the deadline for taking an RMD for 2022 if you’re 73 or older at the end of the year.