Year-End Deadlines & 2026 Limits
As the year winds down, here are the key federal filing and estimated tax deadlines for calendar-year filers from November 2026 through February 2027. Remember that state deadlines may differ — your KM&M and CPAAGI advisor can confirm the dates that apply to you.
Key Filing & Estimated Tax Deadlines
DEC 15
2026
Q4 2026 estimated tax payment (Form 1120-W)
C corporations only — corporate estimates run on the Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec schedule, not the individual calendar.
JAN 15
2027
Q4 2026 estimated tax payment (Form 1040-ES)
Individuals. May be skipped if the 2026 return is filed and any balance due is paid by Jan 31, 2027.
FEB 1
2027
W-2s, 1099s & Q4 2026 Form 941
W-2s to employees; 1099s to recipients; copies to SSA/IRS. Employers (Jan 31, 2027 falls on a Sunday).
Ongoing: Payroll deposit schedules (monthly / semiweekly) continue throughout the period — no seasonal pause.
Note: Partnerships and S corps generally make no federal estimated payments at the entity level — income flows through to owners' 1040-ES installments. Elective PTET states may require quarterly state estimates on their own schedules.
2026 Contribution & Gifting Limits
Item | 2026 Limit | Catch-Up / Notes |
IRA (Traditional / Roth) | $7,500 | +$1,100 if age 50+ (up from $1,000 in 2025) |
401(k) / 403(b) / 457 elective deferral | $24,500 | +$8,000 if age 50+; ages 60–63: $11,250 “super catch-up” (total up to $35,750) |
401(k) total (employee + employer) | $72,000 | Additional to deferral limit; includes profit-sharing / employer match |
SIMPLE IRA / SIMPLE 401(k) | $17,000 | $18,100 for eligible enhanced plans; catch-up $4,000 (50+), $5,250 (ages 60–63) |
HSA — self-only coverage | $4,400 | +$1,000 if age 55+ (per spouse, if both have HDHP coverage) |
HSA — family coverage | $8,750 | +$1,000 if age 55+; 2026 HSA contributions allowed until Apr 15, 2027 |
529 plan contributions | $19,000 per beneficiary | Treated as a completed gift using the annual exclusion; 5-year election allows front-loading up to $95,000 per beneficiary ($190,000 married, gift-split) |
Trump accounts (new for 2026) | $5,000 per child | New savings accounts for children under 18 — contact your advisor for eligibility and funding details |
Annual gift tax exclusion | $19,000 per recipient | $38,000 per recipient if married couple gift-splits (Form 709 election) |
QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution) | $111,000 per individual | Age 70½+; excluded from income and counts toward RMD |
Due date: Most 2026 contribution and gifting items — including 529 and Trump account funding, charitable gifts, and annual exclusion gifts — must be completed by December 31, 2026.
Year-End Planning Checklist
Take required minimum distributions (RMDs) by Dec 31, 2026 — QCDs can satisfy the RMD without increasing taxable income.
Complete 2026 charitable gifts by Dec 31; bunching two or more years of gifts into 2026 may help clear the standard deduction.
Max retirement plan contributions before year-end; sole proprietors and partners can still make employer contributions through the filing deadline. Check with your payroll provider now about their deadlines for processing final 2026 401(k) deferrals and employer contributions — many providers require changes well before December 31.
Fund 529 plan contributions and new Trump accounts for children and grandchildren by Dec 31, 2026.
Review capital gains / loss harvesting and deferral or acceleration of income and deductions based on projected 2026 vs. 2027 brackets.
Confirm payroll is reconciled before W-2 / 1099 processing begins in January.
Questions about your year-end plan?
Your KM&M and CPAAGI advisor can walk through what applies to you.
Mansfield (419) 756-3211 · Columbus (614) 942-1990
This article is for general information and is not tax advice for your specific situation.
Comments