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January 15—Individual taxpayers' final 2008 estimated tax payment is due unless Form 1040 is filed by February 2, 2009, and any tax due is paid with the return.

February 2—Most employers must file Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) to report Medicare, social security, and income taxes withheld in the fourth quarter of 2008. (If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return.) If you deposited the tax for the quarter in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return. Small employers who have been notified by the IRS should file Form 944 (Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return).

—Give your employees their copies of Form W-2 for 2008. If an employee agreed to receive Form W-2 electronically, have it posted on the website and notify the employee.

—Generally, give annual information statements to recipients of certain payments you made during 2008 (see February 17 for exceptions). You can use the appropriate version of Form 1099 or other information return. Form 1099 can be filed electronically with the consent of the recipient.

—File Form 940 [Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return] for 2008. If your undeposited tax is $500 or less, you can either pay it with your return or deposit it. If it is more than $500, you must deposit it. However, if you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.

—File Form 945 (Annual Return of Withheld Federal Income Tax) for 2008 to report income tax withheld on all nonpayroll items, including backup withholding and withholding on pensions, annuities, IRAs, etc. If your tax liability is less than $2,500, you can pay it in full with a timely filed return. If you deposited the tax for the year in full and on time, you have until February 10 to file the return.

February 17—Give annual information statement Forms 1099-B, 1099-S, and 1099-Misc. (if box 8 or 14 is checked) to recipients of certain payments you made during 2008. You can use the appropriate version of the Form or other information return.

March 2—The government's copy of Form 1099 series returns (along with the appropriate transmittal form) should be sent in by today. However, if these forms will be filed electronically, the due date is extended to March 31.

—The government's copy of Form W-2 series returns (along with the appropriate transmittal form) should be sent in by today. However, if these forms will be filed electronically, the due date is extended to March 31.

March 16—2008 income tax returns must be filed or extended for calendar-year corporations. If the return is not extended, this is also the last day for calendar-year corporations to make 2008 contributions to pension and profit-sharing plans.