Michael Sczekan & Co., provides free, downloadable tax organizers to assist you in assembling data
for the preparation of your income tax returns. We provide our organizer in Excel format.
When you file your federal income tax return, you can estimate
the date you will receive your refund based on the IRS's
Refund Cycle Chart.
You can track your tax refund using the IRS's
Where's My Refund tool.
If you don't receive your refund within 28 days from the original IRS
mailing date listed, you can initiate a refund trace on the IRS Web site.
State refunds are processed separately by each individual state,
so processing times vary from state to state. As a general rule,
you can expect your state tax refund within 30 days of the electronic
filing date or the postmark date.
2011 tax due dates
January
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
15
Individuals
Pay your 4th quarter estimated tax for 2011 using Form 1040-ES.
31
All Businesses
Give annual information statements (W-2s and 1099s) to recipients of certain payments you made during 2011.
31
Individuals
If you did not pay your last installment of estimated tax by January 15th, you may choose (but are not required) to file your income tax return (Form 1040) for 2011.
February
11
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
16
Individuals
File new Form W-4 to continue your exemption for another year.
28
All Businesses
File information returns (Form 1099) for certain payments you made during 2011.
March
2
Farmers & Fishermen
File your 2011 income tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due.
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
16
Corporations
File a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120 or 1120-A) and pay any tax due. If you want an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the return, file Form 7004 and deposit what you estimate you owe.
16
S Corporations
File a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120S) and pay any tax due.
16
S Corporations
S corporation election. File Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, to choose to be treated as an S corporation beginning with calendar year 2011.
16
Partnerships
Electing large partnerships. Provide each partner with a copy of Schedule K-1 (Form 1065-B), Partner's Share of Income (Loss) From an Electing Large Partnership, or a substitute Schedule K-1.
31
All Businesses
File Forms 1098, 1099, & W-2G with the IRS. This due date applies only if you filed electronically (not by magnetic media).
April
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
17
Individuals
2011 Income Tax Return and payment due.
17
Individuals
2011 Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File US. Individual Tax Return Due.
17
Individuals
Payment due for those paying estimated 2012 tax in installments (Use Form 1040-ES).
17
Household Employers
If you paid cash wages of $1,500 or more in 2011 to a household employee, you must file Schedule H.
17
Corporations
Deposit the first installment of estimated income tax for 2012.
17
Partnerships
File a 2011 calendar year return (Form 1065).
17
Partnerships
Electing large partnerships. File a 2011 calendar year return (Form 1065-B).
May
11
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
June
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
15
Individuals
Payment due for those paying estimated 2011 tax in installments (Use Form 1040-ES).
15
Individuals
If you are a US citizen or resident alien living and working (or on military duty) outside the United States and Puerto Rico, file Form 1040 and pay any tax, interest, and penalties.
15
Individuals
If you are a US citizen or resident alien living and working (or on military duty) outside the United States and Puerto Rico, and want additional time to file your return, file Form 4868 to obtain 4 additional months to file.
15
Corporations
Deposit the second installment of estimated income tax for 2011.
July
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
August
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
September
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
15
Individuals
Payment due for those paying estimated 2012 tax in installments (Use Form 1040-ES).
15
Corporations
If filed an extention, file a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120 or 1120-A) and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due.
15
Corporations
Deposit the third installment of estimated income tax for 2012.
15
S Corporations
If filed an extention, file a 2011 calendar year income tax return (Form 1120S) and pay any tax due (applies only to automatic 6-month extensions) .
October
12
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
15
Individuals
If filed a 2011 Automatic Extension - 2011 income tax return, payment, interest, and penalties due.
15
Partnerships
File a 2011 calendar year return (Form 1065). Applies only to those with an additional 6-month extension.
15
Partnerships
Electing large partnerships. File a 2011 calendar year return (Form 1065-B). Applies only to those with an additional 6-month extension.
November
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
December
10
Employees who work for tips
Previous Months Tips Due to Employer.
15
Corporations
Deposit the fourth installment of estimated income tax for 2011.
IRS tax rate schedules
2011 Single
If taxable income is over—
But not over—
The tax is:
$0
$8,500
10% of the amount over $0
$8,500
$34,500
$850.00 plus 15% of the amount over $8,500
$34,500
$83,600
$4,750.00 plus 25% of the amount over $34,500
$83,600
$174,400
$17,025.00 plus 28% of the amount over $83,600
$174,400
$379,150
$42,449.00 plus 33% of the amount over $174,400
$379,150
no limit
$110,016.50 plus 35% of the amount over $379,150
If you are unmarried, or if you are legally separated from your spouse under a divorce
or separate maintenance decree according to your state law, and you do not qualify for
another filing status, your filing status is single. Generally, your marital status on
the last day of the year determines your status for the entire year.
2011 Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Widow(er)
If taxable income is over—
But not over—
The tax is:
$0
$17,000
10% of the amount over $0
$17,000
$69,000
$1,700.00 plus 15% of the amount over $17,000
$69,000
$139,350
$9,500.00 plus 25% of the amount over $69,000
$139,350
$212,300
$27,087.50 plus 28% of the amount over $139,350
$212,300
$379,150
$47,513.50 plus 33% of the amount over $212,300
$379,150
no limit
$102,574.00 plus 35% of the amount over $379,150
If you are married, you and your spouse may file a joint return or separate returns. Generally,
your marital status on the last day of the year determines your status for the entire year.
If your spouse died and you did not remarry in the year that your spouse died, you may still
file a joint return for that year. This is the last year for which you may file a joint return with that spouse.
You may be able to file as a qualifying widow or widower for the two years following the year your spouse died.
2011 Married Filing Separately
If taxable income is over—
But not over—
The tax is:
$0
$8,500
10% of the amount over $0
$8,500
$34,500
$850.00 plus 15% of the amount over $8,500
$34,500
$69,675
$4,750.00 plus 25% of the amount over $34,500
$69,675
$106,150
$13,543.75 plus 28% of the amount over $69,675
$106,150
$189,575
$23,756.75 plus 33% of the amount over $106,150
$189,575
no limit
$51,287.00 plus 35% of the amount over $189,575
If you are married, you and your spouse may file a joint return or separate returns. Generally,
your marital status on the last day of the year determines your status for the entire year. It
is usually more beneficial to file a joint return.
2011 Head of Household
If taxable income is over—
But not over—
The tax is:
$0
$12,150
10% of the amount over $0
$12,150
$46,250
$1,215.00 plus 15% of the amount over $12,150
$46,250
$119,400
$6,330.00 plus 25% of the amount over $46,250
$119,400
$193,350
$24,617.50 plus 28% of the amount over $119,400
$193,350
$379,150
$45,323.50 plus 33% of the amount over $193,350
$379,150
no limit
$106,637.50 plus 35% of the amount over $379,150
Generally, to qualify for head of household status, you must be unmarried and you must have paid
more than half the cost of maintaining as your home a household that was the main home for a
qualifying person for more than half the year. You may also qualify for head of household status
if you, though married, file a separate return, your spouse was not a member of your household
during the last six months of the tax year, and you provided more than half the cost of maintaining
as your home a household that was the main home for more than one half of your tax year of a qualifying
person.
2011 Corporate (C Corp)
If taxable income is over—
But not over—
The tax is:
$0
$50,000
15% of the amount over $0
$50,000
$75,000
$7,500 plus 25% of the amount over $50,000
$75,000
$100,000
$13,750 plus 34% of the amount over $75,000
$100,000
$335,000
$22,250 plus 39% of the amount over $100,000
$335,000
$10,000,000
$113,900 plus 34% of the amount over $335,000
$10,000,000
$15,000,000
$3,400,000 plus 35% of the amount over $10,000,000
$15,000,000
$18,333,333
$5,150,000 plus 38% of the amount over $15,000,000
$18,333,333
no limit
35% of the amount over $0
IRS tax forms
The IRS has available all its forms and instruction for download in Adobe PDF format. You can
download them from the IRS's Forms and Instruction page.
You will need the Adobe Reader which you can download
free of charge.
Most of the forms are in the fill-in PDF format which allows you to enter values directly into the
PDF document. If you use Adobe Reader version 6.05 or later, you can save and print the forms with
the filled in data included.
IRS publications
The IRS has over 50 publications filled with helpful information. They cover topics for every type
of tax (income, payroll, excise, etc.) and most types of businesses and industries. For individuals can
find pubs for many topics including child credits, person serving on the military, individuals living
abroad. You can download these pubs from the IRS's
Publications and Notices page.
You will need the Adobe Reader which you can download
free of charge.
State tax forms
State tax forms can be downloaded from the individual state's website. Click on the state in
the map below to go to that state's website.
You will need the Adobe Reader which you can download
free of charge.
How long should you keep your records?
Business documents to keep for one year
Correspondence with Customers and Vendors
Duplicate Deposit Slips
Purchase Orders (other than Purchasing Department copy)
Receiving Sheets
Requisitions
Business documents to keep for three years
Bank Statements and Reconciliation's
Employee Personnel Records (after termination)
Employment Applications
Expired Insurance Policies
General Correspondence
Internal Audit Reports
Internal Reports
Petty Cash Vouchers
Physical Inventory Tags
Savings Bond Registration Records of Employees
Time Cards For Hourly Employees
Business documents to keep for six years
Accident Reports, Claims
Accounts Payable Ledgers, Schedules and Purchase Orders
Accounts Receivable Ledgers, Schedules and Sales Records
Cancelled Checks
Employment Tax Records
Expense Analysis and Expense Distribution Schedules
Expired Contracts, Leases
Inventories of Products, Materials, Supplies
Invoices to Customers
Notes Receivable Ledgers, Schedules
Payroll Records and Summaries, including payment to pensioners
Subsidiary Ledgers
Travel and Entertainment Records
Vouchers for Payments to Vendors, Employees, etc.
Voucher Register, Schedules
Business documents to keep indefinitely (part 1)
Insurance Records, Current Accident Reports, Claims, Policies
Investment Trade Confirmations
IRS Revenue Agents' Reports
Journals
Legal Records, Correspondence and Other Important Matters
Minutes Books of Directors and Stockholders
Mortgages, Bills of Sale
Property Appraisals by Outside Appraisers
Property Records
Retirement and Pension Records
Tax Returns and Worksheets
Trademark and Patent Registrations
Continued (see part 2)...
Business documents to keep indefinitely (part 2)
Insurance Records, Current Accident Reports, Claims, Policies
Investment Trade Confirmations
IRS Revenue Agents' Reports
Journals
Legal Records, Correspondence and Other Important Matters
Minutes Books of Directors and Stockholders
Mortgages, Bills of Sale
Property Appraisals by Outside Appraisers
Property Records
Retirement and Pension Records
Tax Returns and Worksheets
Trademark and Patent Registrations
Personal documents to keep for three years
Credit Card Statements
Medical Bills (in case of insurance disputes)
Utility Records
Expired Insurance Policies
Personal documents to keep for six years
Supporting Documents For Tax Returns
Accident Reports and Claims
Medical Bills (if tax-related)
Property Records / Improvement Receipts
Sales Receipts
Wage Garnishments
Other Tax-Related Bills
Personal documents to keep indefinitely
CPA Audit Reports
Legal Records
Important Correspondence
Income Tax Returns
Income Tax Payment Checks
Investment Trade Confirmations
Retirement and Pension Records
Special circumstances
Car Records (keep until the car is sold)
Credit Card Receipts (keep until verified on your statement)
Insurance Policies (keep for the life of the policy)
Mortgages / Deeds / Leases (keep 6 years beyond the agreement)
Pay Stubs (keep until reconciled with your W-2)
Property Records / improvement receipts (keep until property sold)
Sales Receipts (keep for life of the warranty)
Stock and Bond Records (keep for 6 years beyond selling)
Warranties and Instructions (keep for the life of the product)
Other Bills (keep until payment is verified on the next bill)