Semi-Weekly Deposit Schedule Pattern
Monthly Deposit Schedule
Monthly schedule depositors must deposit employment taxes accumulated during the month by the 15th of the following month. Monthly deposit deadlines are shown on the 15th of each month.
Upcoming Deadlines
Monthly Depositors
Lookback period liability of $50,000 or less
- Deposit by the 15th of the following month
- Report on Form 941 quarterly
- Simpler schedule, fewer deposit dates
Semi-Weekly Depositors
Lookback period liability over $50,000
- Wed/Thu/Fri payroll: deposit by next Wednesday
- Sat-Tue payroll: deposit by next Friday
- At least 3 business days to deposit
Key Thresholds
Critical dollar amounts to know:
- $2,500: De minimis quarterly threshold
- $50,000: Monthly vs. semi-weekly cutoff
- $100,000: Next-day deposit trigger
Deposit Schedule Determination
Your deposit schedule for 2026 is based on the total tax liability you reported during your lookback period. The lookback period for calendar year 2026 is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
2026 Lookback Period
Monthly Depositor
You are a monthly schedule depositor if you reported $50,000 or less in employment taxes during the lookback period. Monthly depositors must deposit employment taxes by the 15th of the following month.
Semi-Weekly Depositor
You are a semi-weekly schedule depositor if you reported more than $50,000 in employment taxes during the lookback period. Semi-weekly depositors follow this pattern:
Next-Day Deposit Rule ($100,000)
Important: If you accumulate $100,000 or more in employment taxes on any day during a deposit period, you must deposit by the next business day, regardless of your regular deposit schedule.
If you are a monthly depositor and trigger the $100,000 rule, you become a semi-weekly depositor for the remainder of the calendar year and the following calendar year.
De Minimis Deposit Rule
If your total accumulated tax liability for the quarter is less than $2,500, you do not have to make deposits during the quarter. Instead, you may pay the taxes with your timely filed Form 941 for that quarter.
Alternatively, if the total is less than $2,500 you may deposit voluntarily, make a payment with Form 941, or combine deposits and Form 941 payments as long as the full amount is paid by the due date of Form 941.
EFTPS — Electronic Federal Tax Payment System
All federal tax deposits must be made electronically through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). You can make deposits via:
- EFTPS Online: Visit
eftps.govto schedule payments - EFTPS Phone: Call 1-800-555-4477 for phone deposits
- Same-Day Wire: Contact your financial institution for same-day federal tax deposits (additional fees may apply)
Tip: EFTPS deposits must be initiated by 8:00 PM Eastern Time the day before the due date to be timely. Plan ahead, especially around weekends and holidays.
Penalty Rates for Late Deposits
Penalties are applied based on how late the deposit is made:
| Lateness | Penalty Rate |
|---|---|
| 1–5 calendar days late | 2% of the unpaid deposit |
| 6–15 calendar days late | 5% of the unpaid deposit |
| 16+ calendar days late (or within 10 days of first IRS notice) | 10% of the unpaid deposit |
| Amounts still unpaid more than 10 days after first IRS notice | 15% of the unpaid deposit |
Note: If taxes that must be deposited are instead paid directly with Form 941, you may also be subject to a 10% penalty. Always use EFTPS for required deposits.
Weekend & Holiday Rules
If a deposit due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the deposit is due the next business day. Semi-weekly depositors have at least three business days to make a deposit. If any of the three weekdays following the payroll date are federal holidays, the deposit due date is extended by one additional day for each holiday.
2026 Quarterly Filing Timeline
Key Form 941 quarterly filing and deposit dates for the 2026 tax year:
Common Deposit Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing the EFTPS cutoff time: EFTPS transactions must be initiated by 8:00 PM ET the business day before the deposit due date. A deposit scheduled at 9:00 PM on the due date will not process until the next day, making it late.
- Using the wrong tax period: When making an EFTPS payment, ensure you select the correct tax period. A payment applied to the wrong quarter will not satisfy your current-quarter obligation.
- Confusing filing and deposit deadlines: Even when you receive an extension to file Form 941, the deadline to deposit taxes is not extended. Deposits must still be made on time according to your schedule.
- Not adjusting for the $100,000 rule: If you trigger the next-day deposit rule as a monthly depositor, you must switch to semi-weekly for the rest of the year. Failing to do so results in late deposit penalties.
- Ignoring state deposit requirements: Federal and state deposit schedules may differ. Some states require more frequent deposits than the federal schedule, especially for large employers.
Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (TFRP)
Critical Warning: Employment taxes withheld from employees (federal income tax, employee share of Social Security and Medicare) are considered trust fund taxes. These taxes are held in trust for the U.S. government.
The IRS may assess the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty (also known as the 100% penalty) against any responsible person who willfully fails to collect, account for, or deposit trust fund taxes. The penalty equals 100% of the unpaid trust fund taxes.
A responsible person can include:
- Officers or employees of a corporation
- Members or employees of a partnership or LLC
- Corporate directors or shareholders with authority over financial affairs
- Payroll service providers in certain circumstances
- Any person with authority to direct payment of funds
The TFRP is a personal liability and cannot be discharged through corporate bankruptcy. It is one of the most serious employment tax penalties the IRS can impose.
Form 941 vs. Form 943 — Which to File
Most employers file Form 941 quarterly to report income taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax withheld from employee wages, as well as the employer's share of Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Form 943 is filed annually by employers who pay wages to farmworkers (agricultural employees). If you have both agricultural and non-agricultural employees, you must file both Form 941 (quarterly, for non-agricultural wages) and Form 943 (annually, for agricultural wages).
Note: Form 944 (Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return) has been obsoleted effective for the 2026 tax year. Employers who previously filed Form 944 should now file Form 941 quarterly. Contact the IRS for guidance on transitioning.
State Quarterly Filing Calendar
Quarterly unemployment and withholding tax filing deadlines by state for 2026. Click column headers to sort.
| State ▲ | Q1 Due | Q2 Due | Q3 Due | Q4 Due | Annual / W-2 | Notes |
|---|