Tax Deposit Schedule Determiner

ReVerify Consulting 2026 Tax Year

Tax Deposit Schedule Determiner

Determine your federal employment tax deposit schedule, calculate due dates, and understand key deposit rules.

1 Select Year
2 Enter Liability
3 Your Schedule

Step 1: Select Your Tax Year

The lookback period is based on your selected tax year.

Lookback Period for 2026:

July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

  • Review your Form 941 (or Form 943) filings from Q3 2024 through Q2 2025.
  • Add up the total tax liability reported on Line 12 of each quarterly Form 941 (or the annual total from Form 943) during this period.
  • The IRS uses this lookback period to determine your deposit schedule for the entire calendar year 2026.

Deposit Due Date Calculator

Calculate exactly when your federal tax deposit is due.

Monthly Deposit Rule

Taxes accumulated during a calendar month must be deposited by the 15th of the following month. If the 15th falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit is due the next business day.

$100,000 Next-Day Deposit Rule

Critical rule that can change your deposit schedule mid-year.

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Immediate Action Required: If you accumulate $100,000 or more in tax liability on any single day during a deposit period, you must deposit the taxes by the next business day — regardless of whether you are a monthly or semi-weekly depositor.

How the $100K Rule Works

  • Monthly depositors: The deposit period is the calendar month. If you accumulate $100,000+ on any day during the month, deposit by the next business day.
  • Semi-weekly depositors: The deposit period is Wed-Fri or Sat-Tue. If $100,000+ accumulates on any day within that period, deposit by the next business day.
  • Schedule change trigger: If a monthly depositor hits the $100K threshold, they automatically become a semi-weekly depositor for the remainder of the current calendar year AND the entire following calendar year.

Check Your $100K Trigger

Example Scenarios

Scenario 1 — Monthly depositor: Your company runs a large bonus payroll in March 2026 totaling $115,000 in tax liability on March 15th. You must deposit $115,000 by the next business day (March 16, 2026). Additionally, you become a semi-weekly depositor for the remainder of 2026 and all of 2027.

Scenario 2 — Semi-weekly depositor: On Thursday, your regular payroll generates $102,000 in liability. Since Thursday falls in a Wed-Fri deposit period, you must deposit the full $102,000 by the next business day (Friday). Your semi-weekly schedule continues unchanged.

Scenario 3 — Year-end bonus: A monthly depositor processes a December 20, 2026 bonus payroll generating $145,000 in tax liability. The employer must deposit $145,000 by December 22, 2026 (next business day). They automatically become a semi-weekly depositor for the remainder of 2026 and the entirety of 2027.

Key Points to Remember

  • The $100,000 threshold applies to accumulated tax liability on a single day — not the total for the deposit period.
  • Once triggered, the next-day deposit requirement is immediate. Do not wait for your regular deposit schedule.
  • Monthly depositors who trigger the rule must switch to semi-weekly deposits for the remainder of the current year AND the entire following year.
  • Semi-weekly depositors who trigger the rule remain semi-weekly — no additional schedule change occurs.
  • The $100,000 rule applies to each individual deposit period. For monthly depositors, each month is a deposit period. For semi-weekly depositors, each Wed-Fri or Sat-Tue window is a deposit period.
  • All deposits — including next-day deposits — must be made via EFTPS. Plan ahead to ensure your EFTPS account is active and funded.

Triggered the $100K Rule?

Our employment tax specialists can help you navigate schedule changes, ensure compliance, and avoid penalties.

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Deposit Penalty Quick Reference

Late federal tax deposits are subject to escalating penalties based on how late the deposit is made.

2%
1–5 days late
5%
6–15 days late
10%
16+ days late
15%
10+ days after
first IRS notice
Lateness Window Penalty Rate On $10,000 Deposit On $50,000 Deposit
1–5 calendar days 2% $200 $1,000
6–15 calendar days 5% $500 $2,500
16+ calendar days 10% $1,000 $5,000
10+ days after first IRS notice 15% $1,500 $7,500

Quick Penalty Estimator

Estimate the penalty for a late deposit.

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Important: These penalty rates apply to the unpaid amount of the deposit. The IRS may also charge interest on penalties. Penalties can be abated if you demonstrate reasonable cause. This calculator provides estimates only — consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Need Help With a Deposit Penalty?

Our employment tax consultants can help you understand your options, including penalty abatement requests.

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Form-Specific Deposit Guidance

Deposit rules vary depending on which employment tax form you file.

Form 941 — Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return

Most common form. Used by the majority of employers to report income tax withheld, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax.

  • Filing frequency: Quarterly (Q1: Apr 30, Q2: Jul 31, Q3: Oct 31, Q4: Jan 31)
  • Deposit schedule: Determined by lookback period — either monthly or semi-weekly
  • Lookback period: 12-month period from July 1 two years prior through June 30 of the prior year
  • Tax liability from Form 941 Line 12 is the figure used for the lookback period calculation

Form 943 — Employer's Annual Federal Tax Return for Agricultural Employees

Used by employers of farmworkers to report federal income tax withheld, Social Security, and Medicare taxes on agricultural wages.

  • Filing frequency: Annually (due January 31 of the following year)
  • Deposit schedule: Although Form 943 is filed annually, deposit rules follow the same monthly/semi-weekly schedule based on the lookback period
  • Lookback period: Same calculation — total tax liability from Form 943 during the July 1 – June 30 lookback window
  • The $50,000 threshold and $100K next-day rule apply identically

Form 944 — OBSOLETE as of 2026

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Form 944 is obsolete beginning in tax year 2026. This form was previously used by the smallest employers (annual tax liability of $1,000 or less) as an alternative to quarterly Form 941 filing. The IRS discontinued this form. Employers who previously filed Form 944 must now file Form 941 quarterly.
  • If you previously filed Form 944, you are now required to file Form 941
  • Your deposit schedule will be determined by the standard lookback period rules
  • Contact the IRS if you have questions about transitioning from Form 944 to Form 941

Form 940 — FUTA (Federal Unemployment Tax Act)

Form 940 has separate deposit rules from Forms 941/943. FUTA tax is an employer-only tax (not withheld from employee wages).

  • Filing frequency: Annually (due January 31 of the following year)
  • Deposit rules:
    • If FUTA liability exceeds $500 in a calendar quarter → deposit by the last day of the month following the quarter end
    • If FUTA liability is $500 or less → carry it forward to the next quarter; deposit only when cumulative liability exceeds $500, or with the annual return
  • FUTA deposit due dates (if quarterly liability > $500):
    • Q1 (Jan–Mar): April 30
    • Q2 (Apr–Jun): July 31
    • Q3 (Jul–Sep): October 31
    • Q4 (Oct–Dec): January 31
  • FUTA deposits must also be made via EFTPS
  • The lookback period and monthly/semi-weekly schedule rules do not apply to FUTA

Form Comparison at a Glance

Form Filing Frequency Tax Types Deposit Schedule Status (2026)
941 Quarterly Income tax, SS, Medicare Monthly or Semi-Weekly (lookback) Active
943 Annual Income tax, SS, Medicare (agricultural) Monthly or Semi-Weekly (lookback) Active
944 N/A N/A N/A Obsolete
940 Annual FUTA (employer-only) Quarterly if > $500 / Annual if ≤ $500 Active

All Deposits Must Use EFTPS

Regardless of which form you file (941, 943, or 940), all federal employment tax deposits must be made electronically through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS).

Key points:

  • Enrollment takes 5–7 business days
  • You’ll receive a PIN by mail to activate your account
  • Deposits can be scheduled up to 365 days in advance
  • EFTPS is available 24/7 online or by phone (1-800-555-4477)
Visit EFTPS.gov →

Questions About Employment Tax Forms?

ReVerify Consulting provides expert guidance on employment tax compliance, form selection, and deposit requirements.

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Interactive Deposit Calendar

Visual calendar showing deposit due dates. Select a month and your deposit schedule type to view key dates.

Calendar Legend

DUE Deposit due date (on time) APPROACHING Due within 3 days OVERDUE Past due WKND/HOLIDAY Weekend or federal holiday

2026 Federal Holidays Affecting Deposit Dates

When a deposit due date falls on a federal holiday or weekend, the deadline moves to the next business day.

Holiday 2026 Date Observed
New Year’s DayJanuary 1Thursday, January 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day3rd Monday, JanuaryMonday, January 19
Presidents’ Day3rd Monday, FebruaryMonday, February 16
Memorial DayLast Monday, MayMonday, May 25
JuneteenthJune 19Friday, June 19
Independence DayJuly 4Saturday, July 4 (observed Fri Jul 3)
Labor Day1st Monday, SeptemberMonday, September 7
Columbus Day2nd Monday, OctoberMonday, October 12
Veterans DayNovember 11Wednesday, November 11
Thanksgiving4th Thursday, NovemberThursday, November 26
Christmas DayDecember 25Friday, December 25

2026 FUTA (Form 940) Quarterly Deposit Dates

If your cumulative FUTA liability exceeds $500 in a quarter, you must deposit by the due date below. If $500 or less, carry forward.

Quarter Period Deposit Due Date
Q1January – March 2026April 30, 2026
Q2April – June 2026July 31, 2026
Q3July – September 2026October 31, 2026 (observed Nov 2)
Q4October – December 2026January 31, 2027 (observed Feb 1)

Need Help Managing Your Deposit Calendar?

ReVerify Consulting can help you set up compliant deposit schedules and avoid costly late-deposit penalties.

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