Important Tax Dates

Knowing what you have to file?and when?can save you lots of headaches at tax time. Mark your calendar with the following key dates to avoid paying penalties.

January 15, 2009		4th Quarter 2008 Estimated Tax Payment Due If you are self-employed or have other fourth-quarter income that requires you to pay quarterly estimated taxes, get them postmarked by Jan. 15, 2009.

April 15, 2009		Individual Tax Returns Due for Tax Year 2008 If you haven't applied for an extension, e-file or postmark your individual tax returns by midnight April 15, 2009.
		Individual Tax Return Extension Form Due for Tax Year 2008 Need more time to prepare your tax return? File your request for an extension by April 15 to push your deadline back to October 15, 2009.
		1st Quarter 2009 Estimated Tax Payment Due If you are self-employed or have other first-quarter income that requires you to pay quarterly estimated taxes, get your Form 1040-ES postmarked by April 15, 2009.
		Last Day to make a 2008 IRA Contribution If you haven't already funded your retirement account for 2008, do so by April 15, 2009. That's the deadline for a contribution to a traditional IRA, deductible or not, and a Roth IRA. However, if you have a Keogh or SEP and you get a filing extension to October 15, 2009, you can wait until then to put 2008 money into those accounts.

June 15, 2009		2nd Quarter 2009 Estimated Tax Payment Due If you are self-employed or have other second-quarter income that requires you to pay quarterly estimated taxes, make sure your payment is postmarked by June 15, 2009.

September 15, 2009		3rd Quarter 2009 Estimated Tax Payment Due If you are self-employed or have other third-quarter income that requires you to pay quarterly estimated taxes, make sure your third quarter payment is postmarked by Sept. 15, 2009.

October 15, 2009		Extended Individual Tax Returns Due If you got a filing extension on your 2008 tax return, you need to get it completed and postmarked by October 15, 2009.
		Last Chance to Recharacterize 2008 Roth IRA Conversion If you converted a traditional IRA to a Roth during 2008 and paid tax on the conversion with your 2008 return, October 15, 2009 is the deadline for recharacterizing (undoing) the conversion. Doing so could save you money if the IRA has lost money since the time of the original conversion.

January 15, 2010		4th Quarter 2009 Estimated Tax Payment Due If you are self-employed or have other fourth-quarter income that requires you to pay quarterly estimated taxes, get them postmarked by Jan. 15, 2010.