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March 2026 Tax Calendar: Critical Dates for NC Small Businesses

March is often the busiest month of the year for small business owners and their accounting teams. For many of our clients here in Chapel Hill, this is when the rubber meets the road for pass-through entities. At Adkin CPA, our Small Business Service Promise is built on giving you a clear picture of your tax position so there are no surprises. Meeting these deadlines is the first step in maintaining the best legal tax position possible.

While April 15 gets all the publicity, March 16 is the heavy lifter for S Corporations and Partnerships. Below is your guide to navigating the compliance landscape for March 2026.

Major Filing Deadlines for Pass-Through Entities

March 16 – Partnerships (Form 1065)

If your business is structured as a partnership, your 2025 calendar year return (Form 1065) is due. This is also the deadline to provide each partner with their Schedule K-1, outlining their share of income, deductions, and credits.

If your books aren't quite ready, we can file Form 7004 to request an automatic 6-month extension. However, remember that an extension to file is not an extension to pay. If you expect to owe, proper tax planning is essential to estimate that payment now.

Close up of currency and financial documents representing tax planning

March 16 – S Corporations (Form 1120-S)

S Corporations must file their 2025 income tax return (Form 1120-S) and pay any tax due by this date. Similar to partnerships, you must provide each shareholder with their Schedule K-1. Because pass-through income flows to your personal return, missing this deadline can delay your ability to file your individual Form 1040 later in April.

Need more time? Filing Form 7004 grants a 6-month extension. If you opt for an extension, you must still pay the estimated tax owed by March 16 to avoid interest and penalties. Then, you will have until September 15 to file the return and distribute K-1s.

March 16 – S Corp Election (Form 2553)

For newer businesses or those looking to change their tax treatment, this is a strategic deadline. You must file Form 2553 to elect to be treated as an S Corporation for the calendar year 2026. If you miss this window, the S Corp treatment generally won’t take effect until 2027, potentially costing you significant tax savings in self-employment taxes.

Information Reporting and Payroll

The IRS distinguishes between paper filing and electronic filing deadlines for information returns. At Adkin CPA, we strongly encourage electronic filing for accuracy and efficiency.

March 2 – Paper Filing Deadline

If you are still filing paper forms, the following are due to the IRS by March 2:

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  • Forms 1099 and 1096: For qualifying payments made in 2025 (excluding 1099-NEC, which was due earlier).
  • Gambling Winnings: Form 1096 and Copy A of Forms W-2G.
  • ACA Reporting (ALEs): Paper Forms 1094-C and 1095-C for Applicable Large Employers, and Forms 1094-B and 1095-B for other coverage providers.
  • Tip Reporting: Form 8027 for Large Food and Beverage Establishment Employers.

March 31 – Electronic Filing Deadline

If you file electronically, you gain extra time. The due date extends to March 31 for filing Forms 1099, 1098, W-2G, and the ACA forms (1094/1095) with the IRS. This extension applies strictly to the IRS submission; recipient copies should have already been distributed in February.

Other Key Dates and Industry-Specific Deadlines

Business professional navigating a storm, symbolizing busy tax season

March 2 – Farmers and Fishermen

If you did not pay your estimated tax by January 15, you must file your 2025 income tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) and pay the full tax due by March 2 to avoid penalties.

March 16 – Monthly Deposit Rules

For businesses adhering to the monthly deposit rule, this is the due date for depositing Social Security, Medicare, and withheld income tax for payments made in February. This also applies to non-payroll withholding.

Extensions and Disaster Relief

Weekend Rule: Because standard due dates sometimes fall on weekends, if a deadline hits a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it moves to the next business day.

Disaster Areas: If your business is located in a federally designated disaster area, the IRS may provide additional time to file and pay. We monitor these announcements closely for our North Carolina clients. You can verify current declarations via the FEMA website or the IRS disaster relief page.

Build a Relationship with Adkin CPA

Navigating these dates alone can be stressful. Whether you are managing an S Corp in Chapel Hill or a partnership elsewhere in NC, we are here to help you achieve a mutual win-win relationship with your finances. If you have questions about extensions or S Corp elections, contact us today.

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