District of Columbia C corporation compliance calendar 2026: the filings and due dates

Each filing, in plain English

DC Paid Family Leave contributions

When: by the last day of the 1st month after each quarter. Where: DC Department of Employment Services. If missed: Interest and late penalties set by the program on premiums paid late.

The District's paid family leave is funded by an employer paid contribution on wages at a rate set each year, with nothing deducted from employees, reported and paid every quarter with the unemployment insurance wage report. The rate is set by the program each year, so the figure on the agency page is the one to use, and a payroll provider normally files the report.

District of Columbia annual withholding reconciliation

When: by January 31 each year. Where: DC Office of Tax and Revenue.

District of Columbia withholds state income tax from employee wages, and the employer reconciles the year's withholding with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue after year end, by January 31 in most states and the end of February in a few, with copies of the W-2s where the state takes them. Withholding deposits during the year follow a schedule the state assigns, monthly or quarterly for most small employers. A payroll provider normally handles both.

District of Columbia unemployment insurance wage report

When: by the last day of the 1st month after each quarter. Where: District of Columbia unemployment insurance agency. If missed: Late filing and payment penalties set by the state, plus loss of the federal FUTA credit if contributions are not paid on time.

An employer registers for unemployment insurance in each state where it has employees and files a wage report every quarter, by the last day of the month after the quarter in nearly every state: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. The contribution rate is set by the state each year. Paying on time also earns the 5.4% credit against the federal unemployment tax.

Annual federal unemployment tax return

When: by January 31 each year. Where: IRS (Form 940). If missed: 5% of the unpaid tax for each month late, up to 25%.

Federal unemployment tax is an employer only tax of 6% on the first $7,000 paid to each employee, reduced to 0.6% for employers that pay state unemployment tax on time. Form 940 reports it once a year, by January 31. Quarterly deposits are due during the year once the liability passes $500. An organization exempt under section 501(c)(3) owes no federal unemployment tax and files no Form 940; other exempt organizations, such as 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) groups, do.

Quarterly federal payroll tax return

When: by the last day of the 1st month after each quarter. Where: IRS (Form 941). If missed: 5% of the unpaid tax for each month late, up to 25%, plus failure to deposit penalties of 2% to 15%.

Nearly every employer files Form 941 four times a year, by the last day of the month after each quarter: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. It reconciles what was withheld from employees and what the employer owes in Social Security and Medicare tax against the deposits already made. The smallest employers, those the IRS has told to file Form 944 because their annual liability is $1,000 or less, file once a year by January 31 instead. A payroll provider normally files it; the company is still the one liable.

W-2 forms to employees and the SSA

When: by January 31 each year. Where: Social Security Administration (Forms W-2 and W-3). If missed: $60 to $340 per form depending on how late (the figures for forms due in 2026, adjusted yearly), with no cap for intentional disregard.

Employees need their W-2 to file their own taxes, so the deadline is early: January 31, both for the copy to the employee and the copy to the Social Security Administration. Penalties are per form and grow the longer the forms are late. Payroll providers prepare and file these as part of year end.

Corporate estimated tax payment

When: on the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th, 12th months of the fiscal year (April 15, June 15, September 15, December 15 for a calendar year). Where: IRS (Estimated tax worksheet in the Form 1120 instructions, paid through EFTPS). If missed: An underpayment penalty computed on Form 2220, charged as interest for each day the installment is short.

A C corporation that expects to owe $500 or more pays its income tax in four installments during the year, on the 15th day of the fourth, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of its fiscal year. For a calendar year that is April 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15; a June 30 fiscal year pays October 15, December 15, March 15 and June 15. The dates here follow the fiscal year you gave.

DC corporation franchise tax return

When: by the 15th day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends (April 15 for a calendar year). Where: DC Office of Tax and Revenue (Form D-20). Fee: Tax on DC net income, $250 minimum ($1,000 if DC gross receipts exceed $1 million). If missed: 5% a month late, up to 25%, plus interest.

A corporation doing business in DC pays the DC corporation franchise tax on Form D-20, due by the 15th day of the fourth month after the year ends. The minimum tax is $250, or $1,000 once DC gross receipts pass $1 million, and it is owed even when the company lost money.

District of Columbia corporate estimated tax payment

When: on the 15th day of the 4th, 6th, 9th, 12th months of the fiscal year (April 15, June 15, September 15, December 15 for a calendar year). Where: DC Office of Tax and Revenue (Form D-20ES). If missed: Underpayment interest, and in some states a penalty, on each short installment.

Like the IRS, District of Columbia collects corporate income tax during the year once the expected tax passes a threshold the state sets (a few hundred to a thousand dollars in most states). The installments fall on the 15th day of the fourth, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of the fiscal year in most states, the same days as the federal ones; DC calls it the franchise tax; the estimates go to the Office of Tax and Revenue on Form D-20ES once the year's tax is expected to pass $1,000. Shown for every C corporation because the threshold is low; a corporation expecting no state tax can mark the lines handled.

Federal corporate income tax return

When: by the 15th day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends (April 15 for a calendar year). Where: IRS (Form 1120). If missed: 5% of the unpaid tax for each month late, up to 25%, plus interest.

A C corporation files its own income tax return on Form 1120 by the 15th day of the fourth month after its fiscal year ends, which is April 15 for a calendar year. An extension on Form 7004 gives six more months to file, but the tax itself is still due on the original date.

DC personal property tax return

When: by July 31 each year. Where: DC Office of Tax and Revenue (Form FP-31). Fee: $3.40 per $100 of value above the $225,000 exemption; most small businesses owe nothing but still file. If missed: 5% a month late, up to 25%, plus interest.

A business with tangible personal property in the District, computers, furniture and equipment, files a personal property tax return by July 31 each year reporting what it held on July 1. The first $225,000 of value is exempt, so most small businesses pay nothing, but the return is still due.