Tennessee S corporation compliance calendar 2027: the filings and due dates

Each filing, in plain English

Owners' estimated tax payments

When: on April 15, June 15, September 15, January 15. Where: IRS (Form 1040-ES). If missed: An underpayment penalty computed on Form 2210, charged as interest on each short installment.

Income from an S corporation or a partnership is taxed on the owners' personal returns, and the IRS wants that tax paid during the year. Owners who expect to owe $1,000 or more pay in four installments: April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 of the following year. Withholding from a salary counts toward the total, which is why many S corporation owners cover it through their own paychecks instead.

Tennessee unemployment insurance wage report

When: by the last day of the 1st month after each quarter. Where: Tennessee 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.

Federal S corporation return

When: by the 15th day of the 3rd month after the fiscal year ends (March 15 for a calendar year). Where: IRS (Form 1120-S). If missed: $255 per shareholder for each month late, up to 12 months (the 2026 figure, adjusted yearly).

An S corporation files Form 1120-S by the 15th day of the third month after its fiscal year ends, March 15 for a calendar year. The return itself owes no tax in most cases, but the late filing penalty is charged per shareholder per month, so a late return with three owners costs more than most people expect.

Tennessee annual report

When: by the 1st day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends (April 1 for a calendar year). Where: Tennessee Secretary of State. Fee: $20. If missed: Administrative dissolution after 60 days past due.

Tennessee requires every corporation registered in the state to file an annual report with the Tennessee Secretary of State by the 1st day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends (April 1 for a calendar year). The fee is $20. Miss it and the result is administrative dissolution after 60 days past due. A company registered in more than one state files this in each of them.

Tennessee franchise and excise tax return

When: by the 15th day of the 4th month after the fiscal year ends (April 15 for a calendar year). Where: Tennessee Department of Revenue (Form FAE 170). Fee: Franchise tax of 0.25% of net worth ($100 minimum) plus excise tax of 6.5% of net earnings. If missed: 5% a month late, up to 25%, plus interest.

Tennessee taxes corporations and LLCs alike through the franchise and excise tax: a franchise tax on net worth with a $100 minimum and an excise tax on net earnings. Form FAE 170 is due by the 15th day of the fourth month after the year ends, and a business expecting $5,000 or more of combined tax pays quarterly estimates on the 15th day of the fourth, sixth and ninth months and the first month of the following year. Some family owned and farming LLCs can apply for exemption; most operating businesses pay it.