Background Information for Using the Tax Calendars

The following brief explanations may be helpful to you in using the tax calendars.

Tax deposits. Some taxes can be paid with the return on which they are reported. However, in many cases, you have to deposit the tax before the due date for filing the return. Tax deposits are figured for periods of time that are shorter than the time period covered by the return. See Publication 15 for the employment tax deposit rules. For the excise tax deposit rules, see Publication 510 or the instructions for Form 720.

Deposits must be made at an authorized financial institution. A deposit received after the due date will be considered timely if you can establish that it was mailed in the United States at least 2 days before the due date. However, deposits of $20,000 or more by a person required to deposit the tax more than once a month must be received by the due date to be timely.

Tax deposit coupons. Each deposit must be accompanied by a federal tax deposit (FTD) coupon, Form 8109, unless you are using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) . The coupons have spaces for indicating the type of tax you are depositing. You must use a separate coupon for each type of tax. For example, if you are depositing both excise taxes and federal unemployment taxes, you must use two coupons. You can get the coupons you need by calling or writing the IRS.

Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS). You may have to deposit taxes using EFTPS. You must use EFTPS to make deposits of all depository tax liabilities (including social security, Medicare, withheld income, excise, and corporate income taxes) you incur in 2001 if you deposited more than $200,000 in federal depository taxes in 1999 or you had to make electronic deposits in 2000. If you first meet the $200,000 threshold in 2000, you must begin depositing using EFTPS in 2002. Once you meet the $200,000 threshold, you must continue to make deposits using EFTPS in later years.

If you must use EFTPS but fail to do so, you may be subject to a 10% penalty.

If you are not required to use EFTPS because you did not meet the $200,000 threshold during 1998, or during any subsequent year, then you may voluntarily make your deposits using EFTPS. However, if you are using EFTPS voluntarily, you will not be subject to the 10% penalty if you make a deposit using a paper coupon.

For information about EFTPS, access the IRS web site on the Internet at www.irs.gov, or see Publication 966, The Easiest Way to Pay Your Federal Taxes.

To enroll in EFTPS, call:

• 1-800-945-8400, or
• 1-800-555-4477.

Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. Generally, if a due date for performing any act for tax purposes falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it is delayed until the next business day. These calendars make this adjustment for Saturdays, Sundays, and most legal holidays. But you must make any adjustments for statewide legal holidays. (An exception to this rule for certain excise taxes is noted later under the Excise Tax Calendar.)

Statewide holidays. A statewide legal holiday delays a due date only if the IRS office where you are required to file is located in that state.

Federal holidays. Federal legal holidays for 2001 are listed below.

• January 15 -- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• February 19 -- Presidents' Day
• May 28 -- Memorial Day
• July 4 -- Independence Day
• September 3 -- Labor Day
• October 8 -- Columbus Day
• November 12 -- Veterans' Day
• November 22 -- Thanksgiving Day
• December 25 -- Christmas Day

Penalties. Whenever possible, you should take action before the listed due date. If you are late, you may have to pay a penalty as well as interest on any overdue taxes.

Be sure to follow all the tax laws that apply to you. In addition to civil penalties, criminal penalties may be imposed for intentionally not paying taxes, for intentionally filing a false return, or for not filing a required return.

Use of private delivery services. You can use certain private delivery services designated by the IRS to meet the "timely mailing as timely filing/paying" rule for tax returns and payments. The most recent list of designated private delivery services was published by the IRS in September 1998. The list includes only the following.

• Airborne Express (Airborne): Overnight Air Express Service, Next Afternoon Service, Second Day Service.
• DHL Worldwide Express (DHL): DHL "Same Day" Service, DHL USA Overnight.
• Federal Express (FedEx): FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx 2 Day.
• United Parcel Service (UPS): UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Saver, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.

The private delivery service can tell you how to get written proof of the mailing date.

The U.S. Postal Service advises that private delivery services cannot deliver items to P.O. boxes. You must use the U.S. Postal Service to mail any item to an IRS P.O. box address.

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