LEARNING CENTER
March 2026 Tax Calendar: Critical Dates for Georgia Business Owners
If you have lived in Georgia as long as I have, you know that March is a month of transition. The weather starts warming up, the pollen begins its annual takeover, and for the business world, tax season shifts into high gear. While January and February were the warm-ups, March is effectively the "Super Bowl" for pass-through entities.
March 2026 is packed with critical deadlines for Partnerships, S Corporations, and employers finalizing their information reporting. At Cherokee CPA, we want to ensure you navigate these dates with grace and enthusiasm, keeping your business compliant so you can focus on your own success.
Here is your essential checklist for the month.
March 2: The "Paper" Filing Deadline
While we always encourage electronic filing for its speed and accuracy, if your business still files certain forms on paper, this is your deadline. Note that if these dates fall on a weekend, they move to the next business day.
Information Returns (Forms 1099 & 1096)
If you made specific payments during 2025 and are filing paper returns, you must submit government copies of Forms 1099 (excluding the 1099-NEC, which was due earlier) along with the transmittal Form 1096. Remember, accurate information reporting is just as vital as your income tax return.
Gambling Winnings & Tip Reporting
For businesses in the gaming or hospitality sectors:
- Gambling Winnings: File Form 1096 and Copy A of all Forms W-2G issued for 2025.
- Food and Beverage Establishments: File Form 8027 (Employer’s Annual Information Return of Tip Income) to report allocated tips. If you operate multiple establishments, summarize them using Form 8027-T.
Applicable Large Employers (ALE)
Health coverage reporting is complex, but necessary for compliance:
- ALEs: File paper Forms 1094-C and 1095-C with the IRS.
- Other Providers: For minimum essential coverage providers, file paper Forms 1094-B and 1095-B.
Note: If you file any of these forms electronically, your deadline is automatically extended to March 31.
Farmers and Fishermen
For our clients in the agricultural sector, March 2 is the deadline to file your 2025 income tax return (Form 1040) and pay any tax due, unless you paid your estimated tax by January 15.
March 16: The Big Deadline for Pass-Throughs
This is the most significant date of the month for many of our small business clients. Whether you run a family business or a growing enterprise, timely filing for your entity is critical to avoiding late penalties.
Partnerships (Form 1065)
Partnerships operating on a calendar year must file Form 1065. You must also provide each partner with their Schedule K-1 (and Schedule K-3 if applicable). These forms are essential for partners to complete their personal returns.
Need more time? You can request an automatic 6-month extension by filing Form 7004. However, this is an extension to file, not an extension to pay.
S Corporations (Form 1120-S)
Similar to partnerships, S Corps must file Form 1120-S and pay any tax due. Shareholders must receive their Schedule K-1s by this date. If you need an extension, file Form 7004 and pay any estimated tax owed. The extended deadline for providing schedules to shareholders will move to September 15.
S Corporation Election (Form 2553)
Tax planning is all about timing. If you want your business to be taxed as an S Corporation for the calendar year 2026, you must file Form 2553 by March 16. If you miss this window, the S Corp treatment generally won't apply until 2027.
March 31: Electronic Filing Deadline
If you have embraced technology and are filing electronically (which we highly recommend for efficiency and security), your deadline for several information returns is the end of the month.
- Forms 1099, 1098, and W-2G: This is the final electronic filing due date for these forms (excluding 1099-NEC).
- ACA Forms: Electronic filing for Forms 1094-C, 1095-C, 1094-B, and 1095-B is due.
- Tip Reporting: Form 8027 filed electronically is due.
Important Extensions & Rules
The Weekend Rule
When a tax deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is pushed to the next business day. This ensures you never lose preparation time due to the calendar.
Disaster Area Relief
We know that weather can be unpredictable. When a geographical area is designated as a federal disaster area, the IRS often grants automatic extensions. To check if your area qualifies, please utilize these resources:
- FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations
- IRS: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations
Navigating these dates doesn't have to be stressful. At Cherokee CPA, we are here to handle the complexities of S Corp and Partnership filings so you can get back to what matters—whether that is growing your business or perfecting your baking skills. If you are unsure about your filing status or need to discuss an extension, please reach out to us today.
Want tax & accounting tips and insights?
Sign up for our newsletter.
I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By
clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the
and
.
Get In Touch With Cherokee CPA
You can count on us for professional, timely, and reliable tax and accounting services. If you’re ready to get started, just fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.
Welcome to Cherokee CPA. How can we help?
Click here for assistance
Welcome to Cherokee CPA. Do you have some questions we can answer?
Please fill out the form and our team will get back to you shortly
The form was sent successfully