Lookback period
The current calendar-year schedule depends on employment taxes reported during the lookback period. For Form 941 filers, the IRS describes a four-quarter lookback window.
Payroll deposit guide
Payroll tax deposit schedule
Payroll tax deposits are separate from quarterly payroll tax return filing. The IRS generally places employers on a monthly or semiweekly deposit schedule based on the lookback period.
Use this as a planning checklist only. IRS deadlines can be affected by weekends, legal holidays, fiscal-year filing, disaster relief, deposit rules, and entity-specific facts.
| Rule | Typical timing | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly depositor | Deposit by the 15th day of the following month | If the 15th is a weekend or legal holiday, confirm the next business day rule. |
| Semiweekly: paydays on Sat., Sun., Mon., or Tue. | Deposit by the following Friday | Use Publication 509 and your payroll calendar for the exact 2026 date. |
| Semiweekly: paydays on Wed., Thu., or Fri. | Deposit by the following Wednesday | Use Publication 509 and your payroll calendar for the exact 2026 date. |
| $100,000 next-day rule | Deposit by the next business day | This can override the normal monthly or semiweekly timing. |
Why this matters
A business can file Form 941 on time but still have a late deposit problem if payroll taxes were not deposited on the required schedule.
Practical workflow
Classify the deposit schedule, map each payroll date, then use Publication 509 to adjust for weekends, legal holidays, and special banking rules.
Sources: IRS Topic 757, IRS Publication 509, and IRS Publication 15. Last generated 2026-08-16.