This article covers the key dates for the 2026 tax season, meaning your 2026 tax year return filed in 2027. It applies to LLC tier members (single-member LLCs without an S Corp election). If you're an S Corp tier member, see Key 2026 Tax Season Milestones for S Corp Members.
As a single-member LLC (SMLLC), your business doesn't file a separate federal return. Your business activity is reported on your Individual Tax Return (ITR) on Schedule C, the form that reports your business's profit and loss. That means one federal deadline to plan around, and your books feed directly into your personal return.
Why these milestones matter
Your return is only as accurate as the books behind it. Each milestone builds on the one before: complete books lead to an accurate organizer, and an accurate organizer leads to a return you can approve with confidence. Finishing each step on time keeps your return on track for April.
The milestones below follow the same three stages you'll see in your 2026 tax tracker in the Collective dashboard.
Stage 1: 2026 financial overview (now through December 31, 2026)
This stage is about getting a complete picture of your year before it ends, so your Collective team can fix any gaps before the holidays.
| Date | Milestone | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Now | Get started | Connect every business account to Collective and send any missing statements. Missing accounts are the most common reason books can't be finalized on time. |
| December 31, 2026 | Check accounts | Confirm all accounts are connected and up to date. If you paid for business expenses from a personal account, make sure they're documented so they can be included in your 2026 books. |
Stage 2: Review deductions (January through March 15, 2027)
Once the year closes, you'll confirm your numbers and tell us about your year. When both steps are done, we start your return.
| Date | Milestone | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| January 29, 2027 | Approve books | Review and approve your 2026 Profit and Loss statement in your dashboard. These numbers become your Schedule C. |
| March 15, 2027 | Submit organizer | Complete your Individual Tax Organizer, upload supporting documents, and answer any outstanding questions. Once it's submitted, Collective starts your return. |
Joined Collective after January 15, 2027? Your 2026 ITR will be filed on extension so there's time to complete your books. Your Collective team will share your timeline.
Missed the organizer date? Your ITR will be extended to October 15, 2027. An extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay, so any taxes due must still be paid by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
Stage 3: Approve and file (April 2027)
| Date | Milestone | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| April 13, 2027 | Sign return | Review your draft ITR, approve it, and sign the e-file authorization so we can file for you. |
| April 15, 2027 | File return | Federal ITR filing and payment deadline. Pay any taxes due, if applicable. Collective files your ITR as part of your LLC tier membership. |
If your ITR is extended
| Date | What to do |
|---|---|
| April 15, 2027 | Pay any taxes due, even with an extension. Your Collective team can help estimate an extension payment, if applicable. |
| September 24, 2027 | Submit your completed Individual Tax Organizer and documents. |
| October 13, 2027 | Approve and sign your return. |
| October 15, 2027 | Extended ITR filing deadline. After this date, penalties and interest may apply. |
State deadlines to know about
Some states charge LLCs annual fees or require filings that don't follow the federal schedule, and some can't be extended. These apply only if your LLC is registered or operates in the state listed. Rules and amounts vary and can change, so check with your state or your Collective team if you're unsure.
| Date | State | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 2027 | New York | LLCs with New York income file Form IT-204-LL and pay an annual filing fee based on New York income. A minimum fee applies even with no New York income. This filing can't be extended. |
| April 15, 2027 | California | LLCs file Form 568 and pay California's annual LLC tax (currently $800), plus an additional fee if California gross income is above the state threshold. |
| May 1, 2027 | Florida | Annual report due through Sunbiz. There's no extension, and late filings carry a fee. |
| May 15, 2027 | Texas | Public Information Report (PIR) due, even if your business owes no franchise tax. Collective doesn't file this report, so you'll need to file it yourself through the Texas Comptroller's website. |
| June 1, 2027 | Delaware | Annual LLC franchise tax due. There's no extension, and late payments carry a penalty and interest. |
Next steps
To get started, head to your 2026 tax tracker in your Collective dashboard and connect any missing accounts. If you have questions specific to your business, reach out to your Collective team. They're here to help.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Deadlines listed reflect Collective's operational requirements to ensure timely delivery of services. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in delays to your tax filings and IRS penalties and interest, for which Collective is not responsible.