GYSIO Reminder • Get Ready for 2027
Is Your Business in Good Standing for 2027?
Your federal tax return is only one of many responsibilities that keep your business active. Work through the status check below and complete it by January 31.
Status: In progress
0 of 12 confirmed
Businesses rarely lose their standing because of one big mistake. They lose it to a small renewal that slipped by: a state filing, a license, a dues payment, an unfiled 1099. Each one has its own date, its own fee and its own penalty.
You may be operating, but be sure you are operating legally. Learn your dates, put every one in your calendar, and give each one a Budget Line Amount in your 2027 budget. Here is where to start. Tap any button to ask us for help.
⏳ The Countdown • Federal dates
Jan 15
Final 2026 estimated tax payment (individuals and pass-through owners)
+ Add to my calendar
+ Add to my calendar
Feb 1
W-2s, 1099-NEC, Form 941 and Form 940 due (Feb 10 for 941 and 940 if all deposits were timely)
+ Add to my calendar
+ Add to my calendar
Mar 15
S corporation and partnership returns due, or file an extension
+ Add to my calendar
+ Add to my calendar
Apr 15
Individual and C corporation returns due, plus Q1 2027 estimated tax
+ Add to my calendar
+ Add to my calendar
May 15
Nonprofit Form 990 due for calendar-year organizations (990-N, 990-EZ or 990). Three missed years in a row means automatic loss of tax-exempt status
+ Add to my calendar
+ Add to my calendar
Dates shown are for calendar-year filers. State, local, industry and entity dates differ, so ask us for yours.
✔ The Status Check
1💰 Filings & payments
Is it all paid? ▾
Did every required annual and quarterly filing, with payment, get completed?
Walk back through 2026: federal estimated tax, payroll deposits and returns, sales tax, and state payroll filings. A filing without its payment is not complete, and an old balance keeps growing with penalties and interest.
Examples: Form 941 and Form 940 for payroll, Form 1040-ES for estimated tax, and California's DE 9 for quarterly state payroll.
Examples: Form 941 and Form 940 for payroll, Form 1040-ES for estimated tax, and California's DE 9 for quarterly state payroll.
📅 Jan 15: final 2026 estimated payment for individuals and pass-through owners | Feb 1: Forms 941 and 940 (Feb 10 if every deposit was on time)
Budget Line Amount: the amount of each quarter's estimate and payroll taxes, held in its own account so the money is never spent twice.
2🏛️ State good standing
Am I in good standing? ▾
Is your annual filing with your state up to date?
Annual reports, franchise or LLC taxes, and registered agent renewals all keep your entity active. Dates and fees depend on your state and entity type. Miss them and you risk penalties, a loss of good standing, or administrative dissolution.
Example: in California, this is the Statement of Information. Corporations file every year, and LLCs and nonprofit corporations file every two years, by the end of the month the entity was formed. Other states call it an annual report.
Example: in California, this is the Statement of Information. Corporations file every year, and LLCs and nonprofit corporations file every two years, by the end of the month the entity was formed. Other states call it an annual report.
📅 Varies by state and entity: look up your date now, not the week it is due
Budget Line Amount: the amount of your state's annual fee, plus any registered agent renewal.
3🛒 Sales tax & nexus
Do I have nexus? ▾
Does your product or service carry sales tax, and have you reached nexus in another state or country that requires you to file?
Nexus is the connection to a state that obligates you to register, collect and file. It can come from a physical presence, such as an employee, inventory or an event, or from sales activity alone. Most states set that line at around $100,000 in sales into the state, but thresholds differ, and California's is $500,000. Once you reach it, register for a permit, collect the tax, file your returns and remit what you collected, along with any registration fees the state charges. Other countries have their own versions, such as GST/HST in Canada and IVA in Mexico.
Examples: a streaming platform selling merchandise nationwide, an author shipping books to readers in other states, or a consultant who works events in several states.
Examples: a streaming platform selling merchandise nationwide, an author shipping books to readers in other states, or a consultant who works events in several states.
📅 Returns are filed monthly, quarterly or annually, depending on the state and your sales volume
Budget Line Amount: the amount of sales tax you collect, which is never yours to spend, plus registration and filing costs for each state.
4🧾 W-2s & 1099s
Who needs a form? ▾
Have you filed, or will you file, W-2s and 1099s for your employees and contractors?
W-2s go to employees and the SSA. 1099-NEC goes to contractors and the IRS on the same day, with no extension for filing. For payments made in 2026, the reporting threshold is now $2,000, up from $600. Collect a W-9 before you pay anyone, so you are never chasing it in January.
Examples: a W-2 for your office manager, and a 1099-NEC for the editor, designer or consultant you paid as a contractor.
Examples: a W-2 for your office manager, and a 1099-NEC for the editor, designer or consultant you paid as a contractor.
📅 Feb 1, 2027: W-2s and 1099-NEC (Jan 31 falls on a Sunday)
Budget Line Amount: the amount for payroll or filing software, plus a year-end review of everyone you paid.
5🇺🇸 Federal returns
Which return is mine? ▾
Did you file, or will you file, your federal tax return?
Know which return applies to your entity. An extension gives you more time to file, never more time to pay, so estimate what you owe and pay it by the original date.
Examples: Form 1120-S for an S corporation, Form 1065 for a partnership, Schedule C with Form 1040 for a sole proprietor, and Form 1120 for a C corporation.
Examples: Form 1120-S for an S corporation, Form 1065 for a partnership, Schedule C with Form 1040 for a sole proprietor, and Form 1120 for a C corporation.
📅 Mar 15: S corporations and partnerships | Apr 15: individuals, sole proprietors, single-member LLCs and C corporations
Budget Line Amount: the amount of your estimated 2026 balance due, plus your preparer's fee.
6💚 Nonprofits
Is my 990 filed? ▾
Do you run a nonprofit? Has your Form 990 been filed?
Tax-exempt organizations file a Form 990 every year. For a calendar-year organization it is due May 15. Smaller organizations file the 990-N e-Postcard or the 990-EZ on the same schedule. If you miss three consecutive years, the IRS automatically revokes your tax-exempt status. State charity and tax filings are separate, such as California's Form 199 and RRF-1.
📅 May 15 of every year, for calendar-year organizations
Budget Line Amount: the amount of your preparer's fee and any state charity filing fees, so the filing is never skipped.
7🎓 Licenses & permits
Is my license current? ▾
Did you pay the annual license fees for your profession and your business?
Professional licenses, city and county business tax certificates, permits and continuing education credits each carry their own renewal date. Many renew in January, and some come with a late fee that is larger than the fee itself.
Example: several of our own staff are tax preparers. Each year we complete the required professional development hours, report them federally and to the state, and recertify to keep our licenses as tax professionals. We also pay fees every year to keep those licenses: $35 for each preparer's California registration and $18.75 for each preparer's federal PTIN, before the cost of the courses themselves.
Example: several of our own staff are tax preparers. Each year we complete the required professional development hours, report them federally and to the state, and recertify to keep our licenses as tax professionals. We also pay fees every year to keep those licenses: $35 for each preparer's California registration and $18.75 for each preparer's federal PTIN, before the cost of the courses themselves.
📅 Check the renewal date printed on each license
Budget Line Amount: the amount of every license, permit and required course, listed by name with its due date.
8🤝 Chambers & associations
Is my listing active? ▾
Are you a chamber of commerce or trade association member in any city?
Membership is also a status you maintain. Dues keep your listing, your referrals and your seat at the table active, and a lapse can mean paying again at the new-member rate.
Examples: a city or regional chamber of commerce, a business council, or an industry trade association.
Examples: a city or regional chamber of commerce, a business council, or an industry trade association.
📅 Most renew annually: check your invoice date
Budget Line Amount: the amount of each chamber and association's dues, plus the events you plan to attend.
9🏬 Memberships & supplier accounts
What is renewing? ▾
Do you buy supplies through a store or vendor that requires a membership or an account?
Annual membership fees and net 30 vendor accounts are easy to forget because they renew quietly. A net 30 account also means the invoice is due within 30 days, so the payment belongs in your cash plan as well. If you use one, budget for the full year.
Examples: GYSIO uses Costco for office, party and meeting supplies, and Costco charges an annual membership fee. Other common ones are Sam's Club, Amazon Business, and office and restaurant supply accounts.
Examples: GYSIO uses Costco for office, party and meeting supplies, and Costco charges an annual membership fee. Other common ones are Sam's Club, Amazon Business, and office and restaurant supply accounts.
📅 Check each membership's renewal date
Budget Line Amount: the amount of each annual membership fee, plus the vendor invoices you expect to pay on net 30 terms.
10🎭 Union & guild
Are my dues covered? ▾
Are you a union or guild member? Have you set aside the dues to stay in good standing?
Dues are often billed quarterly or twice a year, and some unions also track pension and health contributions or work credits. Falling behind can put your active status, and your coverage, at risk.
Examples: SAG-AFTRA, WGA, DGA, or an IATSE local.
Examples: SAG-AFTRA, WGA, DGA, or an IATSE local.
📅 Confirm your billing dates with your local
Budget Line Amount: the amount of dues for every union and guild you belong to, broken into the periods you are billed.
11🛡️ Insurance & bonds
Am I covered? ▾
Are your policies renewed, and is your coverage current?
General liability, professional liability (E&O), workers' compensation, commercial auto and any required bond all have renewal dates. Workers' compensation also comes with a year-end payroll audit, so your payroll records need to be clean.
Examples: general liability for a studio or office, E&O for a consultant or preparer, and workers' compensation for any employee.
Examples: general liability for a studio or office, E&O for a consultant or preparer, and workers' compensation for any employee.
📅 Check each policy's renewal date
Budget Line Amount: the amount of your premiums, plus the audit adjustment on workers' compensation.
12📁 Supporting documentation
Can I prove it? ▾
Do you have the supporting documentation for every deduction and credit on your tax return?
A deduction you cannot support is a deduction you can lose. Keep the records that show the amount, the date and the business purpose. Depending on your entity type, the paper trail may also run between you and your business, such as an expense report reimbursed under a written accountable plan, or an invoice or lease for something you own and the business uses.
Examples: a mileage log with the date, destination, business purpose and miles of each trip; the measurements and expenses behind a home office; and receipts for every business purchase. An S corporation owner generally cannot deduct home office costs personally, so the company reimburses them through an accountable plan.
Examples: a mileage log with the date, destination, business purpose and miles of each trip; the measurements and expenses behind a home office; and receipts for every business purchase. An S corporation owner generally cannot deduct home office costs personally, so the company reimburses them through an accountable plan.
📅 Gather it now, before your preparer asks for it
Budget Line Amount: the amount for bookkeeping, receipt storage and document organization, so your records are ready by tax time.
🔍 What most businesses overlook
These are the renewals and decisions that rarely make anyone's checklist, and each one can cost you if it slips.
🌐Domain, website and software renewalsLapsed domains and subscriptions interrupt client work and email.
🔒Retirement plan setup and fundingMany plans have year-end setup and funding dates. Ask before December 31.
🔧Equipment purchasesEquipment generally has to be placed in service by December 31 to count for 2026.
📝Vendor W-9sCollect them before you pay, so 1099 season is a filing task, not a chase.
🎫Trademarks and entity recordsOperating agreements, ownership changes, bank signers and trademark maintenance.
📈Local and payroll-related taxesState unemployment accounts, personal property declarations and local business taxes.
Operating in Canada or Mexico? Your annual returns, payroll filings and licensing dates are different. Reply and we will map them for you.
So, how did you do?
Tap the one that fits. It opens a short email to our team, and we will reply with a plan.
🟢 Everything is current 🟡 A few items need attention 🔴 I need help right awayWant your full compliance calendar built for you?📅 Book a meeting with a GYSIO Advisor
Or email us at finance@gysio.org with your state, business type and question.
Here is to a clean, active and well-organized 2027,
Angel S.
GYSIO Communications Department
442-204-1395
This reminder is general information. Filing dates, fees and requirements vary by state, entity type and industry, so contact GYSIO for guidance on your situation.
GYSIO Business & Bookkeeping, Inc.
1759 Oceanside Blvd, Suite C 503, Oceanside, CA 92054
© 2026 GYSIO Business & Bookkeeping, Inc. All rights reserved.
GYSIO Business & Bookkeeping, Inc.
1759 Oceanside Blvd, Suite C 503, Oceanside, CA 92054
© 2026 GYSIO Business & Bookkeeping, Inc. All rights reserved.