15+ Important Financial Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

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Improving your finances is not a sprint, it's a marathon. To help you succeed in 2018, here is an at-a-glance finance calendar with key dates to effectively plan your money moves this year. You got this!

January 1

• This is the very first day to fund traditional and Roth IRAs and Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP) IRAs for the current year.

• If you don't enroll in Medicare during the initial enrollment period around your 65th birthday, you can sign up starting today through March 31 to start coverage on July 1. A late enrollment fee may apply.

January 16

• This is the due date for quarterly estimated taxes for the fourth quarter of 2017 (Sept. 1–Dec. 31). Use the 2017 IRS Form 1040 ES to pay your estimated tax.

January 29

• The IRS starts accepting tax returns. (See also: 8 Reasons You Should File Your Taxes as Soon as Possible)

March 31

• Many flexible spending account (FSA) plans with a use-it-or-lose-it rollover rule set today as the deadline to submit claims for eligible medical expenses completed by December 31 of the previous year.

• Last day to enroll in Medicare to start coverage on July 1. A late enrollment fee may apply.

April 1

• Following the calendar year in which you turn 70½, this is the date you must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), or other applicable retirement savings plans. (See also: What Every Retirement Saver Should Know About Required Minimum Distributions)

April 15

• Deadline to contribute to a Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA).

April 17

• Tax Day 2018 falls two days later than usual because April 15 falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Day falls on April 16, giving IRS workers a holiday.

• Deadline to file for an extension on you tax return. (Note: There is an automatic two-month extension for taxpayers living abroad).

• Last day to fund last year's traditional or Roth IRAs.

• Deadline to fund a health savings account (HSA) for the prior year. (See also: How an HSA Could Help Your Retirement)

April 18

• Deadline to submit an estimated tax payment for next year's taxes using first payment voucher from 2018's Form 1040-ES.

June 15

• Make an estimated tax payment for tax year 2018 using second payment voucher from Form 1040-ES.

• Two-month filing extension deadline for federal taxes. (See also: Filed an Extension? Here's What You Need to Know)

June 30

• To receive federal student aid for the 2017–2018 school year, submit your FAFSA application by June 30, 2018.

September 15

• Make an estimated tax payment for tax year 2018 using third payment voucher from Form 1040-ES.

Sometime between October 1 and November 1

• Your employer will start announcing the upcoming open enrollment period to choose your workplace benefits for the next year.

October 1

• To receive federal student aid for the 2019–2020 school year, you can start filing your FAFSA application today, making sure it's submitted by June 30, 2019.

October 15

• Six-month filing extension deadline for federal taxes.

• Last day to undo a 2017 Roth IRA conversion (if you converted a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA during 2017 and paid applicable tax on the conversion with your 2016 return).

November 1

• Start of enrollment for health insurance through Healthcare.gov.

December 31

• Deadline to take RMDs from your IRA, 401(k), and inherited IRAs.

• Deadline to set up most types of retirement accounts so that eligible contributions count toward the current year.

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