For Dallas-based businesses, the critical tax deadlines in 2026 include the April 15th state and federal tax return deadlines (which can be extended until October 15th) and the various federal and state filings listed in the calendar below.
Claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941, and file annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) return on Form 940. Use our handy calculator to estimate your possible research and development tax credit.
Dallas startups should send 1099s to contractors. Send W2s to employees and e-file 1099-MISC for non-employee compensation with the IRS. Or file Form 8809 for a 30-day extension to file W2s and 1099-MISC for non-employee compensation.
Delaware Annual Franchise Report filing deadline. Your Dallas startup will pay a minimum of $400, which increases if you have significant funding.
For Dallas startups, IRS ACA Compliance 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C filings are due (if paper-filing, due April 1 if eFiling). File Form 8809 for a 30-day extension.
Send 1095-B and 1095-C forms to employees.
IRS 30-day automatic extension: provide Form 1095-B and Form 1095C to employees.
IRS ACA Compliance 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C filings are due (e-file).
Tangible Personal Property Rendition filed with county tax commissioner.
C Corp Form 1120 Tax Return due. The Federal Form 1120 is the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, which the IRS has companies use to report their income, losses, credits, etc., and to figure the income tax liability of the corporation. Can extend the deadline to Oct. 15. All Dallas startups are required to file this Federal form by this deadline unless they file an extension.
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 1st installment (first quarter 2026).
File the R&D Tax Credit Form 6765 with your tax return. Can extend to October 15. We strongly recommend working with a qualified CPA to prepare this form in conjunction with your Form 1120 if your company is going to be acquired by a major technology company, that company’s CFO will use a strong tax team to do due diligence on this.
Due date for Dallas startup employees to make contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for 2025 (Employee Benefits).
Dallas startups can claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Texas Franchise Tax Forms 05-158, Public Information Report Form 05-102, Ownership Information Report Form 05-167, and Research & Development Activities Credits Schedule Form 05-178 due. (May be extended to January 31.)
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax. Pay 40% of estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 2nd installment (second quarter 2026).
Claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax. Pay 20% of your estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 3rd installment (third quarter 2026).
C Corp Form 1120 Tax Return final due date for Dallas startups if extension was filed.
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Texas Franchise Tax Forms 05-158, Public Information Report Form 05-102, Ownership Information Report Form 05-167, and Research & Development Activities Credits Schedule Form 05-178 final due date if extension was filed.
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax, Pay 20% of estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 4th installment (fourth quarter 2026).
Click The Links To Learn More About These Filings And 2026 Dallas Startup Tax Deadlines
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 4th installment (fourth quarter 2025).
Claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941, and file annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) return on Form 940. Use our handy calculator to estimate your possible research and development tax credit.
Dallas startups should send 1099s to contractors. Send W2s to employees and e-file 1099-MISC for non-employee compensation with the IRS. Or file Form 8809 for a 30-day extension to file W2s and 1099-MISC for non-employee compensation.
Delaware Annual Franchise Report filing deadline. Your Dallas startup will pay a minimum of $400, which increases if you have significant funding.
For Dallas startups, IRS ACA Compliance 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C filings are due (if paper-filing, due April 1 if eFiling). File Form 8809 for a 30-day extension.
Send 1095-B and 1095-C forms to employees.
IRS 30-day automatic extension: provide Form 1095-B and Form 1095C to employees.
IRS ACA Compliance 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C filings are due (e-file).
Tangible Personal Property Rendition filed with county tax commissioner.
C Corp Form 1120 Tax Return due. The Federal Form 1120 is the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, which the IRS has companies use to report their income, losses, credits, etc., and to figure the income tax liability of the corporation. Can extend the deadline to Oct. 15. All Dallas startups are required to file this Federal form by this deadline unless they file an extension.
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 1st installment (first quarter 2026).
File the R&D Tax Credit Form 6765 with your tax return. Can extend to October 15. We strongly recommend working with a qualified CPA to prepare this form in conjunction with your Form 1120 if your company is going to be acquired by a major technology company, that company’s CFO will use a strong tax team to do due diligence on this.
Due date for Dallas startup employees to make contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for 2025 (Employee Benefits).
Dallas startups can claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Texas Franchise Tax Forms 05-158, Public Information Report Form 05-102, Ownership Information Report Form 05-167, and Research & Development Activities Credits Schedule Form 05-178 due. (May be extended to January 31.)
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax. Pay 40% of estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 2nd installment (second quarter 2026).
Claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax. Pay 20% of your estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 3rd installment (third quarter 2026).
C Corp Form 1120 Tax Return final due date for Dallas startups if extension was filed.
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Texas Franchise Tax Forms 05-158, Public Information Report Form 05-102, Ownership Information Report Form 05-167, and Research & Development Activities Credits Schedule Form 05-178 final due date if extension was filed.
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax, Pay 20% of estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 4th installment (fourth quarter 2026).
Note: The federal tax deadline in 2026 falls on April 15. The federal extension deadline for 2026 is October 15. Most states usually follow the same calendar for state income tax returns.
If your Delaware C-Corp Dallas funded startup needs tax help contact us today!
DALLAS, STARTUPS AND TAXES
Dallas continues to surge as a national startup powerhouse in 2026, recently ranked the 3rd fastest-growing startup city in the U.S. by York IE, thanks to a dramatic increase in funding activity and momentum among tech founders. Dallas metro startups raised over $730 million across 30 funding rounds in Q4 2023 alone, marking a 195% growth rate compared to the average of the previous 12 months. Standout deals included Shield AI’s $300 million Series F, DataBank’s $188 million in equity, and Island’s $100 million Series C, demonstrating Dallas’s growing appeal in defense tech, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software.
Since 2010, Dallas-Fort Worth has added more than 200 new corporate headquarters and now features 24 Fortune 500 companies, offering ample partnership and customer opportunities for early-stage ventures. The region benefits from a low cost of living, high-quality workforce, and a strategic position within the fast-growing “Texas Triangle.” As North Texas continues attracting both talent and investment, the area is projected to be a major innovation and business growth engine for decades ahead.
Key taxing authorities for Dallas-based companies in 2026 are:
Dallas’s blend of funding growth, corporate resources, and regional expansion make it a compelling environment for ambitious startup founders in 2026.
For Dallas-based businesses, the critical tax deadlines in 2026 include the April 15th state and federal tax return deadlines (which can be extended until Oct 15th) and the various federal and state filings listed in the calendar above.
2025 startup tax deadlines are supplied for reference purposes only, and should not be used when making decisions in 2026 or beyond. Always consult your tax professional, and see our disclaimer below.
Click The Links To Learn More About These Filings And 2025 Dallas Startup Tax Deadlines
Claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941, and file annual Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) return on Form 940. Use our handy calculator to estimate your possible research and development tax credit.
Delaware Annual Franchise Report filing deadline. Your Dallas startup will pay a minimum of $400, which increases if you have significant funding.
IRS 30-day automatic extension: provide Form 1095-B and Form 1095C to employees.
Tangible Personal Property Rendition filed with county tax commissioner.
C Corp Form 1120 Tax Return due. The Federal Form 1120 is the U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, which the IRS has companies use to report their income, losses, credits, etc., and to figure the income tax liability of the corporation. Can extend the deadline to Oct. 15. All Dallas startups are required to file this Federal form by this deadline unless they file an extension.
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 1st installment (first quarter 2024).
File the R&D Tax Credit Form 6765 with your tax return. Can extend to October 15. We strongly recommend working with a qualified CPA to prepare this form in conjunction with your Form 1120 if you are a high-growth startup – if your company is going to be acquired by a major technology company, that company’s CFO will use a strong tax team to do due diligence on this.
Due date for Dallas startup employees to make contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for 2023 (Employee Benefits).
Dallas startups can claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Texas Franchise Tax Forms 05-158, Public Information Report Form 05-102, Ownership Information Report Form 05-167, and Research & Development Activities Credits Schedule Form 05-178 due. (May be extended to January 31.)
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax. Pay 40% of estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 2nd installment (second quarter 2024).
Claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941 .
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax. Pay 20% of your estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 3rd installment (third quarter 2024).
C Corp Form 1120 Tax Return final due date for Dallas startups if extension was filed.
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
Texas Franchise Tax Forms 05-158, Public Information Report Form 05-102, Ownership Information Report Form 05-167, and Research & Development Activities Credits Schedule Form 05-178 final due date if extension was filed.
Delaware Quarterly Estimated Franchise Tax, Pay 20% of estimated annual amount (if annual amount expected to exceed $5,000).
Federal Quarterly Estimated Tax 4th installment (fourth quarter 2024).
View tax compliance dates for Austin, Boston, New York City, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Seattle, Washington DC, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Mountain View, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and San Jose
How Much Does a Startup Tax Return Cost? Try Kruze Consulting's Tax Preparation Pricing Tool.
How much can your startup save in payroll taxes? Estimate your R&D tax credit using our free calculator.
Every startup is different and so are its tax compliance needs. This is only a guideline. Please consult your tax professional. IRS Circular 230 Disclaimer: To ensure compliance with IRS Circular 230, any U.S. federal tax advice provided in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by the recipient or any other taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the recipient or any other taxpayer. Copyright © Kruze Consulting
Check our 2026 Tax Deadlines For C-Corp Startups or Click for your customized tax compliance calendar by startup hub
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