2026 Tax Deadlines For Palo Alto Startups
Palo Alto startups have tax deadlines beyond the traditional April 15th state and federal tax due dates, including the March 31 annual business registry filing and 571-L business property tax deadlines.
Upcoming Palo Alto deadlines in 2026
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
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).
Total 27 tax events for Palo Alto in 2026
Click the links to learn more about these filings and 2026 Palo Alto 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.
Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto startup will pay a minimum of $400, which increases if you have significant funding.
For Palo Alto 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).
571-L Business Property Tax filing due for County of Santa Clara. Initial deadline.
Deadline to file California Corporation Franchise or Income Tax Return (Form 100). Minimum amount due is $800.
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto startup employees to make contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for 2025 (Employee Benefits).
Palo Alto startups can claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
571-L Business Property Tax filing due. Final date to avoid 10% penalty.
Annual City of Palo Alto Business Registry filing due. Pay $54.
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 Palo Alto startups if extension was filed.
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
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).
- Rolling
California Statement of Information due. Pay $25. Most corporations file annually by the last day of their registration anniversary month.
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.
Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto startup will pay a minimum of $400, which increases if you have significant funding.
For Palo Alto 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).
571-L Business Property Tax filing due for County of Santa Clara. Initial deadline.
Deadline to file California Corporation Franchise or Income Tax Return (Form 100). Minimum amount due is $800.
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto startup employees to make contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for 2025 (Employee Benefits).
Palo Alto startups can claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
571-L Business Property Tax filing due. Final date to avoid 10% penalty.
Annual City of Palo Alto Business Registry filing due. Pay $54.
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 Palo Alto startups if extension was filed.
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
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).
California Statement of Information due. Pay $25. Most corporations file annually by the last day of their registration anniversary month.
Note: The deadline for federal tax returns and payments in 2026 is April 15. The federal extension deadline for 2026 is October 15. Most states usually follow the same calendar for state income tax returns, but you can check with your state’s Department of Revenue for the most up-to-date information.
How Much Does a Startup Tax Return Cost? Try Kruze Consulting’s Tax Preparation Pricing Tool.
If you are a Delaware C-Corp Palo Alto funded startup that needs tax help, contact us today!
PALO ALTO, STARTUPS AND TAXES
Palo Alto remains at the center of Silicon Valley’s global tech leadership in 2026, attracting founders with unmatched access to entrepreneurial talent, deep capital pools, and world-class business, university, and corporate research networks. The region is home to more than 1,100 active startups in high-growth areas including AI, enterprise software, clean energy, biotech, and fintech. Palo Alto supports founders with influential venture capital firms at all investment stages, and continues to serve as a launching pad for unicorns and market-defining companies like Google, Meta (Facebook), and Tesla.
Palo Alto startups benefit from nearby Stanford University’s innovation labs, a robust accelerator circuit, and ongoing collaboration among large corporations, investors, and specialist advisory firms. Founders can engage with a broad range of seed and growth stage VCs, such as Accel, Wing, Eclipse, and Venrock, all actively investing in next-generation deep tech, healthcare, and climate solutions.
Key taxing authorities for Palo Alto-based companies remain unchanged in 2026:
- State of California Franchise Tax Board
- State of California Employment Development Department
- County of Santa Clara
- City of Palo Alto Administrative Services
Critical compliance dates for startups in Palo Alto include April 15th state and federal tax filings, annual business registry renewals, payroll requirements, and the 571-L business property tax statement deadlines.
Palo Alto’s rich infrastructure and unrivaled access to capital and expertise continue to make it one of the best places globally for launching and scaling innovative startups in 2026.
Palo Alto startups have tax deadlines beyond the traditional April 15th state and federal tax due dates, including the annual business registry filing and 571-L business property tax deadlines. See all the dates in the calendar above.
Total 26 tax events for Palo Alto in 2025
Click the links to learn more about these filings and 2025 Palo Alto 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.
Palo Alto 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.
For Palo Alto 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.
Delaware Annual Franchise Report filing deadline. Your Palo Alto 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.
IRS ACA Compliance 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C filings are due (e-file).
571-L Business Property Tax filing due for County of Santa Clara. Initial deadline.
Deadline to file California Corporation Franchise or Income Tax Return (Form 100). Minimum amount due is $800.
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto startup employees to make contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for 2023 (Employee Benefits).
Palo Alto startups can claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
571-L Business Property Tax filing due. Final date to avoid 10% penalty.
Annual City of Palo Alto Business Registry filing due. Pay $54.
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 Palo Alto startups if extension was filed.
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
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).
- Rolling
California Statement of Information due. Pay $25.
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.
Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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.
571-L Business Property Tax filing due for County of Santa Clara. Initial deadline.
Deadline to file California Corporation Franchise or Income Tax Return (Form 100). Minimum amount due is $800.
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto startup employees to make contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for 2023 (Employee Benefits).
Palo Alto startups can claim Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
571-L Business Property Tax filing due. Final date to avoid 10% penalty.
Annual City of Palo Alto Business Registry filing due. Pay $54.
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 Palo Alto startups if extension was filed.
Claim your Research & Development Tax Credits on Form 941.
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).
California Statement of Information due. Pay $25.
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
Navigating Local Tax Requirements
Local & City-Specific Startup Tax Deadlines
Find important local and city-specific startup tax deadlines here, including state and municipal filing dates, estimated payment deadlines, and key compliance requirements for major business hubs.