Here’s everything you need for year-end planning and preparation, right at your fingertips to make filing a breeze and as stress-free as possible.
By Fingercheck MarketingDecember 26, 2025
Key dates for Fingercheck customers
Key things to know
Fingercheck Dates
Last day for Starter and 360 clients to process payrolls/adjustment payrolls for 2025 without additional fees.
12/29/2025
Last day for 360 Plus clients to process payrolls/adjustment payrolls for 2025 without additional fees.
12/30/2025
Last day to update employee personnel data so it reflects on the 2025 W-2s/1099s/ACA forms accurately.
1/2/2026
Last day to provide Affordable Care Act reporting information to Fingercheck.
1/8/2026
W-2 and 1099 forms available online*
1/15/2026
ACA forms available online*
1/31/2026
W-2 and 1099 forms will be filed*
1/31/2026
ACA forms will be filed*
3/31/2026
Quarter 4 tax packets available online
Generally available in the 3rd week of January.
Year-end tax packets available online
Generally available in the 1st week of February.
*Will be completed on or before this date. Please contact Customer Support with any questions on the above dates and meanings.
Year-End Filings & Filing Data Accuracy Checklist:
Key year-end areas to double-check
Employee Data Verification
Take a few extra minutes to ensure the employee data entered into your Fingercheck account is correct. Confirm the employee names, addresses, and Social Security Numbers match SSA records.
Additional Filing Services
Review and consider Fingercheck’s additional filing services. For example, 1099-NEC Filing: Opt-out by Tuesday, December 31st if desired (date is subject to change).
Deadline for Payroll Wage & Earnings Entry
To avoid late processing fees, please ensure all missing payroll data is added to your account by the deadlines listed in the “Key Dates for Fingercheck Customers” section above. Third-Party Sick Pay, bonuses, S-Corp Medical, 401(k) contributions, and manual checks are common year-end wage & earning entries.
ACA Compliance
For companies with 50 or more full-time employees (including full-time equivalent employees), ensure you have taken care of health insurance compliance. Contact support@fingercheck.com by Tuesday, December 31st (date subject to change) to opt in to have Fingercheck file your Affordable Care Act (ACA) forms.
Form Availability & Location
Access all the forms provided by Fingercheck easily on the Fingercheck platform under the ‘Payroll’ tab > ‘Forms & Notices’. The Quarterly tab includes your Quarter End Reports packet. The Annual tab includes your W-2s, 1099s, and Year-End Forms. Reference the “Key Dates for Fingercheck Customers” section above for form availability dates. Learn more about the forms here.
Unemployment Tax Rate or Tax Filing Frequencies
As the new year approaches, watch for updates from your state on unemployment tax rates or filing frequencies. Once you receive updates, please upload the notice to the Fingercheck platform under the ‘Payroll’ tab > ‘Forms & Notices’ > ‘Upload Form’. Our team will review the form and reach out to you with updates. Please note, timely updates help avoid potential penalties from state agencies.
Get tips, advice and insights to make your year-end as painless as possible from our expert customer support team – Download Year-End PDF.
Federal holiday calendar
It’s important to review your year-end and 2026 payroll calendar now. Taking a few minutes to confirm pay dates and plan for necessary changes due to holiday bank closures helps ensure smooth, on-time payrolls through the holidays and into the new year. A little preparation now prevents last-minute surprises later.
Federal Holidays
2025
2026
*New Year’s Day
January 1
January 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 20
January 19
Presidents Day
February 17
February 16
*Memorial Day
May 26
May 25
Juneteenth
June 19
June 19
*Independence Day
July 4
July 4
*Labor Day
September 1
September 7
Columbus Day
October 13
October 12
Veterans Day
November 11
November 11
*Thanksgiving Day
November 27
November 26
*Christmas Day
December 25
December 25
Please note: Banks are closed on all federal holidays. Dates marked with an asterisk (*) indicate holidays that Fingercheck also observes and will remain closed. Source: The Federal Reserve – FRBServices.org.
Annual Limits & IRS resources
Key resources to check when you have questions
These details are offered as informational resources. Remember to run your questions and tax data by your tax professional.
Annual Limits
Payroll deductions and taxes have annual limits that can impact employees’ net pay – get the latest on Retirement and Health deduction limits. Read more
IRS Online Tax Calendar
The IRS Online Tax Calendar allows you to view due dates and actions for each month. Read more
Understanding Employment Taxes
Employers must deposit and report employment taxes. Understanding Employment Taxes is a resource the IRS offers to explain what you need to know. Read more
Tax Withholding Estimator
Need to figure out your tax withholdings? The IRS provides this tool to estimate the federal income tax you want your employer to withhold from your paycheck. Read more
Filing Status
Not sure what your filing status is? It’s important to know because it is used to determine your requirements, deductions, eligibility for credits, and the correct tax. Read more
Form 941
Each Form 941 you file reports the total amount of tax you withheld during the quarter. Click here for help determining your Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return status. Read more
Correct a W-2 form with W-2C
When mistakes happen, do your best to correct errors quickly. The IRS has detailed instructions on correcting W-2s. Read more
Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Looking to understand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax provisions for employers? The IRS has this information outlined for you. Read more
Year-End Tax Prep can be confusing. But we promise that we will help. One way we’re doing that is with this handy FAQ list. Have more questions? We invite you to contact our Support Team by chat, email support@fingercheck.com, or through phone at 800-610-9501.
When will my W-2s be ready?
W-2s are generally available to download by the 15th of January. You can refer to the “Key Dates for Fingercheck Customers” section at the top of this page for other key dates related to year-end.
How can my employees consent to receive their W-2s electronically?
Employees will all have access to their electronic W-2s. However, this fast, secure, and eco-friendly method requires their consent in order for a paper copy to also not be required to be provided to them. They must consent even if they have previously received electronic W-2s. Employees can provide consent by logging into Fingercheck, navigating to the My Account tab, selecting Tax Withholding, and choosing “Electronic W-2.”
If my employees do not consent to receive their W-2s electronically, how can those be provided to them?
The W-2s will be available in PDF format within Fingercheck. You can print these and hand a paper copy to the employee or you can mail them their W-2. To print the W-2s, navigate to Payroll > Forms & Notices > Annual. Locate the W-2s for the year you want to print, click the download option, and from there you can access the downloaded files on your computer and print them. You can order blank W-2 forms for printing here.
Can terminated employees still access their W-2s at year-end?
Yes. Terminated employees can access their W-2s in Fingercheck, but only if your company allows it. You’re fully in control. By default, Fingercheck gives former employees limited login access so they can view and download their W-2s and past pay stubs. But if your company prefers not to allow any post-termination access, you can opt out at the company level. When you opt out, terminated employees are completely locked out — and your HR team will just need to download and distribute W-2s manually instead.
When will my year-end reports be ready?
Quarter 4 tax packets are enerally available in the 3rd week of January. Year-end tax packets are generally available in the 1st week of February. You can refer to the “Key Dates for Fingercheck Customers” section at the top of this page for other key dates related to year-end.
Do we have to file for 1099 employees?
We offer an additional service to e-file the 1099s. There is a $100 fee to enable the service (subject to change). If you wish to activate the service, please contact support.
How do I run a bonus payroll for year-end?
You can follow this link for instructions about entering bonus checks into Fingercheck.
When is the deadline to add wages for the W-2s/1099s?
All wages should be entered prior to the last business day of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. See the “Key Dates for Fingercheck Customers” section above for deadlines to avoid additional processing fees.
How do I make a payroll to max out my 401(k)?
The 401K or 401K % code is used for a 401(k) deduction for employees. It is a pre-tax flat amount or percentage deduction of the employee’s gross wages that they can elect to set aside to save for retirement.
If you want to make one large 401(k) payment, you can. To create this code, go to the SETUP tab > Payroll > Payroll Deductions. Click Add. Click the Add button for 401K or 401K %. Click OK in the confirmation window. Click the X in the top-right corner to close the Add Deduction panel. To make changes, click the Edit icon (pencil) next to the new code, and make your changes. Additional information can be found here.
How do I allow for lump sum 401(k) contributions?
To enable your employees to contribute a lump sum to their 401(k) at the end of the year, create a 401(k) deduction code if you don’t already have one. Then, start a special payroll run. Click here for detailed steps.
What is the deadline to record wages for 2025 without an amendment?
We allow for changes up to five business days after the end of each quarter before an amendment is required. Please note, fees apply for changes made after the end of the quarter.
How do I create an accrual policy?
Fingercheck uses accrual policies to track the amount of time employees have available to use toward specific kinds of absences. This is applied to Paid Time Off (PTO), Unpaid Time Off, Sick Leave, Vacation Leave, and FMLA/PFML. Click here for detailed steps.
How do I offer benefits & open enrollment?
The Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Benefits code is used for a pre-tax flat amount deduction that is used to pay for the employer’s chosen Group Health Insurance plan, which they offer to their employees. This is for reporting and it will show on the W-2 box DD. Click here for detailed steps.
What about third-party sick pay at the end of the year?
If you received a Disability Benefits Statement requiring you to add a third-party sick pay payment for one of your employees, create two earning codes for third-party sick pay: 3rd Party Sick Pay Non Tax and 3rd Party Sick Pay Taxable. Then, start a special payroll for a manual check. Then, create a manual check and complete the special payroll. Click here for more information.
How long do I have to file my third-party sick for New Jersey?
New Jersey sends out third-party sick notices the first week of January. You’ll have until January 6th, 2026, to enter this information within Fingercheck without fees.
How do I get W-2s to terminated workers?
You can easily send W2s or 1099 forms to all terminated employees at one time. Log in to Fingercheck as an Administrator, then click the PAYROLL tab > Forms & Notices. Click the Annual tab. Click the mail icon under Terminated W2 YYYY or Terminated 1099 YYYY. In the confirmation pop-up window that appears, click OK. An email is sent to each terminated employee at the personal email address on file. Click here for more information.
Why are my employee’s net pay and taxes different on their first paycheck of 2026 compared to their last paycheck of 2025?
You may see a difference in taxes from year to year as tax rates or wage limits may have changed. You can contact support for more details. Or learn more about annual limits here.
Customer support
Online Chat: You can always reach us using the messaging feature on Fingercheck.com. Email:support@fingercheck.com Phone:800-610-9501 Customer Support hours: Our hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
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