2024 Personal Finance Calendar
There are so many events and deadlines to keep track of, and when it comes to personal finances, missing an important date could cost you. To add a little sanity to your life, we created a calendar with all the essential personal financial dates of 2024.
The Investopedia 2024 Personal Finance Calendar lists monthly market-moving events, tax deadlines, holidays, and other important dates. Whether you’re a novice investor or just trying to save as much money as possible, it’s worth comparing your calendar of birthdays, anniversaries, and personal events to our list of key dates to ensure you won’t miss out on anything that might impact your finances.
Key Takeaways A personal finance calendar can help you budget for big expenditures, such as paying taxes or holiday shopping. For most people, Tax Day will fall on April 15, 2024. State holidays may delay that deadline. Market-moving events to watch, including the monthly Employment Situation report releases and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. On major holidays, banks and the stock exchanges will be closed. Some seasons are better than others for buying or selling a home, taking a vacation, or making a major purchase. Why Have a Personal Finance Calendar
A financial calendar is a solid budgeting tool. It can help you keep track of important and unavoidable spending you will have to do throughout the year, such as paying your taxes. It can help you set aside funds for periods you are likely to spend more, such as summer travel or holiday shopping. It can give you a sense of when you won’t be spending as much and might be able to set aside more savings, such as in an emergency fund or a retirement account.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) often extends tax filing deadlines for victims of major storms and other disasters. You can consult IRS disaster relief announcements to determine your eligibility.
Having a comprehensive personal finance calendar is also a preventive measure. In addition to letting you keep track of the days when you might be able to save money, its most crucial function is preventing you from spending more than you have to. For example, you probably don’t love to pay your taxes. But doing so on time saves you from a late payment or late filing fee.
What to Expect in 2024
The dates that will likely be of most significant interest are the deadlines for filing taxes. In addition to Tax Day on April 15, there are several other deadlines throughout the year that may apply to you, depending on your personal circumstances.
There are also changes to programs, including Social Security and retirement accounts, that took effect at the beginning of the year. These changes may affect how much you can save toward your nest egg or what kind of budget you’ll be working with during retirement.
Other dates worth looking out for are the “market movers.” These are events that can have a significant impact on the stock market, positive or negative. These are worth noting if you plan to buy or sell stock.
Two of the biggest (and the easiest) market movers to plan for are the releases of the Employment Situation report and the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. The former refers to a monthly publication of statistics about the U.S. labor market, with the increase or decrease in employment and unemployment being particularly interesting to investors. The latter refers to the eight currently scheduled FOMC meetings in 2024, when the committee will determine what, if any, near-term changes to U.S. monetary policy are necessary.
Annual holidays and other major life events may also need to be considered in your financial plan. Some events won’t set you back too much—though they are no less worth budgeting for—but others can be quite expensive. It’s also worth taking note of big sale dates, such as Black Friday.
Most bank and stock market holidays coincide with national holidays. So, investors should know them, even if they don’t celebrate the holidays.
January
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Jan. 1: Bank Holiday (New Year’s Day) IRS begins the 2024 tax season. 2024 Social Security changes kick in: Social Security 2024 changes include a 3.2% cost-of-living adjustment to monthly benefits, a maximum taxable income increase to $168,600, the annual earnings limit for recipients increasing to $22,320 (before full retirement age) or $59,520 (at full retirement age), and Social Security disability benefits per month increasing to $1,550 (non-blind) or $2,590 (blind). Medicare changes: There are generally changes to the premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for the four Medicare plans (Part A, B, C, and/or D). How these changes affect you depends on your income and other factors. Check how much more (or less) you’ll be paying and consider that for your monthly budget. Changes to retirement savings rules: There are some complicated changes to the rules for contributing to various savings plans. Check what will happen to the amounts you (and your employer) are allowed to contribute to employer-sponsored plans, how much you can deduct for contributions to a traditional IRA, and whether you are eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA in 2024. Jan. 5: Employment Situation Report (December) Jan. 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date: If you receive $20 or more in tips in December 2023, you must report them to your employer. You can use Form 4070. Jan. 15: Bank and NYSE Holiday (Martin Luther King Day) Jan. 16: Fourth Quarter 2023 Estimated Tax Payment Due: The last day to make tax payments for 2023. Use Form 1040-ES to file estimated payments. However, you don’t have to file a final estimated tax payment if you file your 2023 return (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) by January 31 and pay all taxes due. Beige Book Release (January) Jan. 30 – 31: FOMC Meeting (January) Jan. 31: Individuals Who Must Make Estimated Tax Payments Tax-Filing Due (January): If you didn’t pay your final 2023 estimated tax payment by January 16, you can choose to file your income tax return by January 31 and pay any tax due. This prevents you from paying any penalty for your late estimated tax filing. However, if you don’t file and pay by January 31, you can still file and pay by April 15. February
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Feb. 2: Employment Situation Report (January)Feb. 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in January 2024)Feb. 11: Major Spending Event (Super Bowl)Feb. 14: Major Spending Holiday (Valentine’s Day)Feb. 15: Individual Exemptions Due (2023): If you claimed any exemptions from income tax withholding on the W-4 that you filed with your employer last year, you must file a new W-4 to continue those exemptions for the next year.Feb. 20: Bank and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Holiday (Washington’s Birthday) March
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March 6: Beige Book Release (March)March 8: Employment Situation Report (February)March 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in February 2024)March 17: Major Spending Holiday (St. Patrick’s Day)March 18–20: FOMC Meeting (March)March 29: NYSE Holiday (Good Friday) March 31: Major Spending Holiday (Easter) April
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National Financial Capability Month April 5: Employment Situation Report (March) April 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in March 2024) April 17: Beige Book Release (April) April 15: Tax Day Individual Tax Returns Due for Tax Year 2023: You must file your individual tax return using Form 1040 or 1040-SR and pay any tax due unless you file for an extension. Individual Tax Return Extension Form Due for Tax Year 2023: You may use Form 4868 to file for an automatic six-month extension of time to file your tax return. However, you must still pay whatever taxes you estimate you owe in order to avoid interest and penalties. First Quarter 2023 Estimated Tax Payment Due: If you are self-employed or otherwise do not have income tax withheld (or you won’t pay enough income tax through withholding), you must pay the first installment of your estimated tax for 2023. Last Day to Make a 2023 IRA Contribution: Contributions to an IRA must be made by this date unless you have an SEP IRA and a six-month extension is applied, pushing the deadline to Oct. 15, 2024. Last Day to Make a 2023 HSA Contribution: The 2023 HSA contribution limits are $3,850 (self) and $7,750 (family). Those 55 and older can also contribute a $1,000 catch-up contribution. April 30: FOMC Meeting (April) May
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May 1 : FOMC Meeting (April)May 3: Employment Situation Report (April)May 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in April 2024)May 12: Major Spending Holiday (Mother’s Day)May 27: Bank and NYSE Holiday (Memorial Day)May 29: Beige Book Release (May) June
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June 7: Employment Situation Report (May) June 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in May 2024) June 11–12: FOMC Meeting (June) June 16: Major Spending Holiday (Father’s Day) June 17: Individual Filing Date for U.S. Residents Abroad: U.S. citizens or resident aliens living and working outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico (or those on military duty outside the U.S.) must file and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due. Use Form 1040 or 1040-SR. You may file Form 4868 instead to get an additional four months to file, though you must still pay any taxes you estimate you owe to avoid interest and penalties. You will need to file Form 1040 or 1040-SR by October 15. If you’re deployed in a combat zone, you may be able to extend your filing deadline further. Second Quarter 2024 Estimated Tax Payment Due: Pay the second installment of any estimated tax due. June 19: Bank & NYSE Holiday (Juneteenth) June 30: FAFSA Filing Deadline: Last chance to apply for federal student aid for 2024–25. July
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July 3: Early NYSE CloseJuly 4: Bank & NYSE Holiday and Major Spending Holiday (Independence Day)July 5: Employment Situation Report (June)July 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in June 2024)July 17: Beige Book Release (July)July 30 – 31: FOMC Meeting (July) August
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Aug. 2: Employment Situation Report (July)Aug. 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in July 2024) September
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Sept. 2: Bank and NYSE Holiday (Labor Day)Sept. 4: Beige Book Release (September)Sept. 6: Employment Situation Report (August)Sept. 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in August 2024)Sept. 15: Third Quarter 2024 Estimated Tax Payment Due: Pay the third installment of any estimated tax due for the year.Sept. 17–18: FOMC Meeting (September) October
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Oct. 1: First chance to apply for CSS Profile Open Date (non-federal student aid ) for 2024–25Oct. 4: Employment Situation Report (September)Oct. 14: Bank Holiday (Indigenous People’s Day)Oct. 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in September 2024)Oct. 15: Medicare Open Enrollment: First chance to sign up for the national health insurance programOct. 15: Extended Individual Tax Returns Due: If you received a six-month extension to file your 2023 taxes, file Form 1040 or 1040-SR and pay any tax, penalties, or interest that are due.Oct. 23: Beige Book Release (October)Oct. 31:Major Spending Holiday (Halloween) November
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Nov. 1: Employment Situation Report (October) Nov. 6 – 7: FOMC Meeting (November) Nov. 11: Bank Holiday (Veterans Day) Major Discount Shopping Day (Singles’ Day) Nov. 12: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($29 or more in October 2024) Nov. 28: Bank and NYSE Holiday (Thanksgiving Day) Nov. 29: Early NYSE Close Major Discount Shopping Day (Black Friday) Nov. 30: Major Discount Shopping Day (Small Business Saturday) December
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FAFSA Open Date: First chance to apply for federal student aid for 2024–25 Dec. 2: Major Discount Shopping Day (Cyber Monday) Dec. 4: Beige Book Release (December) Dec. 6: Employment Situation Report (November) Dec. 7: Medicare Open Enrollment Due Date: Last chance to sign up for the national health insurance program Dec. 10: Employees Who Work for Tips Reporting Due Date ($20 or more in November 2024) Dec. 9: Major Discount Shopping Day (Green Monday) Dec. 17–18: FOMC Meeting (December) Dec. 21: Major Discount Shopping Day (Super Saturday) Dec. 25: Bank and NYSE Holiday (Christmas Day) Dec. 31: Last Day to Contribute to Charity for a Tax Deduction Last Day for 401(k) Contributions Other Events to Keep in Mind
Aside from the monthly events you should account for listed above, here are a few others you may want to mark down on your calendar. These events aren’t date-specific and depend on your personal circumstances.
Best Time to Get Married: Beginning of the year Best Time to Sell a Car: March to August Best Months to Lock in a Fixed Utility Bill Price: Spring (March/April) and fall (September/October) Best Time to Rent a House: Winter (December to March) Best Time to Take a Vacation: Varies by off-season and shoulder season, depending on location Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): If you turned 72 before January 1, 2024, you will need to take an RMD in 2024. If you did not turn 72 by December 31, 2023, you will not need to take RMDs until you are 73. Other Major Spending Events: Back to school/college, graduation, wedding, milestone birthday or anniversary, etc. Annual Event: Portfolio rebalancing How Much Can I Contribute to an IRA In 2024?
In 2024, you can contribute $7,000 to an IRA if you are under the age of 50. You can contribute $8,000 if you’re age 50 or older. You must meet income limits to contribute to a Roth IRA.
How Much Can I Contribute to a 401(k) In 2024?
In 2024, you can contribute $23,000 to a 401(k), or $30,500 for those over age 50.
When Is Tax Day in 2024?
Tax day is April 18, 2024, to file your 2023 tax return. State holidays, such as those in Massachusetts or Maine, can delay that deadline for those state residents.
If I File For a Tax Extension, When Do I Need To Pay?
If you file for and receive a six-month tax extension, you must still pay any taxes that you estimate you will owe by April 15, 2024. You have until October 15, 2024 to file your 2023 tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) with an extension. If you overpaid when you estimated how much you would owe, you will receive the difference as a tax return.
The Bottom Line
A personal finance calendar is a useful tool for budgeting, saving, and investing. It can help you plan for major expenses and keep track of important days, such as tax day or events that impact the stock market. It can also keep track of things like major holidays that will impact your spending or that are good times to get discounts when you shop.
The Investopedia 2024 Personal Finance Calendar can help you keep track of monthly market-moving events, holidays, tax deadlines, and other dates that will impact your financial life in 2024 and beyond.
