
Written by
Drew Gieseke
Drew Gieseke is an aPHR®-certified member of the Marketing team at Bernard Health, where he writes about HR, compliance, and healthcare solutions.
HR Calendar 2021: Key Compliance Dates and Holidays for New Year

From major holidays to key compliance requirements and ACA deadlines, find out everything you need to know about important HR dates for 2021.
2021 HR Calendar: Key Dates and Holidays
Note: Dates may be subject to change and will be updated accordingly. Follow blog.bernieportal.com for the latest HR updates.
JANUARY
Federal Holidays
- Friday, January 1 – New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 18 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Key Dates
- Wednesday, January 20 – Presidential Inauguration Day
- Thursday, January 28 – Data Privacy Day
- Sunday, January 31 – Quarterly Form 941 Due
FEBRUARY
Federal Holidays
- Monday, February 15 – President’s Day
Key Dates
- Black History Month
- Monday, February 1 – Form W-2 Filing Deadline
- Monday, February 1 – Form 1099 Filing Deadline
- Saturday, February 6 – Post OSHA Form 300A through April 30
- Sunday, February 28 – ACA Forms Paper Filing Deadline
MARCH
Key Dates
- Monday, March 1 – Form 8809 Paper Filing Deadline
- Monday, March 1 – HIPAA Breach Employee Notification
- Monday, March 1 – Form M-1 Filing Deadline
- Tuesday, March 2 – Form 1095-B and Form 1095-C Furnish to Employees Deadline (extended from Jan. 31, 2021)
- Tuesday, March 2 – CMS Creditable Coverage Disclosure
- Tuesday, March 2 – OSHA Records Due
- Friday, March 5 – Employee Appreciation Day
- Monday, March 8 – International Women's Day
- Sunday, March 14 – Daylight Savings Time Start
- Wednesday, March 31 – Forms 1095-B and 1095-C E-Filing Deadline
- Wednesday, March 31 – Form 8809 E-Filing Deadline
- Wednesday, March 31 – End of Q1
- March TBD – Adjusted EEO-1 Reporting and Filing Deadline for 2019, 2020
APRIL
Key Dates
- Thursday, April 15 – Tax Day
- Thursday, April 15 – Form 7004 Filing Deadline
- Thursday, April 15 – Form 8928 Filing Deadline
- Wednesday, April 21 – Administrative Professionals Day
- Friday, April 30 – Quarterly Form 941 Due
MAY
Federal Holidays
- Monday, May 31 – Memorial Day
Key Dates
- Saturday, May 15 – Non-Profit Tax Returns Deadline
- Global Employee Health and Fitness Month – Encourage healthy lifestyles and workplace wellness
JUNE
Key Dates
- Monday, June 14 – Flag Day
- Saturday, June 19 – Juneteenth
- Wednesday, June 30 – End of Q2
- Mid-Year Benefits Review – Remind employees to take advantage of any eligible voluntary benefits
JULY
Federal Holidays
- Sunday, July 4 – Independence Day
- Monday, July 5 – Independence Day (observed)
Key Dates
- Saturday, July 31 – Form 720 Filing Deadline
- Saturday, July 31 – Form 5500 Filing Deadline
- Saturday, July 31 – Form 5558 Filing Deadline
- Saturday, July 31 – Quarterly Form 941 Due
- Compliance Check – Review benefits notices were or will be issued as required
AUGUST
Key Dates
- School Physicals – Remind employees about dependent benefits before school begins
- National Eye-Exam Month – Encourage employees to take advantage of vision benefits
SEPTEMBER
Federal Holidays
- Monday, September 6 – Labor Day
Key Dates
- September 6-10 – National Payroll Week
- Thursday, September 30 – SAR Furnish to Covered Participants Deadline
- Thursday, September 30 – End of Q3
- PTO Check – Remind employees to check PTO balances before Q4
- Fall Flu Shots – Encourage employees to receive flu shots
OCTOBER
Federal Holidays
- Monday, October 11 – Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Key Dates
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- Sunday, October 3 – QSEHRA Notice Deadline (for QSEHRAs that begin Jan. 1, 2022)
- Sunday, October 3 – RDS Application Due to CMS (for plan years beginning in Jan. 1, 2022)
- Thursday, October 14 – Medicare Part D Notice of Creditable Coverage Delivered to Plan Participants
- Friday, October 15 – National Boss’s Day (observed)
- Sunday, October 31 – Form 941 Due
- Sunday, October 31 – Halloween
- October TBD – Tax Return Extension Deadline
NOVEMBER
Federal Holidays
- Thursday, November 11 – Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 25 – Thanksgiving
Key Dates
- Sunday, November 7 – Daylight Savings Time End
- Remind Employees to submit FSA receipts before EOY
DECEMBER
Federal Holidays
- Friday, December 24 – Christmas Eve/Christmas Day (observed)
- Saturday, December 25 – Christmas Day
Key Dates
- Friday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve
- BerniePortal Review – Remind employees to update personal information in BerniePortal for W-2s and ACA reports in the new year
FIRST DAY OF PLAN YEAR AND ANNUAL NOTICES
- ADA Wellness Program Notice
- CHIP Notice
- GINA Wellness Program Authorization
- Grandfathered Plan Notice
- Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act Notice
- Notice to Enrollees Regarding Group Health Plan Opt-out
- Wellness Program Notice of Reasonable Alternatives
- Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act Notice

Written by
Drew Gieseke
Drew Gieseke is an aPHR®-certified member of the Marketing team at Bernard Health, where he writes about HR, compliance, and healthcare solutions.
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