Staying ahead of IRS deadlines can make or break your retirement strategy. Whether you’re contributing to an IRA, running a Solo 401(k), or taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), knowing the exact cutoff dates helps you avoid penalties and maximise tax advantages.
Below is a clear breakdown of every key deadline investors must mark on their calendars for the 2025 tax year, plus insight into how self-directed retirement accounts can give you more control along the way.
December 31, 2025: Major Year-End Retirement Actions
The end of the calendar year brings several critical retirement deadlines. To ensure your activity counts for 2025, you must complete the following by midnight December 31:
- Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): If you turn 73 or older in 2025 (i.e., born in 1952 or earlier), your RMD must be withdrawn by this date to avoid IRS penalties.
- Solo 401(k) Setup for 2025: Self-employed professionals and small business owners with no full-time employees (other than a spouse) must establish a Solo 401(k) by December 31 if they wish to make employee deferral contributions for 2025. Employer profit-sharing contributions may follow by the business’s tax-filing deadline in 2026.
- Roth IRA Conversions: Any funds moved from a Traditional, SEP or Solo 401(k) into a Roth account must be converted by December 31 to count as part of your 2025 taxable income.
- SIMPLE IRA Salary Deferrals: Employee salary deferrals must be made by December 31 (or as soon as administratively possible after payroll). Employer matching or nonelective contributions must follow by the employer’s filing deadline in 2026.
- Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs): IRA owners eligible to make QCDs must ensure the transfer from the IRA to the charity is completed by December 31 for it to count toward the 2025 tax year.
Tip: Year-end is also the perfect time to review your retirement portfolio allocation, rebalance if needed, and consider whether a self-directed IRA could allow you to diversify into alternative assets.
April 1, 2026: First RMD Deadline for Those Turning 73 in 2025
If you reach age 73 in 2025, you have the option to delay your first required distribution until April 1, 2026. However, note that if you delay, you must also take the second RMD by December 31, 2026 — meaning you’ll have two taxable distributions inside one calendar year. Plan accordingly for tax-bracket impact and withholding.
April 15, 2026: IRA Contribution Deadline 2025
The standard tax-filing deadline, April 15, 2026, is your final chance to make 2025 contributions to the following:
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Coverdell Education Savings Account (CESA)
When contributing after the calendar year ends, ensure you designate the deposit as for the “2025 tax year”. This is also the last day to file taxes for 2025 without requesting an extension.
At-a-Glance: 2025 Retirement & Tax Deadlines
| Date | Deadline or Action |
|---|---|
| Dec 31, 2025 | RMDs due; Solo 401(k) setup; Roth conversions; SIMPLE IRA deferrals; QCDs |
| Apr 1, 2026 | First RMD for those turning 73 in 2025 |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Final 2025 contribution deadline for IRAs, HSAs, CESAs, and standard tax return filing |
Why Deadlines Matter, And How a Self-Directed IRA Can Help
While the deadlines above apply to all retirement accounts, self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) give you more freedom over where and how your retirement money grows. From real estate and private lending to digital assets, you can diversify your portfolio while staying compliant with IRS timelines.
If you’re exploring new ways to build long-term wealth, learn how to diversify your retirement portfolio with a self-directed IRA
At Accuplan Benefits Services, we make self-directed IRA setup and ongoing management simple:
- Open or fund an IRA in minutes
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- Manage your assets through a secure online dashboard
Ready to take control of your retirement? Open a Self-Directed IRA Today ›
