Important Personal Finance Deadlines for 1999

Jan. 15--Last quarterly estimated tax payment for 1998 is due.

Jan. 31--Deadline to submit application to the U.S. Department of Education to consolidate and lower interest rates on eligible student loans. For more information, call the Direct Loan program at (800) 557-7392 or visit https://www.ed.gov.

Feb. 15--Best time to submit Free Application for Federal Student Aid form for the best chance at financial aid. While the actual deadline isn’t until June 30, most colleges have given away much of their financial aid by then.

April 1--Last day for taking a required minimum distribution from your IRA if you turned 70 1/2 last year.

April 15--Tax returns must be filed or an extension requested and estimated tax paid by this date.

First quarterly estimated tax payments due.

Last day to make 1998 contributions for IRAs, Roth IRAs, Simplified Employee Pension plans.

June 30--Deadline for submitting Free Application for Federal Student Aid form.

Aug. 16--Deadline to submit your 1998 tax return, if you requested an extension by April 15, or to request another two-month extension.

Oct. 15--Last deadline for filing 1998 tax returns. No further extensions allowed.

Dec. 31--The last day for most tax moves to reduce 1999 taxes, including making charitable contributions, incurring deductible expenses and opening a Keogh retirement plan.

Five-year forward averaging, a tax break that allows retirees to spread out the income from a lump-sum retirement distribution over five years, is scheduled to expire today. People born before 1936 will still be able to use 10-year forward averaging.