Compensation

Was Jan. 9 Declared a Federal Holiday? Clearing Up the Confusion

By:

Last Updated: January 8, 2025

3 minute engagement

After President Biden issued an executive order saying all federal departments and agencies would be closed on Jan. 9, 2025, employers wondered if the date would have the same impact as a federal holiday.

Would banks be open — or would direct deposits need to be rescheduled? Would any tax returns and payments be due to the IRS that day? Would SSA be available to take questions about Forms W-2?

We have answers for you.

Day of Mourning, Not a Holiday

On Dec. 29, 2024, Biden published a proclamation, announcing the death of President James Earl Carter, Jr. He appointed Jan. 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning, a day for the American people to remember the 39th president of the United States.

Then, in his executive order released on Dec. 30, 2024, Biden announced that “as a mark of respect” for President Carter, the federal government would be closed on that Day of Mourning. Of course, that includes many of the departments and agencies employers regularly interact with, including IRS, SSA and the Dept. of Labor, to name a few.

So, while not officially a federal holiday, some of the repercussions will be the same for employers.

For example, you won’t be able to pick up the phone and talk to a representative.

However, automated phone services will be functional, and you can search for information on agency websites.

IRS Deadline Announcement

As a result of the National Day of Mourning, the IRS announced that taxpayers would have an extra day to file returns or make tax payments originally due on Jan. 9, 2025.

That means the due date has been pushed back one day — to Jan. 10, 2025 — for any federal income, payroll or excise tax deposit due on Jan. 9, 2025, the IRS pointed out. That includes payments made through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System — aka EFTPS.

It’s worth noting that, for employment tax purposes, semiweekly tax depositors don’t have any deposits due on Jan. 9, 2025. That said, deposits are due the day before and after that, as follows:

For payments made on Jan. 1, 2, 3, the semiweekly tax deposit is due Jan. 8, 2025.
For payments made on Jan. 4, 5, 6, 7, the semiweekly tax deposit is due Jan. 10, 2025.

Are Banks Open or Closed?

You shouldn’t need to make alternate arrangements for direct deposit or other financial transactions you have scheduled for tomorrow.

That’s because banks across the county should be open on Jan. 9, 2025. After all, as mentioned, Biden didn’t declare a federal holiday, but a Day of Mourning.

Furthermore, although the Federal Reserve will be closed, the agency explained that its “payment system will operate normally.”