I still haven’t filed my taxes. I know, I’m running out of time. I don’t really have an excuse other than trying to do too many things at once. I should have time to finish my taxes this weekend, but for those of you looking to file for a free extension, you can still do that.
The IRS allows tax payers to apply for an automatic 6 month extension to file their taxes. There is one big caveat though – if you owe money on your tax return, at least 90% of the balance is due on April 15th, regardless of whether or not you have filed your taxes or not.
How to File a Tax Extension
Filing a tax extension is easy and FREE. All you need to do is fill out Tax Form 4868, and mail it in to the IRS. You can also send it in to the IRS from a tax software program like TurboTax or Tax Cut.
E-File your tax extension for free:
File your tax extension manually:
- Download Tax Form 4868 from the IRS website. You can also pick one up at an IRS office or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
- Fill it out and send it in.
- Send in the amount you owe on your taxes, or at least an estimate. You will need to send in 90% of your actual total to avoid late fees or penalties.
Automatic tax extension deadline. You must file a request for an automatic extension by April 15th. Once you have your extension you have 6 months to file your taxes. After October 15th, your taxes are considered late and you may be subject to penalties.
Longer extension for military members and those living overseas
Some military members may qualify for an extension longer than 6 months, especially if they served in tax free zones in the current or previous year. Here is more information about military member tax deadline extensions. American civilians working overseas may also be able to file for a longer extension. Here is more information from the IRS.
What happens if you don’t file your taxes? If you don’t file your taxes, you may be subject to penalties, fees, or even jail time if it is determined that your intent was to defraud the government. Find out more about what happens if you don’t file your taxes.
An extension can be a good idea if you have a particularly complex tax situation, or if you are a procrastinator like me. 
PhotoCredit: Steve Woods.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Quick question, as I am new to this.. How could I pay the 90% I owe by April 15th if I haven’t done my taxes yet? Aren’t I filing an extension because I haven’t done them yet? How am I supposed to know if I owe money?
recon: You are supposed to do an estimate of how much you owe. There are many tax software programs you can use that will allow you to fill in your information all the way to the point of filing, without actually filing and paying.
If you do that, you should get a good estimate of how much you owe. And you only have to pay 90% of what you owe, so there is wiggle room.
Try visiting TurboTax online and starting your tax return there. You won’t have to pay if you don’t file.
Good luck!
That’s the beauty of bureaucracy. You’ll just have to make your best estimate. Anyway, my refund is on the way.
Patrick, thanks so much for taking the time to explain how to do this! It’s one of those little things that a lot of us don’t know how to do (honestly, how many of us really understand all this tax stuff anyway), but are too afraid to ask. Thanks to you, we don’t have to let this one small thing become a huge problem. That’s the Power of Small for you!
Hi everyone,
If you’re interested in a fool-proof way to get an extension, and want to get IRS confirmation that your extension was approved, you can now e-file tax extensions online. FileLater (http://filelater.com) is a really good online solution, and you can save 20% of the cost with the coupon code tweet20 at checkout.
Note from Patrick: Filing for an extension is a free service provided by the IRS; you do not need to pay anyone to file extension paperwork for you. However, there may be benefits to using a paid tax extension service if you require:
FileLater is an IRS authorized E-File provider, which means they have been certified by the IRS to handle secure taxpayer information and that they meet certain IRS requirements. You can read more about FileLater in this Washington Post review.
Evaluate your situation and needs before purchasing any software.
Another quick response to recon:
To be safe, its probably best to give the full 100%, or even above. Then, when you file for real, you’ll get it back. You’d hate to estimate to hit the 90% mark, have forgotten a few bucks somewhere, and then be subject to penalties/interest because you’re at 89%.
Better to estimate to hit 100%, if not 105 or 110%.
Besides, what better way to get you off your behind to do your taxes than knowing that the IRS is holding onto your money until you do.
Hey great info! Can anyone help with my questions? I’m planning to close on a home a week after April 15th. I want to file for the $8,000 first time home buyers credit. To my understanding, there are 3 ways I can do it after April 15th: (1) file for an amendment, (2) file for an extension, (3) decrease witholdings and file in 09. I think that the quickest and easiest way may be to file for an extension. If I’m granted an extension, can I still efile when I’m ready to file? How long does it take to get a refund if I file later than April 15th? which of the 3 do you think is quickest and easiest?
thanks!
I get an extension almost every year. Each year I mean to get it done early, but then…
Tax extensions are also great for another reason: if someone wants to make a retirement account contribution, like to a Roth IRA, then it is better to do it for the 2008 year and not the 2009 year. With an extension, you can delay making the 2008 contribution until you have a better financial field position.
DebtGoal,
I wasn’t sure either way on that one, so I looked it up. Unfortunately, its not true. Straight from the IRS (emphasis mine):
It says the same thing for both traditional & Roth IRAs in Publication 590.
Traditional is Chapter 1:
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p590/ch01.html
Roth is Chapter 2:
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p590/ch02.html
Sorry!
@ DebtGoal
Be careful there. Tax filing extensions do not go towards individual IRA contributions (traditional or roth). That just applies to business retirement plans (Simple and Sep IRA’s). If you are considering funding to your personal IRA, don’t think that the extension will work. April 15th is the deadline.
I guess you’re assuming people know this already but just in case: If you are due a refund (ie, generally get one and things haven’t changed) there’s no penalty for late file.
The IRS doesn’t care. It’s getting a 0% loan from you for all the time you wait to file. So if you are expecting money back, you don’t have to worry about late fees. (Although you do have to file within three years, or your claim to the money disappears.)
PS. Jeff’s right Debt Goal: April 15th is the deadline for all IRA contributions. Technically that’s already extended. You’re contributing for 2008 up til 4/15/09. That’s as long as you get.
It has often been said, “Tomorrow is the greatest labor saving device known to man.”
Time to finish the taxes . . .
Fred
I just got a message from HR B… that I could file an extension and have six months to fund a 2008 IRA. Can you give the publication, page and/or paragraph of your quote from the IRS? I may want to tell my “professional” tax advisor that he is WRONG!
Jim, that information is already above in my 04.03.09 post at 7:06 pm (long story short it’s Publication 590, in both Ch 1 & 2 (for Trad & Roth contributions, respectively) – see more above).
One of my fiance’s co-workers also works for H&R Block. Its amazing how much gets to me 2nd hand that is flat out wrong, and I have to provide the correction for.
An extension does give you time to contribute to a SEP IRA or a one-person 401K, both of which require that you are self-employed.
Do you have to file an extention if you are getting a refund?
You have to file an extension, yes, you just don’t have to pay anything in the process of doing so.
If you don’t file an extension, you will owe late filing penalties, regardless of whether you owed or not.
I just tried filing for an extension with the free file fillable forms that is connected to the irs site. I simply would not let me submit the form. I don’t know if it’s because I don’t owe anything – I will probably get a refund but haven’t worked it out yet.
I don’t think you will be charged any late filing penalties for filing late when you don’t owe. The IRS is not going to waste time on that, it’s an advantage for them! I have red on other sites that if you don’t owe taxes, you still need to file an extension, but really….don’t sweat it if its a little late.
Will I have to pay Late Filing Fee if I file an extension? I know I will be responsible for late payment penalty and interest, but I can’t find the answer regarding late filing fee. Please let me know, thanks.
Aglia, You will not have to pay a fee to file a late extension, unless you are paying for a software program or paying an accountant. Otherwise the only additional payments are any possible penalties.
even though it’s a weekend, is Aug 15, 2009 the deadline for IRS Extension Files ?? is aug 17, 2009 the actual deadline??
Oddly, I could not get an IRS memo, but 2 tax sites say Aug 17, 09 is..
Typically, when a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the actual deadline is the next business day. I know that’s true of April 15, etc.
However, I have no personal experience with tax extension deadlines, so I’m just assuming that it likewise applies. If you’re unsure, feel free to call them.
Does anyone know if I can file more then one extension? as you know us contractors were hit very hard this year and I am not able to pay yet. I owe about 10k. I havent even been able to pay my mortgage on time this year. Things are starting to turn around but I just need more time. Not only are my Irs taxes due in oct but my property tax is also due. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!!
Filing an extension & delaying payment are two separate things. In fact, filing an extension doesn’t remove your requirement to pay. When you file the extension of time to file, you are still required to pay what’s you expect to be due. And if you’re wrong, you’re still penalized if you’re too short (so you should typically overestimate).
A filing extension just means that you can’t get all the paperwork together yet, so you need more time, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay.
What you’re looking for is a ‘payment plan’ or an ‘installment agreement’. Here’s one page on the matter:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=108347,00.html
And don’t hesitate to call the IRS and talk to them about it. If you come to them, they’ll work with you. If they need to track you down, that’s when they get nasty. Assuming your taxes were normally due April 15th, then you’re already 6 months behind, so I’d get on the phone to them now and start working things out. If you’re more comfortable, you can also contact your local taxpayer advocate: http://www.irs.gov/advocate/
I am still interested to know if you can file more than one extension, that question has not been answered. Thanks.
Typically not, unless you have a very very good reason. One such reason is being outside of the US. After the first automatic 6-month extension, extension requests are handled on a case-by-case basis (I believe).
However, I have a difficult time imagining what could really require an extension beyond 6 months, other than some major event in your life (eg. I believe Katrina refugees were given automatic additional extensions). If you haven’t received a form or anything, you should still have the information to determine how much money you received. So you could still file, and amend later if needed. If you can’t pay, you are still required to file and then just work out a payment agreement.
This is what Publication 17 (the main publication for individual US tax returns) says about it:
“No further extension. An extension of more than 6 months will generally not be granted. However, if you are outside the United States and meet certain tests, you may be granted a longer extension. For more information, see Further extensions under When To File and Pay in Publication 54. ”
(Pub 54 is directed at people abroad)
But there’s a better way than asking on a message board and hoping I’m right. And that’s asking the IRS. They’re available 7am to 10 pm local time at 800-829-1040 (for businesses: 1-800-829-4933)
http://www.irs.gov/contact/index.html
My ex was supposed to do and file my taxes last year. She told me she filed and extension and would get done asap. Well she just now informed me she did not file the taxes and gave me all the paperwork back and said good luck.. What do i do now. Self employed DJ.
The first thing you do is contact the IRS ASAP. If you go to them, they will work with you, if they have to come after you, you will see a much less friendly side.
If it makes you feel better, you can go to your local taxpayer advocate:
http://www.irs.gov/advocate/article/0,,id=97402,00.html