IRS Form 4868: A Step-by-Step Guide to Filing an IRS Tax Extension Intuit TurboTax Blog

You don’t need to pay any fees to file and it’s approved by the IRS once you file electronically or on paper by the filing deadline. If you’re like many Americans, you’re probably feeling a little behind on your taxes. Maybe you’re still waiting on some W-2s or 1099s (though they should have arrived by Jan. 31), or maybe you just haven’t had the time to sit down and organize all your documents. You can file for a tax extension with the IRS to give yourself an extra six months to complete your return. If you complete this process successfully, your payment will be credited towards the tax year for which you are requesting a filing extension, and you will automatically receive the extension. You will not need to file a separate Form 4868, Extension of Time to File Your Tax Return.

More products from Intuit

• If you can’t file your taxes by the April deadline, you can file an extension to get more time to file your taxes.
• To file an Arkansas extension, print and mail Form AR1055-IT by April 15, 2025.
• You can also use TurboTax to make payments on your taxes even if you can afford to pay off only a portion of what you’re going to owe in taxes before filing for an extension.
• Therefore, it’s important to file your tax return as soon as possible to avoid penalties and interest.
• You may also get an automatic extension if you’re in a disaster area.

However, if you owe, print and mail Form TC-546 and include a check with your amount owed by April 15, 2025, to avoid penalties and interest. Pennsylvania automatically grants a filing (not payment) extension to October 15, 2025 if you filed an approved federal extension. Otherwise, if you owe, print and mail Form REV-276 along with your payment by April 15, 2025, to avoid penalties and interest. Mississippi automatically grants a filing (not payment) extension to October 15, 2025 if you filed an approved federal extension (Federal form 4868), or don’t owe MS taxes.

Follow the prompts to enter your personal information and estimated tax liability for the current tax year. Filing taxes can be a daunting task, and sometimes you may need more time to gather all the necessary documents and information. Once you’ve filed for your extension, your only job is to wait. If the IRS doesn’t send a rejection notification, you’re good to go. You can pay directly via the IRS website which is the recommended way or you can pay by check.

Those who mail in official tax forms will meet the deadline as long as they properly postmark it by the due date even if it is received later. Meanwhile, those who file online or through tax software must transmit on or before midnight on April 15 to avoid IRS penalties. In the case of e-filing, you can also submit payment through the IRS Direct Pay portal or via mail by check or money order. If you send a paper Form 4868 requesting an automatic extension, be sure to include payment in the envelope or through the Direct Pay portal. Some members of the military receive automatic tax extensions without needing to file a tax extension with the IRS.

Federal Classic Includes:

There are special circumstances where you might need different paperwork. For example, if you need an extension for estate taxes, you might need Form 4768. All these forms and more — plus detailed explanations of when to use them — are available on the IRS website. If you’re a member of the military and are serving outside the U.S., you might qualify for an automatic extension. @Vanessa A Please address the 90% rule and paying when filing for an extension. The nature of an extension is that your return may not be right yet and one may not fully know what is due.

• Instead, you’ll not receive what the IRS owes you until you file your tax return.
• Plus, if a little more time makes it easier to claim the right tax credits or make sure you’ve covered all your bases, there’s no reason to skip this valuable opportunity.
• If you live in a state that doesn’t charge a state income tax, not only will you not need to request a tax extension, you won’t need to pay state income tax.
• You have a few extra days, and TurboTax is here to help you effortlessly file your taxes.
• If you make estimated tax payments, this is also when the first quarterly estimated payments are due.

However, if you owe, make sure to print and mail Form 1040EXT-ME with your payment by April 15, 2025, to avoid penalties and interest. See this article for automatic extensions for those affected by natural disasters. Just like that, your peaceful walk in the park is cut short as you run to your car and rush home to do your taxes before the clock strikes midnight. For those without extensions, the deadline to pay taxes is on April 15 at midnight in the time zone the taxpayer is based in, according to H&R Block. Today is Tax Day, which means many taxpayers in the United States may be scrambling to file their forms ahead of the looming deadline.

Is there a difference between filing and payment extension?

That means your estimated tax is still due at the regular deadline. It’s your responsibility to estimate your tax liability and pay on time. If you don’t, you may incur a penalty and have to pay interest on your original tax bill. Filing a tax extension extends the time you have to file a completed return—not the time allowed to pay your taxes. Failing to pay taxes you owe could result in various IRS tax penalties, such as a failure-to-file penalty or a failure-to-pay penalty. Some taxpayers will automatically get extra time to file their tax return, even if they do not request an extension.

To file an Indiana extension, print and mail Extension Form IT-9 by April 15, 2025. A federal extension will also extend your Indiana filing deadline. However, if you owe, submit payment by April 15, 2025, to avoid penalties and interest. While you will get more time to file your return, an extension does not grant you more time to pay your taxes.

Thank you for helping us improve the TurboTax Community!

Heads up – filing Form 4868 only provides you with an extension of time to file. You must still pay 100% of the tax file an extension for taxes turbotax you owe by the original filing deadline to avoid interest and late-payment penalties. The application for an automatic extension of time requires minimal information. All you need to include is your name, address and Social Security number.

Free filing of simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and student loan interest). You may have more time to file if you were affected by a disaster situation. If you filed prior to the deadline but were rejected, you’ll likely have until April 20 to mail in your extension.

The IRS only grants extensions to individuals and businesses in federally designated disaster areas, usually specific counties identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Plus, if a little more time makes it easier to claim the right tax credits or make sure you’ve covered all your bases, there’s no reason to skip this valuable opportunity. It’s critical to note that a tax extension applies to filing your return, not your payment if you owe taxes.

Now that you’ve filed an extension, you might wonder what you need to do between now and when your tax return is due. While the IRS requires you to file Form 4868 for your federal extension, each state has its own requirements for obtaining a similar state tax extension. TurboTax will also send you a notification when the IRS accepts your extension. Once your extension is accepted, you have until October 15 to file your taxes. If you owe, mail and print Form IT 40P and include a check with your payment by April 15, 2025 to avoid penalties and interest.

Remember, filing for a tax extension only extends the time to file your tax return, not the time to pay any taxes owed. Therefore, it’s important to file your tax return as soon as possible to avoid penalties and interest. If you can’t file your taxes by this date, you should request an extension by the same deadline. If you make estimated tax payments, this is also when the first quarterly estimated payments are due. If you file Form 4868 with the IRS requesting a six-month extension of time to file your federal tax return by October 15, 2025, your Kansas state return will be automatically extended as well. A copy of this form must be enclosed with your Kansas state return when filed.

A federal extension will also extend your Georgia filing deadline as long as you attach Form IT-560 to your Georgia return. Either of these options will extend your filing deadline to October 15, 2025. However, if you owe, make sure to submit payment by April 15, 2025 to avoid penalties and interest. To file a Connecticut extension, print and mail Form CT-1040 EXT or file your extension online by April 15, 2025. Either of these options will extend your filing deadline six months to October 15, 2025.

Here’s what you need to know for tax year 2025, and how you can stay ready no matter what. When that’s done, you’re ready to get on with your tax extension. Add to that layoffs that have cut staff, and a chaotic return-to-office transition, and you’re far better off submitting anything important to the agency by electronic means. Tax filing extensions are often reserved for those who have complications that make it hard to get all their paperwork together in time. You can easily import your W-2 from thousands of partners when you file with TurboTax to save you time and ensure accuracy when filing your taxes.

Massachusetts automatically gives you an extension to October 15, 2025 if you don’t owe or you pay 80% of your tax due by April 17, 2025. However, if you owe, make sure to print and mail Form M-4868 with your payment by April 17, 2025 to avoid penalties. Once you’ve filled out that information, you can select Go to Extension Payment near the bottom of the page and enter your payment information. You can pay your income taxes directly from your bank account with electronic withdrawal or by mailing a check to the IRS. A handful of states, including Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky, will automatically have more time to file their taxes as the Internal Revenue Service accommodates victims of natural disasters.

What’s the New Tax Deadline?

Montana automatically grants a filing (not payment) extension to October 15, 2025. However, if you owe, make sure to pay by April 15, 2025 to avoid penalties and interest, either by mailing a check along with Form-IT or paying online through their TransAction Portal (TAP). Iowa’s filing and payment deadline is April 30, 2025, plus you automatically get a filing extension to October 31, 2025, if you don’t owe, or you pay 90% of your tax due by April 30, 2025. If you owe, submit payment by April 30, 2025 to avoid penalties. Colorado gives you an automatic filing (not payment) extension to October 16, 2025.