How to File an Application for an Automatic Extension of Time

An automatic extension of time provides additional months to complete and submit your tax return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This is a formal request for more time to file, not an extension of the deadline to pay any taxes you may owe. If you owe taxes, they are still due by the original filing deadline, usually April 15. Failing to pay by this date can result in interest and late-payment penalties on the outstanding balance. For most individual filers, a successful application moves the filing deadline to October 15, allowing you to avoid a failure-to-file penalty while you gather documents.

Required Information and Forms for an Extension

Before you can request an extension, you must gather specific personal and financial information. For an individual return, this includes the full names and Social Security Numbers (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) for yourself, your spouse, and any dependents. For a business, you will need the official business name, address, and Employer Identification Number (EIN).

A component of the extension application is a good-faith estimate of your total tax liability for the year. This is not a random guess but a calculated approximation of the tax you will owe. To develop this estimate, you should use documents such as W-2s from employers, 1099 forms for other income, and records of any estimated tax payments already made.

Individuals use Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. This form requires your identifying information, your estimated total tax liability, total payments you have already made, and the resulting balance due. You must also indicate the amount you are paying with the extension, if any.

Businesses, including corporations and partnerships, use Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File Certain Business Income Tax, Information, and Other Returns. This form requires the business’s identifying information and a tentative tax calculation. A key part of Form 7004 is selecting the specific code for the return you are extending, such as Form 1120 for a C corporation or Form 1065 for a partnership.

Methods for Submitting Your Extension Request

There are several ways to submit your request for an extension.

• Use the IRS Free File program, which allows any taxpayer, regardless of income, to electronically file Form 4868 at no cost. This system guides you through the process and provides an electronic acknowledgment.
• Utilize commercial tax preparation software, which offers a similar electronic filing service for both individual and business extensions.
• Make an electronic payment of part or all of your estimated tax liability. The IRS will automatically process an extension for you without the need to file a separate Form 4868. When paying, you must indicate that the payment is for an extension.
• File a paper form by mail. You must complete the physical Form 4868 or Form 7004 and mail it to the address listed in the form’s instructions. If you are including a payment, the check or money order should be made payable to the “United States Treasury.”

Electronic payment options include IRS Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), or a credit or debit card. IRS Direct Pay allows for direct debit from a bank account without fees. Payments via credit card, debit card, or digital wallet are processed through third-party payment processors, which charge a convenience fee for the service.

Obligations After Filing for an Extension

The automatic extension provides a new filing deadline, which is the final day to submit your return without facing a failure-to-file penalty. For most individual taxpayers who file Form 4868, this new date is October 15. For businesses filing Form 7004, the extension is for six months from the original due date. This means a partnership with a March 15 deadline would have a new deadline of September 15.

After submitting your extension request, whether electronically or by mail, you should retain a copy for your records in case any questions arise later. If you filed electronically, keep the digital confirmation from the IRS. If you paid to get an extension, your payment confirmation serves as your proof.

Finally, the extension period should be used to complete your tax return accurately. Once you have all your necessary documents, you must file the final, complete tax return by the extended deadline. You do not need to attach a copy of the extension form to your final return when you file it.