If I won't be able to finish my return by April 15, can I get an extension?

Yes. You can get an extension by filing Form 4868 (PDF), Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, by the due date. By filing the extension, you avoid the late filing penalty. However, Form 4868 does not extend the time to pay your income tax. For more details, refer to Tax Topic 304, Extensions of Time to File Your Tax Return.

Special rules apply to U.S. citizens and residents whose home and main place of business or post of duty are outside the United States or Puerto Rico on the return due date, April 15. For more information, refer to Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad.

References:

• Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad
• Form 4868 (PDF), Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
• Tax Topic 304, Extensions of Time to File Your Tax Return

What form do I fill out to request an extension to file my individual income tax return?

The form to file for an extension of time to time to file your Forms 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ, is Form 4868 (PDF), Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. You must file Form 4868 by the due date of the return. The automatic extension is a four-month extension.

An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. You must make an accurate estimate of your tax and send any necessary payment with your Form 4868. If you find you cannot pay the full amount due with Form 4868, you can still get the extension. You will owe interest on the unpaid amount.

You will be billed for a late payment penalty (which equals one-half of one percent of the unpaid tax for each month from the original due date of payment), unless at least 90 percent of the actual tax liability was paid prior to the original due date of the return through withholding on wages, estimated tax payments, or any payment accompanying the Form 4868. However, you will not have to pay the penalty if you can show reasonable cause for the failure to pay.

If you qualify for the automatic four month extension and you later find that you are not able to file within the four month extension period, you may be able to get 2 more months to file, for a total of 6 months. To apply for an additional extension either write a letter to the IRS or file Form 2688 (PDF), Application for Additional Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. You should ask for the extension early so that, if it is not approved, you still will be able to file by the end of the first extension time limit. Refer to Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, for additional information on filing extensions for your individual tax returns.

References:

• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax
• Form 4868 (PDF), Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
• Form 2688 (PDF), Application for Additional Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

If you need an extension to file past April 15th and know that you will receive a refund after completion, do you still have to fill out Form 4868?

Yes, you should file a Form 4868 (PDF), Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to extend your time to file even if you are due a refund.

If there is a subsequent adjustment to a late filed return that results in an underpayment of tax, you may be assessed a penalty for failure to file on time. The penalty is usually 5% for each month or part of a month that the return is late, but not exceeding 25%. An example of a subsequent adjustment that results in an underpayment of tax is an examination of your return with changes that increase your total tax owed.

References:

• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax
• Form 4868 (PDF), Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

If you don't owe any money, do you have to file a tax return? If you are late filing, without an extension, and have a refund coming back, how much are you penalized? How long can you make claim to that money?

Whether you have to file a tax return depends on your filing status, age, and gross income. For more information refer to Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information. You are required to file even if you are going to get a refund. Even if you are not required to file, you need to file if you are due a refund from income tax withheld from your pay, or you qualify for the earned income credit or the additional child tax credit.

Late filing penalties are based on the amount owed. If you have a refund coming there will be no penalty.

While you can file the original tax return at any time, the amount of any refund cannot be more than any tax paid within the 3-year period (plus any extension of time for filing your return) immediately before you filed the claim. The time you file your claim may be based on the postmark date for this purpose. Income tax withheld from wages and estimated income tax payments (made before the due date without regard to extensions for the original return) are considered paid on the due date.

References:

• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax
• Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information
• Publication 596, Earned Income Credit
• Tax Topic 301, When, where, and how to file
• Tax Topic 306, Penalty for underpayment of estimated tax

The deadline for filing a return has passed and I did not file for an extension. What should I do?

You need to file the tax return as soon as possible. If any taxes are owed, pay them with your return. If you are unable to pay the amount in full, refer to Tax Topic 202, What To Do If You Can't Pay Your Tax.

References:

• Tax Topic 202, What To Do If You Can't Pay Your Tax

I've been told that payment of taxes can be deferred until August. I've also been told that payment is due April 15th and the extension is just for follow-up paperwork. Which is correct? Is it possible to file an extension for payment of taxes due?

If you are unable to file your individual tax return by the due date, you can get an automatic 4-month extension of time by filing Form 4868 (PDF), Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File for U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns, before the due date, usually April 15. By filing this form, you can avoid a late filing penalty. However, this extension does not give you more time to pay the tax you owe. It is only an extension of time to file your return. If you need an extension of time to file, you need to estimate how much tax, if any, you'll owe, and include that payment with your Form 4868. If you cannot pay the entire amount or a part of that amount, please see the information above.

If you are a U.S. citizen, resident or a member of the armed forces, whose home and main place of business or post of duty are outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico on the return due date, you are allowed a two-month extension until June 15, to file your return and pay any tax due. If you use this automatic extension, you must attach a statement to your return saying that your home and your main place of business or post of duty are outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico on the due date of your return. If you have a balance due on your return, it will be subject to interest from the due date (usually April 15) until you pay the tax.

References:

• Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad
• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax

If I file for an extension, do I still have to send in any money I think I might owe by the April 15th date, or can I wait until I know exactly what I owe or don't owe and send it in by the extension due date?

If you need an extension of time to file, you need to estimate how much tax, if any, you'll owe on Form 4868 (PDF), Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File for U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns. You do not have to pay the amount of the estimate in order to obtain the extension. However, the extension does not give you more time to pay the tax you owe; it is only an extension of time to file your return. If you owe any amount of tax when you file your return, you will be charged interest on that unpaid balance from the original due date (usually April 15) of the return. You will also be charged a late payment penalty if the unpaid balance is more than 10 percent of your actual tax liability unless you have reasonable cause for the failure to pay.

References:

• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax

I filed an extension in April and still owe the IRS. I want to pay the money before the August deadline to file. Do I need to fill out a form to send in with my check? Where do I send the check? What are the penalties, interest due for not paying by April 15th?

Interest will be assessed from the due date of the return. When you file your return, simply pay the amount due. The IRS will send a notice of the interest due. You will also be charged a late payment penalty if the unpaid balance is more than 10 percent of your actual tax liability unless you have reasonable cause for the failure to pay.

References:

• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax

I am filing my U.S. tax return from the U.K. and am eligible for the automatic 2-month extension. Do my forms need to be in Philadelphia by June 15th, or do they just need to be postmarked by June 15th?

Your return must be postmarked by June 15.

References:

• Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax

I will be vacationing overseas on April 15. Since I will be out of the country, do I qualify for the automatic 2-month extension?

No. You are allowed an automatic 2-month extension (until June 15, if you use a calendar year) to file your return and pay any federal income tax that is due if you are a U.S. citizen or resident, only if:

You are living outside of the United States and Puerto Rico, and your main place of business or post of duty is outside the United States and Puerto Rico, or

you are in the military or naval service on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico

Vacationing is a temporary status that does not meet the criteria for the automatic 2-month extension.

References:

• Form 4868 (PDF) , Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

I filed an extension in April because I had not received a Form W-2. At the time, I estimated my cost and paid it. I still have not received a W-2, and my extension will expire soon. What should I do?

In general, employers must provide employees with a Form W-2 by January 31. If you have not received your Form W-2 you should:

First, contact your employer to find out if or when the W-2 was mailed. You may not have received your W-2 because of an incorrect or incomplete address. This can be checked and corrected when you talk to the employer.

If the W-2 was returned to the employer because of an address problem, or was not yet issued, allow a reasonable amount of time for the employer to re-mail or issue the W-2. Then, if you still do not receive your W-2, contact the IRS for assistance at (800) 829-1040. When you call, you will need to give us the following information in order for us to prepare Form 4852 (PDF), Substitute for a Missing Form W-2.

Your employer's name and complete address, including zip code, employer identification number (if known), and telephone number,

Your name, address, including zip code, social security number, and telephone number; and

An estimate of the wages you earned, the federal income tax withheld, and the period you worked for that employer.

IRS will mail you a copy of Form 4852, but you should use it only if necessary to meet the filing deadline. If you file your return and attach Form 4852 instead of a W-2, your refund may be delayed while the information you gave us is verified.

If you receive a corrected W-2 after you file your return, and it does not agree with the income or withheld tax you reported on your return, you must file an amended return.

References:

• Form 4852 (PDF), Substitute for a Missing Form W-2

Is it possible to get an extension for sending out W-2 forms? I was told the deadline is February 28th.

There are two deadlines for sending our Form W-2. You must furnish Form W-2 to your employees by January 31. To get an extension of the time to furnish your employees with Form W-2 you must send a letter on or before January 31st requesting the extension. Refer to the Instructions for Form W-2 and W-3 for the information that must be in the letter and mailing instructions.

The deadline for sending Forms W-2 with a Form W-3 to the Social Security Administration is the last day of February. If you terminate your business the date may be different. To get an extension of time to mail the Forms W-2 to the Social Security Administration file Form 8809 (PDF), Request for Extension of Time to File Information Returns, before the due date of the Forms W-2. If approved, you will have an additional 30 days to file.

References:

• Instructions for Form W-2 and W-3
• Form 8809 (PDF), Request for Extension of Time to File Information Returns