With just over two weeks to go to Tax Day (April 18), it’s time to make some tough choices. You can:
- Call and hope to get a last minute tax appointment;
- Download tax prep software and figure you’ll squeeze the time to file in between watching the Masters and the NCAA Basketball Finals;
- Bang your head against your desk while promising to be more prepared next year;
- Or you can join the nearly 10 million taxpayers who are expected to file for an extension.
Of those choices, filing for an extension is probably the easiest to do. It just takes a few minutes, there are no special hoops to jump through, and there’s no fee payable to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). And contrary to popular belief, filing for extension isn’t an audit trigger.
The IRS understands that there are a number of legitimate reasons why taxpayers may need more time to file. Whatever your reason for not being ready to file is yours. You don’t need to tell anyone why you’re filing for extension – even the IRS – since the extension is granted automatically if you follow the rules. To file for an extension, you can:
- File for an extension online for free using FreeFile on IRS.gov;
- File for an extension electronically (visit IRS’ e-file options page for more information)
- Ask your tax preparer to file for extension for you;
- Use a service like File Later to file for extension for you;
- File using tax prep software; or
- Complete a federal form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (downloads as a pdf).
The regular “timely filing” rules apply – so be sure and get your extension postmarked or e-file accepted by the end of the day on April 18. Assuming you’re on time, you will have six more months to get your return to the IRS and not be subject to the late-filing penalty. For 2017, this means that, with an extension, you’ll have until October 16, 2017, to file a return (the extension is normally to October 15 which falls on a Sunday in 2017).
To file an extension, you’ll need:
- Your name (and spouse’s name if you’re filing jointly) and address;
- Your Social Security number (and spouse’s Social Security number if you’re filing jointly);
- An estimate of your total tax liability for 2016;
- Total of what you have already paid for 2016 (including withholding and estimated payments); and
- The amount you’re paying with the extension, if anything.
Remember that an extension is an extension of the time to file and not an extension of time to pay. If you expect to owe at tax time and you’re filing for extension, you should make a payment with your extension request in order to avoid interest and penalty later. The interest rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3%, compounded daily and the late-payment penalty is normally 0.5% per month. (More on those penalties here.)
If you need to make a payment with your extension, you can send in a check or money order with your form 4868, pay online, or pay by phone. You can also pay by making a direct transfer from your bank account using Direct Pay, using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (ESTPS, registration required), or by debit or credit card (third party charges may apply). Some services require an extra day or so for processing so check those details out well before April 18.
Some taxpayers get an automatic extension of time to file without having to file:
- If you’re a US citizen or resident and you live outside of the U.S. or Puerto Rico and your main place of business or post of duty is outside of the US or Puerto Rico or if you are active duty military and live outside of the U.S., you qualify for a 2 month extension without having to file form 4868. That moves your due date to June 15 to file and pay. However, interest is still due on any tax payment made after April 18.
- Members of the military and others serving in combat zones or hazardous zone areas generally have until at least 180 days after they leave the zone to file returns and pay any taxes due.
- People affected by natural disasters may have extra time. Check the IRS website to see if you’re eligible.
While it’s always a relief to have your tax return over and done with by April 18, it’s not the end of the world if that doesn’t happen. I firmly believe that it’s always better to file a complete, correct return on extension than a rushed, flawed return by Tax Day. So go ahead, file for an extension. And then breathe.
