The United States government and the IRS offer plenty of opportunities and convenience to taxpayers. You can even file a tax extension on time to enjoy a six-month extension. However, it is worth noting that this extension is only offered for the filing deadline and not your payments.
Unfortunately, you cannot file a tax extension after the deadline. You can follow the latest information and check the deadlines by visiting the official IRS website depending on your area and entity.
Anyone who needs more time to prepare his or her tax return can submit the requested forms to the IRS and enjoy a six-month filing extension without any conditions or requirements. Of course, there is a deadline for this submission, which is April 15 or the following business day, but submitting the relevant form and enjoying your extension is highly straightforward.
What Form Do You Need to File a Tax Extension?
The only form you need to file a tax extension for your individual income tax return is Form 4868. You do not have to receive any professional assistance to submit this form. You can easily file your file tax extension on your own, for free, and electronically or by mail.
On the form, you will have to provide identifying information such as your address, name, social security number of yourself, and your spouse. In addition to this, you will also provide individual tax income return information on the form such as estimated tax liability for this year, total balance you have already paid, the amount you are going to pay, and balance due.
On the other hand, if you are a foreigner living in the United States and have a social security number for employment, then you need to file Form 1040-NR. You can find both of these forms on the official website of the IRS.
How to File a Tax Extension?
Once you decide on which form you need to file depending on your current condition, you can submit it electronically or via mail. Below, you can find detailed information for both methods.
How to File a Tax Extension Online?
You need to use the IRS e-file, which is a system that allows you to submit your form online. As you can submit it on the IRS e-file on your own, you can also use commercial or free software solutions available on the internet or receive professional support from a tax professional.
How to File a Tax Extension via Mail?
The address you need to mail your form varies depending on where you live in the United States. You can find the relevant address you need to mail your form at the end of the form. Make sure that you fill out the form correctly before your mail it since any failure may lead you to miss the deadline.