Can’t make the tax deadline in April?
Don’t worry, you can always file a tax extension with the IRS.
When you file an extension and the system approves it, you can have until October 15 to file your taxes without penalties.
However, it’s important to take note that this is an extension to file taxes, not pay taxes. Whether you have a tax extension or not, you still have to pay your taxes by the original tax deadline in April.
When is the Deadline for Filing an Extension?
You can file a tax extension if you think you can’t make the deadline.
But here’s the catch: you can only apply for a tax extension until April 15, or whenever tax day is.
If the IRS denies your tax extension request after the deadline, you may get a 5-day grace period. This time allows you to fix any issues and resubmit your request.
To avoid these kinds of situations, try to file your tax extension request ahead of schedule.
How to File an Extension for a Federal Tax return?
Now comes the question: how do I file a tax extension request?
Don’t worry, the process for this is easy.
To get more time to file your taxes, you need to fill out Form 4868. We call this form the Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File US Individual Income Tax Return.
However, you should take note that a tax extension only extends the deadline of when you file, not when you pay your taxes.
Also, tax extension for federal tax return does not automatically give you an extension for filing your state taxes. If you owe state tax and want to file an extension, contact your state tax office. They will tell you what forms and requirements you need to submit.
Where do I file a Tax Extension Request?
Once you have filled out Form 4868, you can mail it to the IRS.
You can also mail the payment for your taxes together with it to avoid potential penalties. Here are the mailing addresses depending on which state you live in and if you are making a payment or not:
| State | No Payment | Payment |
| Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas |
P.O. Box 1302, Charlotte, NC 28201-1302 | Austin, TX 73301-0045 |
| Arizona, New Mexico | P.O. Box 802503, Cincinnati, OH 45280-2503 | Austin, TX 73301-0045 |
| Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
P.O. Box 931300, Louisville, KY 40293-1300 | Kansas City, MO 64999-0045 |
| Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming | P.O. Box 802503, Cincinnati, OH 45280-2503 | Ogden, UT 84201-0045 |
| Arkansas, Oklahoma | P.O. Box 931300, Louisville, KY 40293-1300 | Austin, TX 73301-0045 |
| Pennsylvania | P.O. Box 802503, Cincinnati, OH 45280-2503 | Kansas City, MO 64999-0045 |
| A foreign country, American Samoa, or Puerto Rico, or are excluding income under Internal Revenue Code section 933, or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555 or 4563, or are a dual-status alien, or nonpermanent resident of Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands | P.O. Box 1303, Charlotte, NC 28201-1303 USA | Austin, TX 73301-0215 USA |
| All foreign estate and trust Form 1040-NR filers | P.O. Box 1303, Charlotte, NC 28201-1303 USA | Kansas City, MO 64999-0045 USA |
| All other Form 1040-NR and 1040-SS filers | P.O. Box 1303, Charlotte, NC 28201-1303 USA | Austin, TX 73301-0215 USA |
What happens after filing an extension?
After you file your tax extension request, the IRS will send you a notice if it denies your request.
If it gets accepted, then you will be able to file your taxes until October 15, or whenever the extension date is.
However, you should still pay your taxes by April 15 to avoid penalties. If you can’t pay the full amount yet, pay at least 90% of your current year’s tax. This will help you avoid the Failure to Pay Penalty. The penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that the taxes remain unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file for another tax extension?
If your tax extension request got rejected, then you can resubmit the application until the deadline. However, you cannot apply for another tax extension on top of your approved tax extension.
Do I have to file a tax extension if I’m expecting a refund?
If you expect a refund, you do not need to file a tax extension. The IRS will not charge you penalties if you are due a refund.
When is the deadline for filing taxes in 2025?
The deadline for filing taxes for the 2024 tax season is on April 15, 2025.
Can I file a tax extension after April 15?
No, you cannot file for a tax extension if you missed the deadline.
