Individual taxpayers, regardless of income, can use IRS Free File to electronically request an automatic extension of their tax filing. Requesting an extension is simple and free. Taxpayers can complete the extension request form through the IRS Free File website. The official form for requesting an extension is Form 4868 and is less than half a page long.
All extensions will be applied automatically. One option is to file Form 4868 online through the IRS Free File, which offers free guided tax preparation software. Anyone can visit that site and apply for the extension, regardless of their income, said certified financial planner and registered agent John Loyd, owner of The Wealth Planner in Fort Worth, Texas. Your tax payment is due by the tax deadline, which normally falls on April 15 or the next business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday.
Most people who request an extension to file their tax return have more complicated taxes than, for example, Americans who receive a W-2 form from their employer and a handful of forms to pay mortgage interest and student loan interest. While you won't fill out Form 4868 on paper line by line, your tax extension information will be sent online to the IRS. A tax extension is considered valid if filed before the original tax deadline, which is in mid-April of each year. If you can't meet the April 18 tax deadline, there are several ways to request a federal extension, with or without a tax professional.
