IRS Form 4868 Instructions for Individuals in the
United States
- Updated December 10, 2024 - 8.00 AM Admin, ExpressExtension
Every individual in the U.S. must file Form 1040 annually to report their income and expenses. In case you need more time to file your 1040 tax return, you can use Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and get an automatic income tax extension period of 6 months.
In this article, you can find detailed instructions for completing IRS Form 4868.
Table of Contents
When is the Deadline to file Form 4868?
For the 2024 tax year, Personal Tax Extension Form 4868 is due on April 15, 2025.
Filing Form 4868 will extend the filing deadline to
October 15, 2025.
How to Complete Form 4868 for the 2024 Tax Year?
Completing the Personal Tax Extension Form 4868 is actually a simple process that doesn’t require much time or information. The form is comprised of two parts.
- Part I - Identification
- Part II - Individual Income Tax
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to fill out a personal tax extension.
Part I - Identification
This part consists of just 3 lines which require you to provide your
basic information.
-
Line 1: Name and address
- In this line, you are required to enter your Name
and Address. - If you are filing a joint return, you are required to provide the same details for your spouse as well.
- If your name has changed since the last time you filed taxes, you will need to notify the Social security Administration (SSA) before filing IRS Form 4868.
- Similarly, if your mailing address has changed since you filed your last return, you will need to notify the IRS by filing Form 8822, Change of Address.
- In this line, you are required to enter your Name
-
Lines 2 and 3: Social Security Number(s)
- Enter your Social Security Number (SSN) on line 2, followed by your spouse's Social Security Number on line 3 (if joint return) of Form 4868
- If you’re filing Form 1040-NR as an estate or trust, you are required to enter your EIN instead of SSN on line 2.
Part II - Individual Income Tax
In this part, you are required to provide details regarding the taxes you owe to the IRS during the corresponding tax year.
-
Line 4: Estimate of total tax liability for 2024:
Enter the total income tax liability that you expect to report on your personal income tax return for the 2024 tax year.
- Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR, line 24
- Form 1040-PR, line 6
- Form 1040-SS, line 6
If you don’t have any tax liability, enter “0” in line 4 on your 4868 extension Form
-
Line 5: Estimate of Total payments for 2024:
Enter the total payments that you expect to report on your personal income tax return for the 2024 tax year.
- Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 19 (excluding Schedule 3,
line 10) - Form 1040-NR, line 71 (excluding line 66)
- Form 1040-NR-EZ, line 21
- Form 1040-PR, line 11
- Form 1040-SS, line 11
- Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 19 (excluding Schedule 3,
-
Line 6: Balance Due
Enter your total unpaid tax balance due for the corresponding tax year by subtracting Line 5 (Total 2024 tax year payments) from Line 4 (Estimate of total tax liability
for 2024).If the amount shown on Line 5 is greater than Line 4, simply enter "0" in
this field -
Line 7: Amount You’re Paying with Your Tax Extension
- In this line, you are required to enter the amount of taxes you are paying with your personal tax
extension form. - You are eligible to get an extension even if you don’t pay the taxes due completely. However, it’s important that you pay as much as possible in order to reduce the amount of interest you’ll owe later.
- Also, you may be charged a late payment penalty for the unpaid tax from the regular due date of
your return.
- In this line, you are required to enter the amount of taxes you are paying with your personal tax
-
Line 8: Out of the Country
Check the box on line 8 if you’re out of the country on the regular due date of your return.
-
Line 9: Form 1040-NR Filers
Check the box on line 9 if you didn’t receive wages subject to U.S. income tax withholding, and your return is due
June 16, 2025.
How to File Form 4868?
Form 4868 can be filed electronically or on paper. If you choose to file a paper copy, download Form 4868, fill in the necessary details, and then mail it to the IRS at the address provided here.
However, the IRS encourages you to file 4868 electronically for quicker processing. By
E-filing your 1040 extension form, you will be notified of the status of the forms instantly.
Advantages of E-Filing Form 4868 with ExpressExtension
- Automatic Extension
- Instant IRS Approval
- File From any Device
- Instant Email/Text Notification
- Re-transmit rejected return
for Free - Live Customer Support
- Exclusively for Tax Professionals
- Options to Pay Balance Due
Get Started with ExpressExtension to File Form 4868 electronically!
ExpressExtension, the IRS-authorized e-file provider, allows you to E-file Form 4868 easily, securely, and accurately. Just follow the steps below to complete Form 4868
in minutes.
- Choose Form 4868
- Enter your personal details
- Mention the taxes due, if any
- Review your form information
- Pay and transmit directly to the IRS
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