What is IRS Form 4868?
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IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
- Updated March 28, 2024 - 8.00 AM Admin, ExpressExtensionU.S. taxpayers are required to file Form 1040, a personal income tax return with the IRS.
If you require more time to finish and submit your tax return, you can apply for a federal tax extension by filing Form 4868, the Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
This article provides an overview of personal tax extension Form 4868.
Table of Contents
1. What is the Purpose of Form 4868?
3. When is the Deadline to File Form 4868?
4. What are the Special Considerations for Taxpayers out of the U.S.?
5. How to fill out a tax extension form 4868?
7. What are the options available for making the payment of
taxes due?
8. What are the Late Filing Penalties for Form 4868?
9. Choose ExpressExtension to E-File your 4868 Form in Minutes
10. Steps to E-File 1040 Extension Form 4868 with ExpressExtension
What is the Purpose of Form 4868?
Personal Tax Extension Form 4868 is used by U.S. individual taxpayers to get an automatic extension of up to 6 months to file their personal income tax returns.
It is important to note when you file form 4868 it provides additional time to file your personal tax returns, and you are still required to pay any taxes due on or before the original deadline.
In order to qualify for an extension, you must
- Estimate your 2023 tax liability using the information you
currently have - Enter your total tax estimated liability on line 4 of Form 4868
- Pay that tax liability by the regular due date
Who can File Form 4868?
-
Form 4868 can be filed by U.S. individuals who need an extension for one of the following personal income tax returns
- Form 1040
- Form 1040-SR
- Form 1040-NR
- Form 1040-NR-EZ
- Form 1040-PR
- Form 1040-SS
- It can also be filed by Sole Proprietors and Single Member LLCs treated as Sole Proprietors (Disregarded entities).
When is the Deadline to File Form 4868?
The deadline to file personal tax extension Form 4868 is the same as the deadline for the tax return for which you request an extension.
For the 2023 tax year, the deadline to file Form 4868 is April 15, 2024.
What are the Special Considerations for Taxpayers out of the U.S.?
The IRS grants an extension of 2 months automatically to U.S. individuals who are out of the country at the time of the original deadline without having to file form 4868. This includes,
- U.S. citizens or residents who live outside of the U.S. or Puerto Rico and whose main place of work is outside the U.S. or Puerto Rico
- Individuals who are on duty in the military or naval service outside the U.S. or Puerto Rico.
How to fill out a tax extension form 4868?
Completing the IRS Form 4868 is simple as it doesn’t require a lot of information. It has only two parts and doesn’t even require a reason for requesting a
tax extension.
- Part I - Identification - This part requires you to provide your basic details such as Name, SSN and Address. You may also be required to provide the basic details of your spouse if you are filing a joint return.
- Part II - Individual Income Tax - In this part, you are required to provide details regarding your taxes due for the corresponding
tax year.
To learn how to complete your Form 4868, visit
4868 instructions.
How to File IRS Form 4868?
Form 4868 can be filed in two ways:
- You can file Form 4868 electronically by signing up with IRS Authorized e-file providers.
- You can file a paper copy of Form 4868 by filling out the required details and mailing it to the IRS. Check out the 4868 Mailing Address.
Note: The IRS recommends taxpayers to e-file Form 4868 for quicker processing of the return and to get instant updates on the same.
What are the options available for making the payment of
taxes due?
Electronic Payment Options
account using
- Direct Pay
- Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS)
- Credit or debit card.
Note: You can also make a payment by phone using EFTPS (or) by debit or credit card.
Payment by Check or Money Order
The check or money order must be made payable to
"United States Treasury".
Note: If you e-file Form 4868 and mail a check or money order to the IRS for payment, use a completed paper Form 4868 as a voucher.
What are the Late Filing Penalties for Form 4868?
A late filing penalty is usually charged if you fail to file your tax return 1040 or do not file form 4868 on or before the deadline.
-
The penalty is generally 5% of the taxes due for each month or part of a month your 1040 return is late. The maximum
penalty is 25%. - If your 1040 return is more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty is $450 or the balance of the tax due on your return, whichever
is smaller.
You might not owe the penalty if you provide a reasonable explanation for filing late by attaching a reason statement to your return. Don’t attach the statement to Form 4868.
Choose ExpressExtension to E-File your 4868 Form in Minutes
ExpressExtension is an IRS-authorized e-file provider that offers you an easy and secure way to e-file your personal tax extension form with the IRS. Our step-by-step filing process with clear guidance will help you easily e-file your Form 4868 with the IRS.
Under our Express Guarantee, you can receive an automatic refund of your filing fee if your 4868 filed with us got rejected by the IRS as a duplicate return. If your 4868 gets rejected for any other IRS errors, you can fix them and retransmit the return for Free.
Also, when you e-file 1040 extension, you can pay your taxes due via EFTPS or EFW.
Steps to E-File 1040 Extension Form 4868 with ExpressExtension
Filing your 1040 Extension online with ExpressExtension is simple and convenient. Just follow the below steps and E-File IRS Form 4868.
- Choose Form 7004 and Select the Extension type (Individual or Joint Filing)
- Enter Personal Details such as Name, Address, and SSN
- If you owe any taxes, Enter the payment details
- Review your form and make changes if required
- Transmit your Form 4868 to the IRS
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