What to Do After You've Filed an Income Tax Extension
No matter how or when you file your taxes, here's a guide to next steps.
Key Takeaways
- If you use software to file an extension online, you'll get confirmation that your extension was accepted.
- The IRS does not confirm extension requests sent by U.S. mail or an authorized private delivery service. But they will notify you if they deny your extension.
- If you file a separate extension for your state income taxes, contact your state’s tax agency. Ask them how to confirm your extension's status.
- Even if you get a filing extension, you must pay any taxes you owe by the original deadline. This is needed to avoid penalties and interest.
Checking federal tax extension status
If you sent your extension request in on time, it should be granted. To confirm receipt, it's easiest if you use software like TurboTax Easy Extension, since you'll get a confirmation from TurboTax within 48 hours.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) won't confirm paper Form 4868 extensions sent by mail or delivery service. If that's the case, you'll have to contact the IRS to ask about the status of your extension.
Checking state tax extension status
If your state requires a separate extension application, contact your state's taxing authorities and ask how you can check its status.
Paying any tax due
The standard tax extension allows you to file your tax return after the usual deadline. However, it doesn't buy you more time to pay any taxes you may owe. That means you have to estimate your tax balance and pay that amount by the April filing deadline.
But even if you can’t pay it all by the April deadline, pay as much as you can. Penalties and interest are based on how much you owe and for how long.
- Late payment penalties are calculated at 0.5% of the unpaid tax balance per month.
- The maximum you can be charged in late payment penalties is 25% of the unpaid tax.
For example, if your tax balance is $2,000:
- penalty per month = $2,000 x 0.5% = $10
- total possible late payment penalty = $2,000 x 25% = $500
If you live outside of the country, you get an automatic two-month extension. It lets you delay filing and paying taxes without penalty. But you'll still be charged interest after the April deadline.
Interest on unpaid tax compounds daily from the original due date of the return until the date you pay in full. This results in a daily recalculation of the principal amount plus accrued interest.
TurboTax Tip:
The IRS interest rate on unpaid taxes is adjusted quarterly. The rate is 8% for the first two quarters of 2024.
Filing tax returns on time
Generally, the due date for filing your income taxes is April 15. However, in some years it can fall on a weekend or a holiday. Therefore, the tax deadline can change to April 16, 17, or even 18 depending on the situation.
If you request and are granted a federal tax extension, you typically have until October 15 to file your tax return.
- In some states, federal extensions automatically extend your state income tax deadline.
- Other states, like New York, require a separate extension request.
When tax extensions are rejected
Even if filed on time, some tax extension requests are rejected on or after the deadline. You'll get a notice from the IRS if your extension request is denied. While the reasons behind this vary, the most common ones are:
- misspellings, switched numbers and other errors on the extension request form
- out-of-date information, like old addresses or last names that don't match up to the IRS records
In these cases, the IRS gives you a time window. It is usually five days long. You can use it to fix issues and correct errors with your request. Then, you can file again.
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