You can file a federal tax extension online in about five minutes, either by submitting Form 4868 through an IRS Free File partner or by simply making a tax payment on the IRS website and checking the extension box. Both methods give you until October 15 to file your return, though any taxes you owe are still due by the original April 15 deadline.
Two Ways to File Online
The IRS offers two distinct paths to get an automatic six-month extension electronically. You don’t need a reason or prior approval. Either method works, and both are free.
Option 1: E-file Form 4868 through IRS Free File. The IRS partners with several tax software companies that let anyone file an extension for free, regardless of income. The current participating partners for extensions are 1040.com, 1040Now, FileYourTaxes.com, OnLine Taxes, and TaxAct. Visit the IRS Free File page, choose a partner, and follow the prompts to submit Form 4868. You’ll enter basic information like your name, Social Security number, address, and an estimate of what you owe. Once submitted, the software provider will send you an electronic confirmation.
Option 2: Make an electronic payment. Instead of filing Form 4868, you can get an automatic extension simply by making a payment through IRS Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), or by credit or debit card through an IRS-approved processor. When you pay, check the box indicating the payment is for an extension. The IRS treats the payment itself as your extension request, and you’ll receive a confirmation number for your records. No separate form is needed.
What an Extension Does and Doesn’t Do
An extension gives you extra time to file your return. It does not give you extra time to pay. This is the single most important thing to understand. If you owe taxes and don’t pay by April 15, interest and penalties start accruing on the unpaid balance immediately, even if you have a valid extension on file.
The late-filing penalty is generally much steeper than the late-payment penalty, so filing an extension still saves you money if you can’t get your return done on time. But you should pay as much as you can by the April deadline to minimize what you’ll owe in interest. If you’re not sure exactly what you owe, estimate on the high side. You can always get a refund of any overpayment when you file your completed return.
How to Estimate What You Owe
Your extension request asks for an estimate of your total tax liability for the year. If you have your W-2s and 1099s, plug them into a free tax calculator or start a return in any tax software without finishing it. The software will show you a rough liability. Compare that number to what you’ve already paid through withholding or estimated payments. The difference is what you should send with your extension.
If you genuinely can’t afford the full amount, pay whatever you can. The IRS says taxpayers who can’t pay everything should still file and pay as much as possible. A partial payment reduces the balance that accrues penalties and interest, and having a valid extension on file eliminates the more expensive late-filing penalty entirely.
Confirming Your Extension Was Accepted
If you e-filed Form 4868 through a Free File partner, you’ll get an email or on-screen confirmation that the IRS accepted your submission. Save this. If you used the payment method instead, the IRS issues a confirmation number at the end of the transaction. That number serves as your proof of extension. There is no separate IRS lookup tool to check extension status after the fact, so keeping your confirmation is important.
State Extensions
If you live in a state with an income tax, you likely need a state extension too. The good news is that most states follow the federal approach and grant an automatic six-month extension. Many states accept your federal Form 4868 as your state extension, and a significant number don’t require any separate state form at all as long as you’ve filed a valid federal extension.
However, some states do require their own extension form, particularly if you owe state taxes. And like the federal rules, state extensions generally don’t extend your payment deadline. Check your state’s department of revenue website to confirm what’s required. Most state revenue departments allow you to file extension requests and make payments online.
Key Deadlines to Remember
- April 15: Deadline to file your extension and pay any taxes owed. If April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline shifts to the next business day.
- October 15: Deadline to file your completed federal return if you received an extension.
You can file your return at any point before October 15. There’s no advantage to waiting until the last day, and filing earlier means any refund reaches you sooner. If you owe a balance, filing earlier also stops the clock on additional interest.
Filing Through Tax Software or a Tax Professional
If you already use commercial tax software like TurboTax, H&R Block, or TaxSlayer, most of these programs let you file Form 4868 directly from within the software. The process is straightforward: open the extension section, enter your estimated tax information, and submit electronically. Some charge a small fee for this, while others include it free.
Tax professionals can also e-file an extension on your behalf. This is common when your return is complex and your preparer needs more time to gather documents like K-1 forms from partnerships or trusts, which often arrive after the April deadline. Your preparer submits the same Form 4868 electronically through their professional software.