What Does Extending your Taxes Mean to You?

by Tiffany J. Morisue

As the tax filing deadline is quickly approaching, many procrastinators and those who legitimately are just not ready to file their returns become stressed out and frantic, trying to meet what may virtually be an impossible deadline. Many would rather rush to get their returns prepared than file an extension. Common concerns include, but are not limited to, being flagged as a late filer, being assessed penalties, or being more likely to be audited. If you are one of these individuals, I hope that I can put your mind at ease and inform you of what it really means to extend your tax return and the benefits of doing so.

A few notes before getting started:

•This article is written assuming a tax year that is the same as the calendar year, which is the case for most individual taxpayers. •If a tax deadline noted falls on a holiday or weekend, the deadline is actually the next business day. •The focus of this article is on the filing of federal individual extensions except where noted otherwise. •"Tax professional” as opposed to “tax preparer” is referred to in this article. My definition of “tax professional” is someone who has extensive knowledge, education, and experience in taxation and can provide tax consultation and planning services in addition to preparing returns. Two commonly recognized credentials held by tax professionals include CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and EA (Enrolled Agent). CPAs and EAs are by no means the only tax professionals out there and not all CPAs do tax-related work.

With those preliminary notes out of the way, I will now discuss what you should know about extensions.

What is an extension?

First and foremost, it is important to know that an extension is an extension of time to file an income tax return, not an extension of time to pay the tax due. Unfortunately, many taxpayers miss the part about it not being an extension of time to pay, perhaps due to wishful thinking.

There are two federal individual income tax extensions that can be filed. The first extension, which is “automatic,” is due by the April 15th tax deadline and is a four month extension of time to file. Thus, if you file this first “automatic” extension, you will have until August 15th to file your income tax return. Your best estimate of the tax that will be due with the actual return is still due by April 15th.

As for the first extension being “automatic,” that does not mean it just happens - you need to actually file the extension. There are various ways to do so which are convenient and are discussed later. The reason it is referred to as “automatic” is that you do not need to provide an explanation for why you need additional time to file.

The second extension is not “automatic” like the first one. If you cannot complete your returns by the August 15th first extension deadline, you can “apply” for an additional two months. The second extension is considered an “application” because you need to provide a good reason why you need the additional two months to file. You need to demonstrate that you made a reasonable effort to get your returns completed within the first four month extension period or that you had extenuating circumstances. If the reason is merely for your convenience, your request can be denied. If your application is denied, your return will be due immediately or within a 10-day grace period. If you did not timely file a first extension, a second extension will only be approved in cases of undue hardship.

Between the two extensions, that gives you up to six months additional time to file beyond the April 15th tax filing deadline. Six months is generally the maximum total time a return can be extended by law. 

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