Instructions for Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

There are three ways to request an automatic extension of time to file a U.S. individual income tax return.

1. You can file Form 4868 electronically by accessing IRS e-file using your home computer or by using a tax professional who uses e-file.
2. You can pay all or part of your estimate of income tax due using a credit or debit card.
3. You can file a paper Form 4868.

IRS e-file: It's Convenient, Safe, and Secure
IRS e-file is the IRS's electronic filing program. You can get an automatic extension of time to file your tax return by filing Form4868 electronically. You will receive an electronic acknowledgment once you complete the transaction. Keep it with your records. Do not send in Form 4868 if you file electronically, unless you are making a payment with a check or money order.
Complete Form 4868 to use as a worksheet. If you think you may owe tax when you file your return, you will need to estimate your total tax liability and subtract how much you have already paid.
Form 4868 can be filed electronically to the IRS through an approved E-file provider. One such Form 4868 e-file provider is www.extensiontax.com..

E-file Using Your Personal Computer or Through a Tax Professional
Refer to your tax software package or tax preparer for ways to file electronically. Be sure to have a copy of your prior year tax return--you will be asked to provide information from the return for taxpayer verification. If you wish to make a payment, you can pay by electronic funds withdrawal or send your check or money order to the IRS.

Pay by Credit or Debit Card
You can get an extension if you pay part or all of your estimate of income tax due by using a credit or debit card. Your payment must be at least $1. You can pay by phone or over the Internet.

File a Paper Form 4868
If you wish to file on paper instead of electronically, fill in the Form4868 and mail it in.

Note. If you are a fiscal year taxpayer, you must file a paper Form4868.

General Instructions

Purpose of Form

Use Form 4868 to apply for 6 more months (4 if "out of the country" and a U.S. citizen or resident) to file Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, 1040NR, 1040NR-EZ, 1040-PR, or 1040-SS.

Gift tax return (Form 709). An extension of time to file your calendar year income tax return also extends the time to file Form 709 for calendar year. However, it does not extend the time to pay any gift tax you may owe for calendar year. If you do not pay the amount due by the regular due date for Form 709, you will owe interest and may also be charged penalties.

Qualifying for the Extension

To get the extra time you must:

1. Properly estimate your calendar year tax liability using the information available to you,
2. Enter your total tax liability on Form 4868, and
3. File Form 4868 by the regular due date of your return.

CAUTION: Although you are not required to make a payment of the tax you estimate as due, Form 4868 does not extend the time to pay taxes. If you do not pay the amount due by the regular due date, you will owe interest. You may also be charged penalties.  Any remittance you make with your application for extension will be treated as a payment of tax.


You do not have to explain why you are asking for the extension. We will contact you only if your request is denied.
Do not file Form 4868 if you want the IRS to figure your tax or you are under a court order to file your return by the regular due date.

When To File Form 4868

File Form 4868 by April 18th. Fiscal year taxpayers, file Form4868 by the regular due date of the return.

Taxpayers who are out of the country. If, on the regular due date of your return, you are out of the country and a U.S. citizen or resident, you are allowed 2 extra months to file your return and pay any amount due without requesting an extension. For a calendar year return, this is June 15th.
If you are out of the country and a U.S. citizen or resident, you may qualify for special tax treatment if you meet the foreign residence or physical presence tests. If you do not expect to meet either of those tests by the due date of your return, request an extension to a date after you expect to qualify using Form 2350, Application for Extension of Time To File U.S. Income Tax Return.

You are out of the country if:

• You live outside the United States and Puerto Rico and your main place of work is outside the United States and Puerto Rico, or
• You are in military or naval service outside the United States and Puerto Rico.

If you qualify as being out of the country, you will still be eligible for the extension even if you are physically present in the United States or Puerto Rico on the regular due date of the return.

Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ filers. If you cannot file your return by the due date, you should file Form 4868. You must file Form4868 by the regular due date of the return.

Total Time Allowed

Generally, IRS cannot extend the due date of your return for more than 6 months (October 17th, for most calendar year taxpayers). However, there may be an exception if you are living out of the country.

Filing Your Tax Return

You can file your tax return any time before the extension expires.
Do not attach a copy of Form 4868 to your return.

Interest

You will owe interest on any tax not paid by the regular due date of your return, even if you qualify for the 2-month extension because you were out of the country. The interest runs until you pay the tax. Even if you had a good reason for not paying on time, you will still owe interest.

Late Payment Penalty

The late payment penalty is usually 1/2 of 1% of any tax (other than estimated tax) not paid by April 18th. It is charged for each month or part of a month the tax is unpaid. The maximum penalty is 25%.
The late payment penalty will not be charged if you can show reasonable cause for not paying on time. Attach a statement to your return fully explaining the reason. Do not attach the statement to Form 4868.
You are considered to have reasonable cause for the period covered by this automatic extension if at least 90% of your actual 2010 tax liability is paid before the regular due date of your return through withholding, estimated tax payments, or payments made with Form 4868.

Late Filing Penalty

A late filing penalty is usually charged if your return is filed after the due date (including extensions). The penalty is usually 5% of the amount due for each month or part of a month your return is late. The maximum penalty is 25%. If your return is more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty is $135 or the balance of the tax due on your return, whichever is smaller. You might not owe the penalty if you have a reasonable explanation for filing late. Attach a statement to your return fully explaining the reason. Do not attach the statement to Form 4868.

How To Claim Credit for Payment Made With This Form

When you file your tax year return, include the amount of any payment you made with Form 4868 on the appropriate line of your tax return.

If you and your spouse each filed a separate Form 4868 but later file a joint return for tax year, enter the total paid with both Forms 4868 on the appropriate line of your joint return.
If you and your spouse jointly file Form 4868 but later file separate returns for tax year, you can enter the total amount paid with Form 4868 on either of your separate returns. Or you and your spouse can divide the payment in any agreed amounts. Be sure each separate return has the social security numbers of both spouses.


E-file your IRS Form 4868


Form 4868 can be filed electronically to the IRS through an approved E-file provider. One such Form 4868 e-file provider is www.extensiontax.com.


You can e-file an extension request using www.ExtensionTax.com software with your own computer. The IRS acknowledge receipt of the extension request if you file through ExtensionTax.com.


Remember the inbuilt provisions in e-filing service enable data maintenance efficiently. Thus your data is safe and retrievable at any point of time.


ExtensionTax.com can help you access the forms you need to e-file your extension in time. It's Simple, Safe and Secured.


To know more about Filing your Form 4868 electronically visit www.tax4868.com/www.ExtensionTax.com.

For any further support o filing Extension for Tax Forms call our Help Desk 1-866-245-3918 or simply email your queries to support@ExtensionTax.com.