This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
Depending on your financial circumstances, you might have a lot of paperwork to get in order before April 15. If you feel like you just need more time, it is possible to file for an extension on your federal tax return.
But there are considerations to keep in mind. Most important, filing for an extension on your return does not mean you have more time to pay the taxes you owe. That money is still due to the government on the regular due date, and you may incur penalties if the payment is late.
Here’s what you need to know to file a tax extension for tax year 2020.
What Is a Tax Extension?
A tax extension extends the deadline for filing your federal tax return by six months, making the new due date Oct. 15. All you have to do to get an extension is file IRS Form 4868 by April 15.
Form 4868 from the IRS website, fill it out, and mail it in, along with a check for estimated income taxes owed. The document itself includes information about where to send the document, depending on where you live.
If you’re filing electronically with a tax preparation software product or using the services of a professional accountant, they can help you file for an extension using their system.
Finally, if you use the IRS’s electronic payment system, you don’t need to file Form 4868 to request an extension. According to the form itself, “The IRS will automatically process an extension of time to file when you pay part or all of your estimated income tax electronically.” This applies to both online and telephone payments.
Can I File for a Tax Extension If I Owe Money?
Yes, you can still file for a tax return extension if you owe the government money—but the money itself is still due on the original due date.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to file for an extension of taxes owed. Rather, you should pay as much as you can of your estimated taxes when you file for the extension on the return, and then contact the IRS directly to learn about your options for complete repayment.
How to Know If You Owe Taxes
You may be wondering whether or not you owe taxes to the government at all—and if so, how to find out how much. While self-employed individuals must estimate their taxes and pay on a quarterly basis, those who file using W-2 wage reports may not often do this kind of taxation math.
online tax account system that allows you to see how much you owe in taxes simply by logging in. This user profile also allows you to pay any owed taxes directly and takes only a few minutes to set up.
Finally, you can always call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to confirm any amount of back taxes you might owe.
The Takeaway
Filing for a tax extension isn’t difficult, it turns out—and indeed, many tax time to-dos aren’t actually that hard. It’s all about getting the knowledge you need to get things done right the first time. (And, OK, maybe a bit of Virgo-esque organization.)
That’s why SoFi put together a comprehensive resource portal for all things Tax Season 2021, from understanding how your student loans might affect your taxes to figuring out which of your retirement contributions are tax-deductible.
Ready to turn tax time into a breeze? Check out the Tax Season 2021 Guide today.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
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Source: sofi.com