Filing Deadline and Payment Options

Published under Tax Tips

Tax Tip 2005-67, April 5, 2005

If you’re trying to beat the tax deadline, there are several options for last-minute help. If you need a form or publication, you can download copies here. If you find you need more time to finish your return, you can get a four-month extension of time to file using Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. And if you have trouble paying your tax bill, the IRS has several payment options available.

You can get an automatic extension of time to file by using IRS e-filing options — by phone or personal computer, or through an authorized e-file tax professional — or by paying part or all of any estimated amount of tax due using a credit card. You can pay your tax using a credit card either by phone or over the Internet. You can also get an extension by mailing a paper Form 4868 to the IRS.

The extension will give you extra time to get the paperwork to the IRS, but it does not extend the time you have to pay any tax due. You have to make an accurate estimate of any tax due when you request an extension. You can also send a payment for the expected balance due, but this is not required to get the extension. However, you will owe interest on any amounts not paid by the April 15 deadline, plus a late payment penalty if you have paid less than 90 percent of your total tax by that date.

You can file Form 4868 by phone anytime through April 15, 2005. You will need to provide certain information from your 2003 federal tax return. The phone number is 1-888-796-1074. Use Form 4868 as a worksheet to prepare for the call and have a copy of your 2003 tax return available.

The system will give you a confirmation number to signify that the extension request has been accepted. Put this confirmation number on your copy of Form 4868 and keep it for your records. Do not send the form to the IRS. If you apply for an extension using the toll-free telephone number, you can choose to pay any expected balance due by authorizing an automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account, using the adjusted gross income from your 2003 return to verify your identity.

You can also e-file an extension request by using tax preparation software on your own computer or by going to an authorized e-file tax preparer. Like requesting an extension by phone, computer filers must provide two figures from the prior year’s tax return to verify identity.

If you determine that you need more time to prepare and file your return beyond the initial four-month extension, you may be able to get two more months to file. You can apply either by writing a letter to the IRS or by filing Form 2688, Application for Additional Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. You must give the IRS the reason why you need the second extension. Approval is not automatic. You should file this application early so that if it is not approved you will be able to file on time.

If your return is completed but you are unable to pay the tax due, do not request an extension. File your return on time and pay as much as you can. The IRS will send you a bill or notice for the balance due and will charge interest and penalties only on the unpaid balance.

If you cannot pay the full tax due with your return, you can ask to make monthly installment payments. You will be charged interest and may be charged a late payment penalty on any tax not paid by April 15, 2005, even if your request to pay in installments is granted. You can request an installment agreement by completing Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request, either when you file your return or when you later get a bill from the IRS. List the proposed monthly payment amount and the date you will make the payment. You can instead choose to conveniently pay through an automatic withdrawal from your bank account each month.

Download IRS forms on this Web site, order them by mail at 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676), or have them faxed to you from IRS Tax Fax. From a fax machine, call 703-368-9694 (not a toll-free number) and enter 13141 for Form 4868, 11958 if you need Form 2688, and 14842 for Form 9465. You can ask for up to three items per call.

Links:

  • Form 4868, Application for Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (PDF 76K)
  • Form 2688, Application for Additional Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (PDF 71K)
  • Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request (PDF 100K)
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