If you need more time to do your taxes, you can file a tax extension. Almost anyone can file, regardless of income or reason, but there are key dates and implications to keep in mind. Here’s what you need to know.

A tax extension is a request you file via an IRS form that extends the filing deadline for your tax return. Note that this extension applies to your tax paperwork, not your tax payment.

Put another way: Although a tax extension extends the due date for filing tax returns, it does not extend the payment deadline if you owe money to the IRS. While filing the appropriate tax forms for an extension means you’ll avoid a failure-to-file penalty, you’ll still incur a late payment penalty if you don’t pay your estimated tax bill by Tax Day.

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A federal tax return extension provides more time to file your tax return in a given tax year, usually six months. You can only file for one extension per tax return, so make the extra time count.

If you expect to owe money to the IRS, you’ll still need to pay by the April deadline. You may need to estimate your income tax payment to file it along with your extension request. Tax extensions can help if you’re still gathering documents to file your taxes, but they are not a "get out of paying taxes until later" card.

Don’t forget about your state income taxes. Some states automatically extend your deadline when you apply for a federal tax extension. But for others, you may have to request one.

Read more: How to file your taxes for free

The deadline to file for a tax extension for the 2025 tax year is April 15, 2026 — the same as the federal filing deadline. Once you’ve filed for an extension, your deadline is extended six months to Oct. 15, 2026.

Certain taxpayers automatically get additional time to file a tax return without a late-filing penalty, including U.S. citizens living and working abroad, some military members and their families, and people affected by FEMA-declared natural disasters.

Need a little extra time to get your tax documents in order? Follow these steps for filing an extension by April 15, 2026.

You don’t need to know your total taxes down to the last dime, but you should calculate your adjusted gross income (AGI) and compare it to the taxes you’ve paid during the year to see if you’re likely to be issued a refund or owe money to the IRS.

The IRS has instructions about how to calculate your AGI, but you can also consult a tax pro or use tax software to double-check your numbers. Don’t forget to apply deductions and credits that could significantly reduce your taxable income.

If you think you’re owed a tax refund, you don’t need to file for an extension, but it’s generally a good idea to still file just in case. Plus, some states require a federal extension to get the state extension.

Think you’ll have tax due? Proceed to the next step.

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There are a few ways to file an extension. You can electronically request an extension online with IRS Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return), or you can fill out and mail the paper form.

The form is available on the IRS website or through the IRS Free File, an e-file tax software for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less. You can also consult with a tax professional or use tax software like H&R Block to access tax extension information and forms.

While federal tax extensions are almost always granted, you should check back to verify the status of your request. If you need to correct your request because of misspellings or other mistakes, the IRS usually provides several business days to do so.

Chances are, if you owe federal taxes, you might also owe taxes to the state where you reside or work. This can be a significant concern for filers who are self-employed contractors or sole proprietors of business entities that aren’t required to pay quarterly estimated state taxes.

Like a federal tax filing extension, a state extension will give you more time to prepare your tax return but doesn’t extend the deadline for paying your taxes.

To avoid being charged interest or late payment penalties, you should pay as much of your tax bill as you can by the deadline. But if you’re worried you can’t cover your unpaid taxes, don’t panic — you’ve got options.

If your balance due with the IRS is $50,000 or less, you can request to make payments in monthly installments with a long-term repayment plan. For those with balances between $50,000 and $100,000, the IRS offers a short-term repayment plan of 180 days or less.

To understand payment plan options in your state, check your state’s website. For instance, California gives qualified taxpayers who owe $25,000 or less payment plans from three to five years.

Read more: Can you pay taxes with a credit card, and how much will it cost?

There’s no penalty for requesting an extension on filing your federal income tax return. In fact, you’ll avoid a failure-to-file penalty if you submit an extension request by the tax deadline of April 15.

However, there is a failure-to-pay penalty if you don’t pay your taxes on time. The penalty can be anywhere from 0.5% of the amount you owe each month up to a maximum of 25% of your total unpaid balance.

Yes. You can submit a federal tax extension request online, either through IRS Free File, fillable versions of Form 4868, or if you’re paying electronically on the IRS website. There are also ways to file for a federal tax extension through free or paid versions of tax software or with tax preparation assistance from a tax professional.

No. The bottom line is getting a federal tax extension gives you more time to gather your tax documents and file your tax return. But no matter your tax situation, an extension does not give you more time to pay your taxes.

However, if you can’t afford to pay the full balance of what you owe the IRS now, you can leverage both long-term and short-term payment plans to break your tax bill into more manageable monthly installments and avoid penalties.

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