Monday, March 14, 2011

Extensions of Time to File Your Tax Return

There are three choices for filing Form 4868 (PDF), Application For Automatic IRS Tax Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Tax Return: 1) electronically (such as by computer), 2) by paying part of your tax due with a credit card through an outside service provider listed on the form, or 3) by mail. If you file your Form 4868 electronically you will receive an acknowledgement or confirmation number for your records and you do not need to mail in Form 4868. If you need to pay additional taxes when filing Form 4868 electronically, you may do so through the outside service provider or through e-file. If you were or are serving in a combat zone, a qualified hazardous duty area, or in a contingency operation, refer to Topic 301 for more information about extensions.

You can refer to your tax software or tax professional for ways to file electronically using e-file services. Several companies offer free filing of Form 4868 through the Free File program that you can access on the IRS.gov website. If you wish to file electronically, be sure to have a copy of last year's tax return. You will be asked to provide the Adjusted Gross Income from the return for taxpayer verification.

Besides filing electronically, you can generally get an extension of time to file if you pay part or all of your estimate of income tax due by credit card. You may pay by phone or Internet through one of the service providers listed on Form 4868. Each service provider will charge a convenience fee based on the amount of the tax payment. At the completion of the transaction, you will receive a confirmation number for your records.

In addition to filing Form 4868 electronically, or by paying part of your tax by credit card, you can file Form 4868 by filling out the form and mailing it to the appropriate address provided on the Form 4868.

Please be aware that an extension of time to file is NOT an extension of time to pay.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

When To File Form 4868

File Form 4868 by April 18, 2011. Fiscal year taxpayers, file Form 4868 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 irs extension. For a calendar year return, this is June 15, 2011. File this form and be sure to check the box on line 8 if you need an additional 4 months to file your return.

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 to file tax extension even if you are physically present in the United States or Puerto Rico on the regular due date of the return.
For more information on extensions for taxpayers out of the country, see Pub. 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad.

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

Source:  http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf