Step 1: Estimate Your Tax Liability Before filing for an extension, it’s important to estimate how much you owe. The IRS still expects payment by April 15, even if you request more time to file.

Paper filing: While e-filing is encouraged, businesses may still submit a paper Form 7004 by mail. The correct mailing address depends on the type of return and business location.

The deadline to file your 2024 taxes is April 15, 2025. If you cannot complete your taxes by the deadline, you can request an automatic six-month extension to file your taxes.

File a tax extension by mail Yes, filing your tax extension via the U.S. Postal Service is still possible. To do so, you’ll print Form 4868 and then mail it to the address specified on page four ...

The extension gives you six extra months —until October 15, 2025 —to file your 2024 tax return. For 2025 taxes filed in 2026, the filing deadline is Wednesday, April 15.

Filing an extension helps you avoid the failure-to-file penalty, which is typically 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month your return is late, up to a maximum of 25%.

Filing Form 4868 isn't required to get this tax extension. Still, you must attach a statement explaining which of the two situations described above applies when you eventually file your return.

If you're not ready to file your taxes by April 15, taking a few minutes now to request an extension is a smart financial move that can save you from much larger penalties down the road.

However, filing an extension does not give you extra time to pay your taxes without a penalty of .5 percent per month of what is due, says Barlin: “You have to pay 100 percent of your tax due by ...

To file an extension, fill out IRS Form 4868, “Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Tax Return” and submit it before the April 18th filing deadline.

Common Mistakes People Make When Filing a Tax Extension In 2021, most taxpayers must make their tax payment by the original filing deadline of May 17—even if they file for an extension.