Tax Extension
Taxpayers have until April 15 to file their federal income tax returns. Since some of you may need extra time to file a return, tax extension in 2024 may be the solution. Upon filing a tax extension, you will have an additional six months to file a tax return. This will push the deadline to file a tax return further to October 15.
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It is good to keep in mind that filing an extension will give you additional time to file a tax return. By the April 15 deadline, you must pay all the taxes owed to the IRS. If you file an extension and end up owing the IRS, you might be subject to late fees and interest. It all comes down to your tax return. If the IRS sees a reasonable cause for late payments, you won’t pay late payment penalties.
With that being said, make sure to pay your taxes before filing an extension if you think you will owe to the IRS. You can do this by estimating taxes with what you have in front of you. You can then pay taxes when you file an extension.
As for filing tax extension for the 2024 tax season, you will have two main options. One of which is the filing extension online and the other is by mail. We suggest handling everything online as you are not only going to be able to request an extension but also pay taxes at the same time. Here is how to file a tax extension and pay taxes online.
Extension Through Direct Pay
The IRS Direct Pay allows taxpayers to pay for taxes online using a bank account, hence the name, direct pay. Given there isn’t a limit on how much you pay the IRS on Direct Pay, we suggest estimating whether or not you will owe any taxes when filing a tax extension and paying slightly over the amount. This way, you will secure not paying late fees and penalties.
Learn more about paying taxes online on IRS Direct Pay.
Here is how to use Direct Pay to file an extension.
First and foremost, you must make a payment and the payment must be done with a bank account. You cannot use credit cards to file for an extension on Direct Pay.
Select your reason for payment as “extension” as seen in the image above. Then, select tax forms that apply to payment and tax year as 2024. Click on continue and fill out the identity verification form.
After verifying who you are, proceed to make your payment. This part is important as you will be given a confirmation number to keep track of your payment. Keep the confirmation number for future use to see your payment status. Your payment should be approved by the IRS within three business days.
Tax Extension by Mail
Those who are looking to file an extension by mail must use Form 4868. Although we recommend filing for an extension online for the 2024 tax season, either way works just fine. You also have the option to file Form 4868 on the IRS e-file. Since the information that needs to be provided on Form 4868 is very minimal and basic, we suggest e-filing over mailing it to the IRS.
On Form 4868, you will need to provide your:
- Full Name
- Address
- Social Security Number
- Spouse’s Social Security Number
- Estimated total tax liability for 2024
- Total amount of tax paid in 2024
- Balance due
- Amount you’re paying
- Whether or not you’re going to be outside of the U.S. and a citizen or resident
- Whether or not if you file Form 1040-NR or 1040-NR-EZ and did not receive wages as an employee who’s subject to income tax withholding.
Once filled, you can then go ahead and detach the part you filled out and mail it to the IRS. Start filing Form 4868 to file an extension below. The mailing addresses can be found right below the form.
Form 4868 Mailing Address
| State | Mailing Address (with payment) | Mailing Address (without payment) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina | Internal Revenue Service P O Box 1302 Charlotte, NC 28201-1302 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Kansas City, MO 64999-0045 |
| Alaska, California, Hawaii, Washington | Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 7122 San Francisco, CA 94120-7122 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Fresno, CA 93888-0045 |
| Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming | Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 802503 Cincinnati, OH 45280-2503 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0045 |
| Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia | Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 931300 Louisville, KY 40293-1300 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Kansas City, MO 64999-0045 |
| Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maryland, Rhode Island, West Virginia | Internal Revenue Service P O Box 931300 Louisville, KY 40293-1300 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-00045 |
| Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont | Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 37009 Hartford, CT 06176-7009 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Kansas City, MO 64999-0045 |
| Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas | Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 1302 Charlotte, NC 28201-1302 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Austin, TX 73301-0045 |
| Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin | Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 802503 Cincinnati, OH 45280-2503 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Fresno, CA 93888-0045 |
| Pennsylvania | Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 37009 Hartford, CT 06176-7009 | Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0045 |
