How to Get a Tax Extension in the Real World (And What Actually Happens Next)

Quick answer: What a tax extension really does (and doesn’t) do

A federal income tax extension gives you more time to file your tax return, usually until October 15, but it does not give you more time to pay. You request it from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), most commonly by e‑filing Form 4868 or having a tax professional or tax software submit it for you before the April filing deadline. If you expect to owe, you’re still supposed to estimate and pay by the April deadline to avoid extra penalties and interest.

Rules, deadlines, and procedures can vary for state income tax extensions, so you typically need to check your own state’s official tax agency site separately.

Where to go to request a real tax extension (federal and state)

For federal tax extensions, the official system is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You do not request an extension through random tax blogs, social media posts, or commercial ads; the request must go through:

  • The IRS e-file system (directly or via approved tax software), or
  • A paper Form 4868 mailed to the correct IRS address, or
  • A payment made to the IRS by the April deadline that you mark as an extension payment.

For most people, the simplest next step today is: Use IRS-approved tax software to e-file Form 4868. After you submit, you typically receive an electronic confirmation showing your extension was accepted, which you should save with your records.

For state tax extensions, you typically deal with your:

  • State Department of Revenue,
  • State Tax Commission, or
  • Franchise Tax Board (name varies by state).

Search for your state’s official tax agency portal and look for pages ending in .gov to avoid scams. Many states automatically grant you a state extension if you get a federal one, but others require a separate state extension form or payment, so you must check your specific state’s rules.

What you need ready before you file an extension

You don’t need a full return to ask for a federal extension, but you do typically need enough information to estimate your total income, withholding, and tax due.

Key terms to know:

  • Extension to file — Extra time to submit your tax return; does not extend the time to pay.
  • Estimated tax liability — Your best estimate of how much tax you owe for the year before payments and credits.
  • Withholding — Taxes already taken out of your paychecks or other income.
  • Balance due — The amount you still owe after subtracting withholding and estimated payments from your total tax.

Documents you’ll typically need:

  • W‑2s from employers and 1099 forms (like 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, or 1099-DIV) so you can estimate your income and taxes already withheld.
  • Last year’s tax return, which helps you estimate deductions, credits, and what you usually owe or get back.
  • Records of estimated tax payments you made during the year (such as quarterly payments) so you don’t overestimate what you still owe.

If some forms are missing (for example, a late 1099 from a client), you can still estimate based on your own records (bank deposits, invoices, paystubs) to file the extension on time, then correct the numbers on your actual return later.

Step-by-step: How to request a federal tax extension

  1. Confirm the current year’s IRS filing deadline.
    Most years it’s around April 15, but it can shift for weekends, holidays, or special disaster relief; check the IRS’s official site or a current IRS notice.

  2. Estimate what you’ll owe.
    Add up your income using W‑2s, 1099s, and your own records, then compare to withholding and estimated payments to get a rough balance due; tax software, an IRS worksheet, or last year’s tax numbers can help you approximate.

  3. Decide how you’ll submit the extension.
    Your main options are:

    • E-file Form 4868 through IRS-approved tax software (most common).
    • Ask a tax professional (CPA, enrolled agent, or tax prep firm) to file Form 4868 for you.
    • Mail a paper Form 4868 to the IRS, making sure it’s postmarked by the deadline.
    • Make an electronic payment to the IRS (through the official IRS payment system or Direct Pay) and designate it as an extension payment; in many cases this alone counts as requesting an extension.

  4. Make a payment if you think you owe.
    If you expect to owe, try to pay as much as you reasonably can by the April deadline; this typically reduces late-payment penalties and interest that start accruing after that date.

  5. Save your proof.
    Keep electronic confirmations, payment confirmations, or certified mail receipts with your records; if the IRS later questions whether you filed for an extension, these are what you’ll point to.

  6. What to expect next.
    If you e-file, you typically get an IRS acceptance notice within minutes to a day; if nothing shows up after a day or two, log back in to your software or call their support to check status. The IRS generally does not send a separate letter saying “Your extension is approved” — no rejection notice usually means your validly filed extension stands.

A simple phone script if you need to call the IRS:
“Hello, I’m calling to confirm whether my Form 4868 extension for tax year [year] was received. I filed on [date] using [method]. Can you see an extension on my account, and is there anything further I need to do right now?”

What happens after you get an extension (and what it does not fix)

A timely federal extension typically gives you until mid-October to file your return, but:

  • Late-payment penalties and interest can still apply on any unpaid balance from after the April deadline.
  • If you are due a refund, an extension mainly helps you avoid late-filing penalties and gives you time to gather documents; you generally don’t get extra money for waiting.
  • If you don’t actually file the return by the extension deadline, the IRS may treat your return as late and assess failure-to-file penalties from the original due date.

Once the extension is in place, you typically:

  • Gather all missing forms (corrected W‑2s, late 1099s, K‑1s, brokerage statements).
  • Prepare and file your complete tax return by the new deadline, either electronically or by mail.
  • If you still owe tax, you pay it then; if you can’t pay in full, you can usually request an IRS payment plan through the IRS Online Payment Agreement system or by filing a payment plan request with your return.

For states with income tax, you must check whether your state automatically follows your federal extension or needs its own form or payment. Some states require you to attach a copy of your federal extension confirmation when you file your state return; others just ask you to tick an extension box.

Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for
A frequent snag is waiting until the last day, then discovering the IRS e-file system or your chosen tax software is overloaded, timing out, or refusing your form because of a data mismatch. If that happens and you cannot get e-file to work, you typically must either make an IRS extension-designated payment online by the deadline or get Form 4868 in the mail with a same-day postmark; otherwise, the IRS may treat your return as filed late and may charge failure-to-file penalties.

Safe help, scams to avoid, and what you can do today

Because tax extensions involve your identity and money, scammers often set up lookalike sites or ads claiming they can “file your extension” or “stop all IRS penalties instantly” for a fee. To protect yourself:

  • Use only .gov sites for IRS or state tax agencies.
  • Be wary of anyone who guarantees they can remove all penalties or get you a bigger refund.
  • Never send your Social Security number, bank info, or full tax documents through unverified email links or social media messages.

Legitimate help options typically include:

  • IRS customer service — Call the number listed on the official IRS site to ask about deadlines, whether an extension is on your account, or how to set up a payment plan.
  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) — Free, IRS‑sponsored programs that often help eligible taxpayers file returns and, in some cases, help submit extensions.
  • Licensed tax professionals — Certified public accountants (CPAs), enrolled agents (EAs), or reputable tax preparation firms who can file Form 4868 and your full return on your behalf.

A concrete action you can take today: Log into IRS-approved tax software or contact a licensed tax professional and submit Form 4868 electronically, making a good-faith estimated payment if you expect to owe. After that, watch for your e-file acceptance confirmation, then use the extra time to gather remaining documents and finish a complete, accurate return before the extension deadline.