This year, people can use IRS Free File to electronically request an automatic extension if they need more time to prepare their federal tax return, regardless of how much income they have.
April 15, 2022
Candace J. Dixon
People who request a tax extension have until Monday, October 17, 2022, to file a return this year. Not everyone has to ask for more. Disaster victims, people serving in combat zones, and those living abroad automatically have longer to file.
Victims of severe weather and tornadoes that happened in December 2021 throughout parts of several states have been given more time to file and pay their taxes. Certain counties in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee have until May 16, 2022 to file their 2021 returns and pay any tax due. So do victims of Colorado wildfires from December 30. Puerto Rico victims of severe storms, flooding and landslides that began on February 4 have until June 15, 2022, to file and pay their taxes.
The Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses page on the IRS website has full details on other returns, payments and tax-related actions qualifying for the additional time. How Do You File for An Extension? Those filing Form 1040, 1040NR, or 1040NR-EZ need to complete and file IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for an automatic six-month extension no later than the regular due date of their return. Individuals are able to use Free File to electronically file their 4868 extension request regardless of their income, which will give them until October 15 to file a return. Returns are considered to be filed on time if the envelope is correctly addressed, postmarked, and mailed by the due date. Military and Combat Zones Members of the military and eligible support personnel in combat zones have at least 180 days after they leave the combat zone to file their tax returns and pay their taxes due. A list of designated combat zones is found in IRS Publication 3, Armed Forces’ Tax Guide. Those Living Outside the United States U.S. citizens and resident aliens who are living and working outside of the U.S. and Puerto Rico have until June 15, 2022 to file their 2021 tax returns and pay tax due. This special June 15 deadline also applies to members of the military on duty outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico who do not qualify for the combat zone extension. While they don’t have to request the time first, people who fall into this category should attach a statement to their tax return explaining which situation applies to them.
Though taxpayers abroad get more time to pay, interest — currently at the rate of 4% per year, compounded daily — applies to any payment received after this year’s April 18 deadline. For more information about the special tax rules for U.S. taxpayers abroad, see Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad, on the IRS website.
When You Should Not File an Extension: Don’t file for an extension just because you can’t make your tax payment; an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay, and can lead to penalties and interest owed to the IRS. If you owe and can’t pay all the taxes upfront, the IRS offers various payment plans to help you reduce penalties and interest on your taxes.
When You Should File an Extension:
If you are owed a refund but can’t get your taxes done on time
If you can pay the estimated amount of taxes you owe, but need more time to file
If you are experiencing a life event such as family death or divorce and need more time to gather the documents for your return
If you run out of time to file because you were busy during tax season
More from Candace J. Dixon I’m a tax accountant and writer who thrives on researching the latest topics and trends in small business taxes, accounting, and technology. Published in Small Business, Accounting & Tech ·7 hours ago Disaster Area Tax Deadlines Latest Due Dates for Federal Individual and Other Tax Returns — Last updated: April 21, 2022 Candace J. Dixon Illinois and Tennessee December 2021 Storms, tornadoes and flooding Following emergency