Who this is for
An extension buys time to file, not time to pay.
This is the single most misunderstood thing in tax. An extension moves your filing deadline to October. It does not move the payment deadline, which stays in April. If you owe and do not pay by then, interest and a failure-to-pay penalty start running even with a valid extension on file.
So we do both halves: file the extension, and estimate what you should send with it so the meter never starts. Filing an extension is free of consequence when it is done that way.
- Anyone missing a K‑1 or a document that has not arrived
- Filers who are travelling, ill or otherwise out of time
- People awaiting corrected W‑2s or 1099s
- Business owners whose books are not closed yet
- Anyone who would rather file correctly in June than hastily in April
- People who already know they owe and need a payment plan
Filed the same day, in most cases
What to expect
- Extension prepared Same day
- Payment estimated Before you leave
- Confirmation to you IRS acknowledgement
- Return scheduled Well before October
Come in before April 15 if you can — the extension must be filed by then.
What the work covers
What an extension appointment covers.
Form 4868 filed and confirmed
Filed electronically with the IRS acknowledgement passed on to you, so there is proof it was accepted.
California handled
California grants an automatic extension to file, but the payment rules still apply. We cover both.
A realistic payment estimate
A rough calculation of what you owe, so you can pay in April and avoid interest running through the summer.
The deadline explained plainly
What October actually means, and what happens if the return is not filed by then.
A date in the diary
We book the return appointment now rather than leaving it to drift towards October.
Business extensions too
Entity returns have their own extension forms and their own earlier deadlines.
Before your appointment
What to bring for an extension.
Much less than for a return. The point is a reasonable estimate, not a finished calculation.
Essentials
- Photo ID and Social Security or ITIN number
- Last year's tax return, which is the best basis for the estimate
- Whatever income documents have arrived so far
- A rough figure for anything still outstanding
If you expect to owe
- Records of any estimated payments already made this year
- Year-to-date withholding from a recent payslip
- Bank details, if you want to pay with the extension
Missing something? Come in anyway. Reconstructing a missing document is ordinary work for us, and it is faster to sort out across a desk than over email.
Common questions
Extensions, answered.
Does filing an extension increase my chance of an audit?
No. Extensions are routine — millions are filed every year, and the IRS treats them as ordinary. A carefully prepared October return is a better outcome than a rushed April one.
How long does an extension actually give me?
Until 15 October for individual returns, roughly six months. Business entity extensions run on their own schedule. We confirm your specific date when we file.
What if I cannot pay the estimate in April?
Pay what you can. Interest and penalties are calculated on the unpaid balance, so a partial payment reduces both. We can also discuss an instalment agreement at the same appointment.
Can I still file the return early if the missing document turns up in May?
Yes. The extension is a deadline, not a commitment. Most of our extension clients file long before October, usually as soon as the outstanding paperwork arrives.
Do not let April pass in silence.
An extension takes one short appointment and removes the deadline entirely. Call or come in before 15 April.