You may request up to an additional 6 months to file your U.S. individual income tax return. There are three ways to request an automatic extension of time to file your return. You must request the extension of time to file by the regular due date of your return to avoid the penalty for filing late. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. You may file your extension in any one of three ways listed below:
- Pay all or part of your estimated income tax due and indicate that the payment is for an extension using IRS Direct Pay, EFTPS: The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or a credit or debit card. You’ll receive a confirmation number for your records.
- E-file Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return using your personal computer or through a tax professional who uses e-file.
- File a paper Form 4868. Note: Fiscal year taxpayers may file extensions only by filing a paper Form 4868.
Read all the details on IRS extensions here.