Form 4868 - Personal Tax Extension

Who Must File Form 4868?

Form 4868 can be filed by,

• Individual Taxpayers – U.S. residents and non-residents filing Form 1040 or
  related returns.
• Sole Proprietors – Self-employed individuals reporting business income on their personal
  tax return.
• Single-Member LLCs – Businesses taxed as sole proprietors that file through
  Form 1040.
• U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad – Taxpayers outside the U.S. automatically receive a
  2-month extension, but can file Form 4868 for additional time.

Which Forms Do the Form 4868 Extend?

Form 4868 extends the filing deadline for several individual tax
returns, including:

• Form 1040 – U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
• Form 1040-SR – Tax Return for Seniors
• Form 1040-NR – Nonresident Alien Income
  Tax Return
• Form 1040-PR – Puerto Rico Self-Employment Tax Return
• Form 1040-SS – U.S. Territories Self-Employment Tax Return

What Information is Required to File
Form 4868?

To file Form 4868, you must provide the required information. Here’s what you will need:

• Full Name
• Residential Address
• Social Security Number
• Total payments made
• Estimate of total tax liability
• Balance Tax Due

When is the Form 4868 Deadline?

• The deadline for Form 4868 is the same as the original deadline for the personal tax return for which the extension is required.
• For example, if you need to file an extension for Form 1040 for the 2025 tax year, the deadline is April 15, 2026.

To learn more about the filing deadline for the specific extension forms, click here.

What are the Penalties for Late Filing of Form 4868?

The penalties for late filing of Form 4868 can vary depending on whether the issue is related to late filings or late payment of taxes.

• Late Filing Penalty: If you don’t file your tax return or Form 4868 by the due date, a 5% penalty on the unpaid tax applies per month or part of a month, up to a maximum of 25%.
• Late Payment Penalty: If you don’t pay the tax due by the deadline, a penalty of 0.5% per month on the unpaid tax is charged, up to a maximum of 25%. However, if you can show reasonable cause for the delay, this penalty may be waived.

How to E-File Form 4868?

You can file your personal tax extension Form 4868 by paper or electronically. However, the IRS recommends you e-file your extension for a faster and more efficient filing process. If you opt for a paper file, you can fill out all the required information in the respective boxes, download and print it, and mail it to the appropriate respective
agency address.

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