Those who request a tax extension will have until Monday, October 17, 2022, to file their returns. However, not everyone needs to request more time. Disaster victims, taxpayers serving in combat zones, and those who live abroad are all given an automatic extension to file.
When taxpayers pay all or part of their taxes electronically by the original due date of April 18, 2022, an extension of time to file will be automatically given. Although an extension allows taxpayers to file up to six months later, taxes must still be paid by the original due date.
Who gets Automatic Tax Extensions?
- Disaster Victims
Victims of the December 2021 tornadoes and flooding in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, as well as victims of the Colorado wildfires and straight-line winds that began Dec. 30, have a tax extension until May 16, 2022, to file their 2021 forms and pay any tax due. Furthermore, victims of severe storms, flooding, and landslides in Puerto Rico that began on February 4 will have until June 15, 2022, to file and pay.
When at least one area qualifies for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program, the IRS immediately grants filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record situated in a federally designated disaster area. In most cases, this implies that taxpayers do not need to contact the IRS to receive disaster tax relief.
- Combat Zone Taxpayers
Military service members and eligible support staff serving in a war zone have 180 days to file their tax returns and pay any taxes owed once they leave the combat zone. Those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflict zones are included. Publication 3, Armed Forces Tax Guide, is available on IRS.gov and contains a complete list of designated combat zone localities.
Tax extensions for combat zones also provide affected taxpayers extra time to do other tax-related actions, such as contributing to an IRA. The length of the extension granted to taxpayers is determined by a variety of factors. The Extensions of Deadlines section of Publication 3 has more details, including examples of how these extensions are calculated.
- Taxpayers outside the United States
Citizens and resident aliens of the United States who live and work outside of the U.s. And Puerto Rico has until June 15, 2022, to file their 2021 tax returns and pay any unpaid taxes.
Members of the military serving outside the United States and Puerto Rico who do not qualify for the lengthier combat zone tax extension must meet the June 15 deadline. A statement indicating which of these scenarios apply should be attached to the affected taxpayer’s return.
Though foreign taxpayers have extra time to pay, any payment received after the April 18 deadline will be subject to interest at the current rate of 4% per year, compounded daily.
- Everyone Else
Even if you don’t qualify for one of these three exceptions, you can still gain more time to file by requesting an automatic tax extension. This will push back their deadline till October 17, 2022. However, because this is simply a tax-filing extension, their tax payments for 2021 are still due on April 18.
IRS Free File on IRS.gov is a simple approach to receive the extra time. Anyone, regardless of income, can use this free service to electronically request an extension on Form 4868 in a matter of minutes. To get a tax extension, taxpayers must fill out this form and estimate their tax liability.
How to File a Tax Extension 2022?
File a Tax Extension Request Online: IRS e-file is an electronic filing program that allows you to send tax forms directly to IRS computers, including Form 4868. If you file Form 4868 electronically using IRS e-file on your own, using free or commercial tax software, or with the help of a tax expert who uses e-file, you can request an automatic extension to file your tax return.
In either case, you’ll get an email confirmation that you can save with your tax records.
If your adjusted gross income (AGI) is below a certain figure—$73,000 in 2021—you can use brand-name software from Free File, a free service that offers federal tax preparation and e-filing choices to taxpayers.
File a Tax Extension Request by Mail: Paper forms of Form 4868 are also available. You can either download the form from the IRS website or fill out an order form on the IRS website to have a printed form mailed to you. You can also get a form by contacting the IRS at 800-829-3676. Copies may be available at your local library or post office.