Form 4868 Instructions

What is IRS Form 4868?

Who can file Form 4868?

A U.S. citizen or a resident of the United States who couldn’t file their income tax return by the due date can file Form 4868.

The following federal income tax returns can be extended by filing Form 4868:

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

When is the Form 4868 due date?

For the 2023 tax year, the deadline for filing Form 4868 is April 15, 2024.

Individual taxpayers who want an extension must file Form 4868 on or before the due date for the actual tax return to be filed. However, if the due date falls on weekends or federal holidays, then the filing deadline will be the next business day.

Filing Form 4868 for the 2023 tax year will extend the filing deadline to October 15, 2024.

Form 4868 penalty

If you miss filing your income tax return and paying the tax due within the deadline, you will incur penalties from the IRS. Below are the penalty rates for Form 4868:

Form 4868 Instructions - How to fill out?

To fill out the extension request accurately, follow the Form 4868 instructions below

Part I: Identification

Line 1

• Your Name: Enter your name. The name entered here should match the name on the IRS database.
• Address: Enter your address. If you reside outside the United States, enter the address along with the country name.

Line 2: Enter your 9-digit social security number.

Line 3: If you are filing a joint return, enter your spouse’s SSN.

Part II: Individual Income Tax

Line 4: Enter the estimated total tax amount liable for the tax year.

• For Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR, line 24 gives the total tax amount
• For Form 1040-PR, line 6
• Used during the prior period 5,000 miles or less (7,500 miles or less for agricultural vehicles)
• Address Change - If your address has changed, check the Address Change box.

Line 6: Subtract line 5 from line 4 and enter the amount in line 6. This is the tax amount you owe. Check the respective box on how you're going to make the payment; either via EFTPS or Credit/Debit card.

Part II. Statement in Support of Suspension

Line 7: Complete this line to suspend the tax on vehicles expected to be used less than the mileage use limit during a period.

In addition to that, you must also

• List the vehicles on which the tax is suspended on Schedule 1 (see Schedule 1 (Form 2290), later); and
• Count the number of tax-suspended vehicles (designated by category W) listed on Schedule 1, Part I, and enter the number on Schedule 1, Part II, line b.

Line 8a: Verify in this line that vehicles listed as suspended on Form 2290 for the prior tax period and used 5,000 miles or less (7,500 miles or less for agricultural vehicles) were not subject to the tax for that period.

Line 8b: If you checked box 8a, you must list here the VINs of the vehicles listed as suspended in the prior period and then used for 5,000 miles or more during the period (7,500 miles or more for agricultural vehicles).

Line 6: Line 6: Subtract line 5 from line 4 and enter the balance due amount. If line 5 is more than line 4, enter -0-.

Line 7: Enter the amount you are willing to pay in this line. In case you couldn’t pay the amount displayed on line 6, you can still get an extension. But you should pay as much as you can to limit the amount of interest you’ll owe.

Also, you may be charged the late payment penalty on the unpaid tax from the regular due date of your return.

Line 8: Check the box in line 8 if you’re “out of the country” and a U.S. citizen or resident. If did so, you will get 2 extra months to file your return and pay any tax amount due without requesting an extension.

Line 9: This line is for Form 1040-NR filers. Check the box in this line if you filed Form 1040-NR and didn’t receive wages as an employee subject to U.S. income tax withholding..

How to file Form 4868?

Form 4868 can be filed with the IRS either electronically or by paper filing.

Individual taxpayers who want an extension must file Form 4868 on or before the due date for the actual tax return to be filed. However, if the due date falls on weekends or federal holidays, then the filing deadline will be the next business day.

Filing Form 4868 for the 2023 tax year will extend the filing deadline to October 15, 2024.

Electronic filing or E-filing

E-filing extension Form 4868 provides you with a lot of benefits. Even the IRS recommends electronic filing as the process is quick and you will get the instant status of your return. To file Form 4868 electronically, you can opt to use an e-file service provider.

TaxZerone is an IRS-authorized e-file service provider that supports the electronic filing of extension Form 4868. You can simply enter the required information, calculate the balance due, and transmit the return to the IRS.

Paper filing

You can also file Form 4868 with the IRS by manually filling out the form and sending it via postal email. If you are paper filing your extension form, make sure you are sending the return earlier before the deadline, as it may take some time for the return to reach the IRS

Although there are two filing options available for taxpayers to file an extension, the IRS recommends the e-filing of Form 4868 as it is simple, easy, and takes less time and cost compared to paper filing.

Where to send Form 4868 - Mailing address

After filling out Form 4868, you are required to manually send the return to the IRS by postal mail. The address to which you need to send the returns will vary based on where you reside

Check out the mailing address for Form 4868 based on your location.

How to e-file Form 4868?

E-filing extension Form 4868 can be completed in 3 simple steps. Before you start with the e-file process, keep the information below ready.

Information required to file Form 4868 online

• Your basic information such as name, SSN, and address. If filing a joint return, your spouse's name and SSN.
• Tax year
• Estimate of total tax liability for the tax year
• Total tax repayment amount

When you have all the information, you can then follow the steps below to e-file Form 4868 using TaxZerone.

Step 1: Select the tax year and enter the required information listed above.

Step 2: Calculate the balance due by providing estimated total tax liability for the tax year

Step 3: Transmit the return to the IRS.

How to pay the balance due while filing Form 4868 online?

While completing step 2, if you have a balance due, you can opt to pay the due amount using the electronic funds withdrawal (EFW) option. You will need to provide your bank account information, such as account number, account type, and routing number.

Once the IRS processes your return, your balance due will be automatically debited from your account. Make sure to maintain a sufficient balance in your account.