Okay, there’s no time to waste. You’ve put off doing your taxes and asking for an extension. But don’t worry, the process for asking for an extension until Oct. 16 is simple and easy.
If you are going to mail your request for an extension, download IRS form 4868 here and print it out.
On the left-hand side enter your full name, address, Social Security number and your spouse’s Social Security number.
On the right side, on line four estimate your total tax liability for 2022. If you have one job and expect a refund, it’s simple. Enter the total federal tax withholdings from you’re W-2.
If you had a side hustle that produced income, add the amount of estimated tax you paid during the year to the amount entered on line four. Enter the same number you put on line four to line five.
On line six, enter $0, since you believe your withholdings and estimated payments will cover your tax liability. Enter $0 on line seven. Check the appropriate boxes on lines eight and nine and you’re ready to mail the form. You can find the correct address for mailing it on page four of form 4868.
If you think you’ll owe additional taxes
While the extension allows you to delay filing your taxes it doesn’t allow you to delay paying your taxes. If you think you will owe taxes you should send a check for the amount of the additional tax. If you overpay, you’ll get a refund.
Line four, the amount of what you expect your tax will be, will be bigger than line five, the amount you’ve already paid. Subtract line five from four and the difference, entered on line six, is what you will send the IRS, along with form 4868.
You can also file for an extension electronically by using Free File at IRS.gov.