![A wad of dollars, close up - stock photo and [inset] IRS website through a magnifying glass Izmir, Turkey - June 12, 2012 - stock photo](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/123729956/fbb9cd4e5197b0fe5eb733dfe1c9fa1b6081a8a5ea450d7219bbd1b30e8bbf77)
Overview
- The federal filing deadline, which falls Wednesday, lets taxpayers get a six‑month extension by e‑filing Form 4868, using IRS Free File, or making an online payment marked “extension.”
- An extension covers only paperwork, so estimate and pay any balance by April 15 to avoid extra charges, or set up an IRS payment plan if you cannot pay in full.
- Missing the deadline without an extension can trigger a failure‑to‑file penalty of 5% per month up to 25%, while unpaid balances face a 0.5% monthly penalty plus interest.
- E‑filing and direct deposit speed refunds, and with the IRS moving away from paper refund checks, filers should verify routing and account numbers along with W‑2s, 1099s, names, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
- Some states give more time this year, including Oklahoma (Apr 20), Hawaii (Apr 21), Delaware, Iowa, and New Mexico (Apr 30), South Carolina and Virginia (May 1), and Louisiana (May 15).