How to File a Tax Extension: State & Federal Help

People apply for tax extensions for a wide array of reasons. Whether it be personal illness, family tragedy, financial hardship or some other type of emergency, tax extensions are not uncommon. If you are in a situation where you need to file a tax extension, you should consider consulting a professional first. Not everyone knows how to file a federal tax extension, but we can help you every step of the way. At Community Tax, we have a team of professionals consisting of qualified accountants, CPAs, tax attorneys and enrolled agents will help you file your taxes with no hassle for you. No matter your predicament, we’re here to offer seamless tax preparation and tax resolution services.

The Purpose of a Tax Extension

Tax extensions are meant to allow taxpayers more time to gather all of their necessary information so they can file a complete and accurate tax return—without making mistakes or missing pertinent information. However, some people procrastinate and use the extended due date to delay their responsibilities. If you’re able, avoid this route as much as possible. Extending the due date without paying careful attention will only result in higher fees, penalties and accrued interest on any due taxes.

Who Can Get a Tax Extension?

Anyone can get a tax extension. You’re eligible for an automatic six-month extension for your federal income tax return so long as you submit an IRS Tax Form 4868 – Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File US. Individual Income Tax Return. Note that this is an extension to file the return, not an extension to pay any due taxes. This means that you’re responsible for any taxes due in the six-month period. When you submit an IRS Tax Form 4868, we advise that you include payment for any due taxes to avoid excess penalties, interest and late fees that will otherwise accumulate over time. As long as you submit the IRS Tax Form 4868 before April 15 (this past year was the 17^th), you’re eligible for an extension.

How to File a Tax Extension

At Community Tax, we make the tax extension submission process easy. When you come to us, we’ll speak with you about your current financial situation, your options and the best course of action. If we decide that a tax extension is the best course of action then we’ll take care of all the busy work for you. We choose one of three ways to get you a tax extension. You can file a paper Tax Form 4868 by mail, e-file the Tax Form 4868 online or pay all or part of your income tax that you expect you owe with a credit or debit card using the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System. We will go over your options with you and teach you how to file a tax extension online.

Recall that tax extensions allow for more time to file your income tax return, but don’t extend the timeline to pay any taxes you owe for that year. No matter your circumstance you’re expected to pay your income taxes to the IRS on time, lest you suffer from penalties and interest. Do not use this as an option to avoid paying your taxes, as this will only make your situation worse. If you need help, reach out to our tax professionals at Community Tax to take advantage of our no-hassle tax resolution services.

If you need more time to get your tax information, don’t hesitate to consult with us about a tax extension. Don’t put off your taxes to the last minute; we are here to help you along the way.

Preparing Your Taxes with Community Tax

If you choose to work with us earlier in the tax season, you may not even need to submit a tax extension. We make the tax preparation process simple and efficient so you can rest easy. The team of experts at Community Tax has worked with thousands of individuals and businesses to help them successfully file their taxes. We are dedicated to providing affordable tax preparation services that make your tax extension a success. Don’t worry about IRS penalties and surprises with our team by your side.

We offer one flat fee for our services. At Community Tax, we believe tax filing services should be affordable. That’s why we tailor our services to accommodate your budget, whether you have a tax extension, tax levy, garnishment, or accounting and bookkeeping needs. Our dedicated team of professionals is here to help you every step of the way toward your goals. Below is a step by step guide to how we help you prepare your taxes during the tax extension process.

1. Build a Professional Relationship

The team of professionals at Community Tax make a point to build positive relationships with our clients so that we can work together to prepare taxes and resolve any debt. We assist you by listening to your needs and goals as an individual or as a company. After gaining a full understanding of you or your business, we assemble a team of experts for you who will remain in contact with you throughout the entire process. At any time you can feel free to ask any questions regarding finances or legal help.

2. Ask you Simple Questions

Throughout the process we may ask you a few simple questions to get a grasp of your situation. After a consultation we may send you a questionnaire asking for more information we need to help you file your taxes. Filing your taxes after a tax extension is still easy, and you’ll do little more than provide for us the information we need.

3. Investigate Your Taxes

After the initial consultation, your dedicated tax practitioner will organize all of your past and present tax information to investigate it. To do this they will file a Tax Authorization Information Form 8821 with the IRS or equivalent with your State Taxing Authority to obtain a complete record of all your taxes. If needed, they’ll pursue any additional financial information that would benefit the process of tax preparation.

4. Analyze Your Financial Information

Our team takes any relevant financial information and analyzes it to be sure all records match that of the IRS or State’s regulations. They will determine the best strategy to benefit you, including deductions and avoidance of penalties. When the analysis is completed, we follow up with you to propose our solution and answer any questions you may have.

5. Submit Tax Form 4868 for Tax Extension (if Necessary)

Filing the Tax Form 4868 is a simple process. After gaining a handle on your financial situation and goals, we take the steps to submit your tax extension. If we decide that we need more time to gather information for you under the strict deadline then we’ll submit the form on your behalf. We estimate your taxes for the year based on your current information to show the IRS that you have investigated your taxes. Otherwise, the IRS may disallow the request. Under any circumstance we’ll do our best to file your taxes quickly and accurately to avoid a tax extension, if possible.

6. Resolve Any Tax Issues

Even if you file your taxes on time, you may still run into tax issues. If after careful inspection we believe we need to take further action, we will notify you right away. Should this be the case, we’ll take extra precaution to gather further documentation and investigate further. If your dedicated team decides that you need a tax resolution plan then we’ll take action right away. You can rest assured that all of our professionals have the authority to represent you on your behalf before the IRS to negotiate a plan that benefits you.

7. Provide Any Further Financial Assistance

Our services don’t need to end there. If you want to plan a secure financial future for you or your business, we will work to get you there. Consult us for bookkeeping and accounting services for your business, financial planning for yourself and so much more. We want to keep you to reach your financial goals, and our dedicated team of professionals have the experience to make that happen.

Why You Should Hire a Professional When You File

If you’re starting late in the season with a tax extension, it may be time to get help. A tax professional can help you find what you need. Hiring a tax professional will help optimize your returns and minimize penalties. Our team of sophisticated tax experts is here to represent you, protect you and aid you with your financial goals.

You Don’t Have Time

With so many other priorities on the list, it can seem impossible to make room for taxes. This may be the reason you need a tax extension to begin with. If you don’t know how to file for a tax extension, we will help you through it. It can take a lot of time to gather all of your documents, receipts, deductions, job expenses and more. Should we decide you need a tax extension we’ll work with you immediately to gather the information we need to get your taxes filed as soon as possible.

You Don’t Have the Patience

Tax code changes all the time. It’s difficult to keep up with the thousands of tax law changes that build over the years. Our tax experts will help explain all of the tax regulations that are applicable to your return and simplify the process. As you get older, taxes tend to get more complex, so we will sit with you and decode the process in a way that maximizes your returns and keeps you in good financial standing with the IRS.

You Need to Correct Old Tax Return Mistakes

With the amount of regulations burdening your taxes, it’s easy to make a mistake. If you’ve made even just one mistake on a tax return within the past three years you should correct it as soon as possible. Even if you don’t know if you’ve made a mistake, our team of tax professionals will examine your tax history to make sure you aren’t accruing any penalties or interest that can harm your financial future.

You’ve Changed Your Marital Status within the Year

Whether you’re celebrating a marriage or separating after a divorce, it’s time you visit a tax professional for expert advice. A member of our team will advise you as to whether you should file jointly or separately, and how to account for alimony and taxes or child support if you’re divorced.

You Provide Financial Support to an Immediate Family Member

If you can claim someone as a dependent then you’ll gain a significant tax break. Typically, the IRS permits only immediate family like children, siblings and elderly parents to become dependents, so check with a professional first before filing.

You’re a Business Owner

Whether you’re a budding business or you’ve blossomed into a large corporation, you need expert advice to make sure your business stays flourishing. Big and small businesses alike can suffer heavily from tax penalties, audits and accruals if they aren’t prepared. If you own a business you should get professional tax help as soon as possible. Avoid pitfalls and capitalize on tax returns for your business with our team.

You Moved to a Different City or State

Moving makes taxes more complicated. Whether you’re moving between cities, states or county lines, tax differences can make filing more frustrating. If you file properly, you may save yourself penalties or even gain tax breaks you didn’t know you had. When you move you have one chance to get it right, so why not ask someone who knows?

You’ve Bought or Sold Large Investments

Any and all investments need to be accounted for when tax season rolls around. Don’t get blindsided by usage taxes, sales tax and other fees that can burden your expense. Our licensed professionals will minimize any costs and maximize the potential for write-offs with any purchase. In addition, any exchange of stocks, bonds and securities are subject to heavy taxes if you don’t plan ahead. Plan ahead with us and we’ll create a strategy based on your investments, deductions and trading securities.

You Want to Reach a Financial Goal

Preparing your taxes isn’t just about the present, it’s about your financial future. If you want to get on the right track and take steps ahead toward a goal, our professionals are here to help make that happen. At Community Tax, our team helps provide clients with the strategy they need to move forward to achieve their objective. Whether you need to get out of debt, plan a family or buy a home, our tax experts are here to help make that dream a reality.

You’re in Good Hands with Us

Our team of sophisticated tax professionals are prepared to handle your unique tax situation. Members of our team have decades of combined experience in tax law, accounting, IRS representation, bookkeeping, financial planning and more. Everyone comes from a diverse background of education and experience to give your case the individual attention it deserves. Should you need representation for tax resolution before the IRS, all of our team members have legal permission to represent you on your behalf to make the resolution process easier.

Certified Public Accountants

Our CPAs endured years of tireless study and research to become the best of the best in the accounting field. Unlike other accountants, CPAs prove themselves to lead the pack in terms of broad financial knowledge and accounting precision.

Licensed Attorneys

The tax attorneys on our team are licensed professionals with years of experience representing clients before the IRS. They possess specific knowledge of tax law, practices and ethics with individuals, businesses, organizations, estates and more. Our tax attorneys have represented many clients in court on allegations of tax fraud, tax evasion, tax negotiations and more.

Enrolled Agents

Enrolled agents have the most prestige under the IRS. Their specific job is to learn all there is to know about government tax laws and the IRS as an organization. Many enrolled agents begin their careers as IRS employees. They must spend at least two years within the tax sphere of the IRS and thus have a deep understanding of how the system works. Our enrolled agents are well equipped to analyze your tax situation and work out the best negotiation for you.

We understand that there are times when filing your taxes by April 15 just isn’t realistic. Reach out to us and we’ll help you navigate your financial situation by creating a strategy based on our needs. If you need a tax extension, we will submit the Form 4868 for you and work immediately to gather your information and file your taxes as soon as possible to avoid any fees, penalties or interest. At Community Tax, we take pride in our ability to help taxpayers achieve their financial goals. Whether you’re looking to propose a tax resolution for yourself or log the financial records of your business, we have services tailored to your needs.