Taxpayers Urged to File Extensions Electronically as April 15 Payment Deadline Nears

Filing an extension provides six extra months to submit returns, but taxes owed must still be paid by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.

The IRS emphasizes that tax extensions extend the filing deadline to October 15 but do not change the April 15 payment deadline for taxes owed.
Failure to pay taxes by April 15 results in penalties of 0.5% per month and interest on the unpaid balance, currently at a rate of 7%.
Taxpayers are advised to estimate their liabilities using prior-year returns and make payments with their extension request to minimize penalties.
Filing extensions electronically through the IRS website or tax software ensures timely processing and reduces the risk of delays.
Automatic extensions are available for certain groups, such as U.S. citizens living abroad or military members serving in combat zones.