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Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · United States (federal)

Form 4868: Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

Current revision: Tax year 2025 (checked on irs.gov, Oct 28, 2026)

Fill in IRS Form 4868 to get six more months to file your 1040. It extends the time to file, not to pay: estimate your tax, pay what you can, file by April 15.

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Form

4868

Issued by
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Applies in
United States (federal)
Edition
Tax year 2025

Official source

PDFBetter is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting for Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We open the form from irs.gov, and you fill it in our editor. Check the issuer's instructions before you file.

What it is

What Form 4868 is for

Form 4868 gives individuals an automatic 6-month extension to file Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR or 1040-SS. It doesn't extend the time to pay: tax not paid by the regular due date accrues interest and may draw a late payment penalty. The PDF on irs.gov is the 2025 edition; the 2026 version usually appears in December or January. For 2026 returns, file it by April 15, 2027 to move the filing deadline to October 15, 2027.

Form 4868 deadlines, 2027 filing season

  1. Request the extension (e-file, paper Form 4868 or extension payment) and pay the tax you owe Source: irs.gov

  2. U.S. citizens and residents out of the country: automatic 2-month deadline to file and pay (interest runs from April 15) Source: irs.gov

  3. Extended due date for 2026 Forms 1040, 1040-SR and 1040-NR Source: irs.gov

Dates already move past weekends and DC holidays, as the IRS rule says. Checked against irs.gov on October 28, 2026. See the full 2027 tax calendar.

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Who files it

  • Individuals who can't finish their Form 1040 or 1040-SR by April 15
  • Self-employed people still waiting on K-1s or final bookkeeping
  • U.S. citizens and residents abroad who need 4 more months beyond their automatic 2
  • Form 1040-NR and 1040-SS filers who need more time
  • Fiscal year taxpayers, who must file a paper Form 4868

What you need

  • Your name, address and SSN (and your spouse's for a joint return)
  • A reasonable estimate of your total tax for the year (line 4)
  • Your withholding and estimated payments so far (line 5)
  • The amount you'll pay now, if any (line 7)
  • Your prior-year return, if you e-file (used to verify your identity)

Line by line

How to fill out Form 4868

  1. 1

    Choose how to request it

    You can pay part or all of your estimated tax electronically and mark the payment as an extension payment, e-file Form 4868 with tax software or a preparer, or mail a paper Form 4868. If you pay electronically and mark it as an extension, you don't file the form.

  2. 2

    Part I — lines 1–3

    Enter your name(s) and address, your SSN on line 2 and your spouse's SSN on line 3 if you plan to file jointly. A new address on Form 4868 doesn't update IRS records; use Form 8822 for that.

  3. 3

    Line 4 — estimated total tax

    Enter the total tax you expect on your Form 1040, 1040-SR or 1040-NR, line 24. Enter -0- if you expect none. The IRS can void the extension if the estimate wasn't reasonable.

  4. 4

    Lines 5–6 — payments and balance

    Enter withholding and estimated payments you've already made (not the amount you're paying with this form) on line 5. Line 6 is line 4 minus line 5.

  5. 5

    Line 7 — amount you're paying

    Pay as much of line 6 as you can. You still get the extension if you pay nothing, but interest and the late payment penalty run on what's unpaid.

  6. 6

    Lines 8–9 — special cases

    Check line 8 if you're out of the country and a U.S. citizen or resident. Check line 9 if you file Form 1040-NR and had no wages subject to U.S. income tax withholding.

Common Form 4868 mistakes

  • Treating the extension as more time to pay; tax unpaid after April 15 accrues interest and may draw a late payment penalty.
  • Entering an unrealistic total tax on line 4, which can make the extension null and void.
  • Including the payment you're sending with Form 4868 in the line 5 total.
  • Mailing a paper Form 4868 after e-filing one, unless you're paying by check or money order.
  • Attaching a copy of Form 4868 to the return when you file it.

Where to send it

E-file Form 4868 through tax software, a tax professional or Free File, or pay online at https://www.irs.gov/payments and mark the payment as an extension payment (then don't file the form). A paper Form 4868 goes to the IRS address in the table on page 4 of the form, which depends on your state and whether you're enclosing a payment (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf). File it by April 15, 2027 for a 2026 return. Form 4868 has no signature line, and you don't attach it to your return later.

Filing rules change. Confirm the address or portal on irs.gov before you send.

Form 4868: questions people ask

Which year is this Form 4868 for?

The PDF on irs.gov today is the 2025 edition, for 2025 returns. For a 2026 return due April 15, 2027, use the 2026 Form 4868 once it's posted, usually in December or January, or request the extension electronically.

Does Form 4868 give me more time to pay?

No. The form says it doesn't extend the time to pay. You'll owe interest on tax not paid by April 15, plus a late payment penalty of usually ½ of 1% a month (up to 25%) unless you have reasonable cause.

When is reasonable cause assumed for late payment?

For the extension period, if at least 90% of your total tax was paid by the regular due date through withholding, estimated payments or payments with Form 4868, and you pay the rest with your return.

Do I need to explain why I want an extension?

No. The IRS only contacts you if it denies the request. Keep the e-file acknowledgment or payment confirmation number as proof.

I live abroad. Do I need this form?

U.S. citizens and residents who are out of the country on the due date get 2 extra months to file and pay without asking, though interest still runs from April 15. File Form 4868 and check line 8 if you need 4 more months on top of that.

Can I fill in Form 4868 without an account?

Yes. You can fill in the IRS PDF in PDFBetter without an account; downloading the finished file needs a free account. PDFBetter doesn't e-file with the IRS, so mail the paper form or request the extension through IRS e-file or a payment.