IRS Tax Extension and other Income Tax Return Help » tax extension

Avoid Complications With Federal Income Tax Extension

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 07:49:00 +0000

So finally you have successfully filed for an income tax extension which is at most due for another six months, thanks to your timely intervention and good judgment. Rather than incur the penalty of failing to file an income tax return or be visited by the local tax agency for an audit caused by a rushed but erroneous tax filing, you have decided to furnish tax return filing for a longer period of time.

Longer effort rendered for filing but a better reason not to make mistakes or blunder. However, you may have to be careful of your intention or your current socio-economic status as these may cause cancellation of your extension. Here are some tips to ensure a smooth income tax extension.

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Make sure that when you file for an extension, that your estimate for initial assessment is reasonable and well explained. The local tax agency such as the IRS is keen and always suspicious of intentions of income tax extension requests for possible manipulation or exploitation of intended tax returns throughout the given 6-month grace period.

Bear in mind that the income tax exemption only pushes back the due date of your paperwork. It doesn’t have any provisions for any exemptions, refunds, or alterations on the due tax estimate incurred over the course of the 6-month period. It is similar to a put off paperwork due, more specifically until October15 2009. Make sure that you also furnish the most accurate and honest declarations since you have the extended time to make it.

The filing of federal tax returns for 2008 is due on April 15, 2009. Make sure that you file for an extension a little early than that date to avoid technicalities and cancellation of your request for an income tax extension. Make sure that you also use the correct form. Normally, IRS form 4868 is the default form used for extensions for individuals, and IRS forms 7004 and 1138 for corporations. There are also other variants for other exemptions such as being outside the U.S. when filing for an income tax return or the like. Properly timed filing and using a proper document is the most important and initial step for a smooth extension grant.

Ultimate Tax Reduction Guide. How To Slash Your Taxes Quickly, Easily And Legally.

Author: Tim Whiteman

Maximize your tax refund this year with the “Tax Tips Newsletter”. Find out which tax filing software is easiest on your wallet.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Whiteman

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IRS Extension Tips – Small Businesses

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:59:00 +0000

For all you procrastinators out there, here’s a nuts ‘n bolts guide on how to legally postpone the filing of your 2008 income tax returns. When it comes to putting things off, you can never plan too far ahead.

In many cases the IRS allows you to file a no-questions-asked extension form . Which particular form you file depends on what type of entity your business happens to be.

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SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP:
You need to file Form 4868 to get an automatic 6-month extension to file your personal income tax return.

CORPORATIONS:
Whether you are a "C" Corporation or an "S" Corporation, you must file Form 7004 by March 15. Doing so grants you an automatic 6-month extension for filing Form 1120 ("C" Corp) or Form 1120S ("S" Corp).

PARTNERSHIPS:
You need to file Form 7004 by April 15. This obtains a 5-month extension to file Form 1065.

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES (LLC):
LLC’s can be taxed like a sole proprietorship, a corporation, or a partnership. So simply file the extension form for whichever entity you are being taxed like.

Now, before you start extending to your heart’s content, please keep the following guidelines in mind.

Ultimate Tax Reduction Guide. How To Slash Your Taxes Quickly, Easily And Legally.

EXTENSION TIP #1:

Never forget the mantra of all tax extension forms: The extension to file the return is NOT an extension to pay any tax due. It’s only an extension for the filing of your tax return.

In other words, do not view the extension as an opportunity to legally postpone the payment of your tax.

So if you have a balance due on the return, then you must still pay the tax by the original tax return due date. If you file the extension but do not pay the balance due on time, then you will pay penalty and interest for late payment of tax. You will legally avoid the penalty for late filing, however.

So what’s the point in filing an extension if you still have to pay the tax?

Three possible scenarios — first, some folks get most of their tax data organized and are able to get enough of their return done to get the big picture: "Do I owe or am I getting a refund." You do the calculations, see where you stand, and if you owe, send in the extension form with a payment that’s pretty close to the final figures.

You may have a few deductions that you need to research, one last shoebox to peruse. You need more time, that’s all.

Second, you’re running way behind on tax matters this year. Hey, it happens! There’s no way you’re going to get the return done on time, and you know you’ll probably owe, so, be sure to file the extension, even if you don’t know how much you may owe or even if you can’t make a payment with the extension. The reason? Because there are penalties for late filing and penalties for late payment of tax. By filing the extension, at least you avoid the late filing penalties.

In short, by filing the extension, you can save yourself some money in late FILING charges, but not necessarily late PAYMENT charges. Be sure to understand the difference!

The third scenario is even more common — you know you’re getting a refund; you always get a refund. Maybe you’re self-employed and your spouse has a W-2 job, and the spouse’s tax withholdings are always enough to cover both of you. And you’re in no hurry to get the refund.

Which brings me to:

EXTENSION TIP #2:

If you are getting a refund on your personal return, you have 3 years to file the return to claim the refund, without any fear of a late filing penalty.

That’s right. As long as you file your return within 3 years of the original due date (for Year 2008 returns due April 15, 2009, that would be April 15, 2012), you’ll get your refund and there is no penalty for filing late, even if you file after the extended due date of October 15.

Bottom line: if you think you may owe, if at all possible, do enough calculating to send in a payment with the extension. If you’re getting a refund, still send in the extension (just to be safe), but relax, you’ve got plenty of time to get your money back, assuming you didn’t need it yesterday.

Oh, one more thing:

EXTENSION TIP #3:

This article only deals with federal extension rules. State rules vary considerably, so be sure to check with your state’s tax department or your local tax professional to get the scoop on the extension rules for your particular state.

Some states simply piggyback off the federal rules. Others don’t. So be careful here or you could be penalized severely for assuming that your state’s rules are the same as the feds.

Author: Wayne Davies

Looking for more small business tax tips? For a free copy of the 25-page Special Report "How To Instantly Double Your Deductions" visit http://www.YouSaveOnTaxes.com. Wayne M. Davies is author of 3 ebooks on tax reduction strategies for small business owners and the self-employed

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wayne_Davies

Five Tips to Avoid Tax Time Stress

You will owe interest on any amount not paid by the April deadline, plus a late payment penalty if you have not paid at least 90 percent of your total tax by that date. See IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to [...]

IRS Tax Debt Guide

If you prepare your taxes before April 15 and know you won’t be able to pay the tax due, you can file for an extension of time to pay. Depending on your circumstances, the extension will be anywhere from 30 to 120 days.

IRS Tax Tips

If you filed an extension and you paid at least 90 percent of your actual tax liability by the due date, you will not be faced with a failure-to-pay penalty. 7. If both the failure-to-file penalty and the failure-to-pay penalty apply in any month, …. TAC locations, business hours and an overview of services are available at IRS.gov. Just go to the “Individuals” tab and click on the link for Contact My Local Office in the left tool bar section under IRS Resources.

Twitter Tax Tips

If you’re planning on requesting a corporate tax extension, remember it’s an extension of time to file, not time to pay.

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IRS Extensions – Why Must We Pay Taxes

admin — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:59:00 +0000

You might be surprised to learn that filing a tax extension does NOT mean that you have an extra five or six months to actually pay your taxes.

This may be pretty confusing to the average taxpayer. Why would you bother with a tax extension if you still have to pay on time? (Which is to say, March 15 for business taxes and April 15 for personal income taxes).

Because you still might save money. Tax extensions give you extra time to prepare the most accurate and advantageous return possible–but the Feds still need the money you owe. If it turns out that you’re due some money back, you’ll get a refund. If you discover that you owe even more, you’ll have to pay it. But whatever your tax liability is on March or April 15, you have to pay it at that time.

What Happens if I Don’t?
If you don’t pay your income taxes by the standard deadline (March or April 15), you’ll have to pay a penalty that accrues each month your taxes stay unpaid. If you don’t pay by the time your extension is due (Sept. 15 for businesses and Oct. 15 for individuals) you’ll start accumulating interest fees as well.

The late payment penalty is typically 0.5% of your tax liability, calculated each month. For example, if you have $1,000 of unpaid taxes, you will accrue $5 every month, starting in March/April, until you pay.

Now, if you filed for a tax extension and you haven’t paid by that deadline, you will begin to accrue interest on your unpaid taxes. This interest is usually 5% of your outstanding balance per month. If your taxes are paid more than 60 days late, you’ll pay a minimum of $100 in interest.

Example: Let’s say you file a personal income tax extension, but it’s Nov. 15 and you still haven’t paid the $1,000 you owe in taxes. This means you now owe $1,030, which is your balance plus six months’ worth of late fees at $5/month. In addition, you’ll owe an additional 5% in interest, which is about $51 for November. So as of November 15, you’ll owe $1,081 instead of the original $1,000.

The lesson here is: File an extension, but pay your taxes on time!

Author: Chaney Rankin

Chaney Rankin writes for FileLater.com, an online tax extension service

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chaney_Rankin

to learn that filing a tax extension does NOT mean that you have an extra five or six months to actually pay your taxes.

The lesson here is: File an extension, but pay your taxes on time!

Author: Chaney Rankin

Chaney Rankin writes for FileLater.com, an online tax extension service

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chaney_Rankin

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