Taxpayers Can Get Automatic 6-Month Tax Filing Extension

The Internal Revenue Service reminds individual taxpayers that they can request an automatic six-month filing extension. An extension grants extra time for filing the tax return only, not for paying any taxes due. Taxpayers will owe interest on any past due tax and may be subject to a late payment penalty if payment is not made by the original due date of the return.

The request must be made by the due date of the return, which is April 17, for all states except the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. Taxpayers in these states have until April 18, to file and pay because of the Patriot's Day Holiday on April 17 in Massachusetts, where the Andover Service Center is located.

This year, the IRS simplified the process to file for an extension. Individuals should use the 2005 version of Form 4868 ( www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf .) Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to get the automatic six-month extension to Oct. 16, 2006 (Oct. 15, 2006, is a Sunday). The extension is automatic as long as it is timely filed and includes a proper estimate of tax due. Taxpayers do not need to sign the extension request or provide an explanation for requesting an extension.

The IRS reminds extension filers that they can electronically file their returns until Oct. 16. Last year, nearly 1.8 million taxpayers filed electronically after the April deadline.

Additional information about the new regulations for extensions for individuals and businesses is available on irs.gov.