The deadline to file personal tax returns with the IRS for the 2012 Tax Season has been extended to Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The traditional deadline of April 15 falls on a Sunday this year. Since April 15th falls on a weekend, the official deadline had to be changed. It could not be the following Monday (April 16) either due to the fact that April 16th is Emancipation Day. Emancipation Day is considered to be a holiday for the District of Columbia, and Federal Law declares that agencies such as the IRS must observe such holidays of the District of Columbia.

This will be the second year in a row in which the deadline for most tax returns will not be on the traditional deadline of April 15. Tax returns were also later last year due to the Emancipation Day holiday.

The same deadline applies to anyone filing a Personal Tax Extension as well as a normal tax return. If a Tax Extension is applied for, this does not postpone the tax payment. It only extends the time in which to file the tax return itself with the IRS.

Any taxes due must still be paid by the traditional April 15 deadline, but with a tax extension, the completed return does not need to be filed until October 15. This 6 month extension allows tax preparers and others to get the most out of any credits and refunds.

One of the easiest ways to apply for a tax extension is through www.ExpressExtension.com  The Fast and Easy-To-use System makes tax extensions simple and easy.  The entire process takes only a few minutes to complete. If you have any questions about the process, you can contact the Tax Extension Team from their Rock Hill, SC Support Center at 704.234.6000 or send an email to support@expressextension.com.

One of the greatest things about filing with Express Extension is their dedication to quality customer support.  If you have any questions about the filing process or would like a little help along the way, you can call, email or chat online with their Tax Extension team anytime from their US-Based Customer Support Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. You can email the team at support@expressextension.com or chat with them online from the website: ExpressExtension.com  Overall, it is hard to go wrong with an easy-to-use system, a helpful team along the way, and affordable pricing options.

April 15 is deadline for income tax return, but there’s no way your tax return done by then. What’s a procrastinator to do? File an extension, of course. But perhaps you are wondering whether this is the best option for you. Read on to find out.

You can automatically extend the April 15 due date to October 15 by filing Form 4868, “Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.” So now you have six more months to file your personal income tax return.

The nice thing about Form 4868 is that simply filing this form grants an automatic, no-questions-asked 6-month extension. You don’t have to have a reason. Just sending this form to the IRS on or before April 15 gets you the extra six months.

But here’s another important point about Form 4868: This 6-month extension is NOT an extension to pay any tax you may owe on the tax return. Form 4868 only grants an extension of time to file the tax return.
So, if you usually get a refund on your personal tax return, you are OK. But, if you think you might have a balance due, or if you are not sure, then you should go ahead and prepare the return to the best of your ability, do the calculations, and see where you stand.

If you are getting a refund, great. If you’re not in a hurry to get the refund, then file the extension form and wait until October 15 to send in the return. But if you have a balance due on the return, then you should send in your balance due with Form 4868. That way you avoid any penalty and interest for late payment of tax.
When October 15 rolls around, you send in the return, showing the Form 4868 payment as a credit. The end result is this: you paid your tax on time (April 15), and you filed your tax return legally late (October 15) because you filed the extension form on time.

Obviously, the key here is whether or not you have a balance due on your return. If you have a balance due, but don’t send in the payment with Form 4868, then you will have penalty and interest charges for paying the tax after April 15.

Bottom line: Do not overlook the fact that Form 4868 does not grant you an extension of time to pay the tax. It only gives you an extension of time to file the return.

A personal tax extension uses Form 4868, officially called an Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. The key word here is Automatic. If you don’t think you’ll be able to hit that dreaded April 15 deadline, you can get an extension easily by e-filing Form 4868. The IRS will grant you an extra six months to file; your new deadline will be October 15.

Remember, this doesn’t extend the time for payment if you owe anything to the IRS.