Here’s what HIVE AI had to say about “Does a filing extension give extra time to pay taxes or just to file?”:
Filing extensions vs. payment deadlines
What a filing extension does
- A filing extension gives you extra time to submit your tax return, generally up to six months (typically until Oct. 15 for individuals). 1
What a filing extension does not do
- It does not extend the time to pay your tax. Federal income tax is due on the original due date of the return, “determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the return.” If you pay after that date, interest (and possibly penalties) accrues from the original due date. 2
- IRS guidance consistently reiterates this: an extension to file is not an extension to pay. 3
- Courts and IRS rulings also recognize that extending time to file does not extend the payment due date; underpayment interest runs from the original payment deadline. 4
How to avoid penalties and interest if you need more time to file
- Pay your full expected balance (or as much as you can) by the original due date. You can even make an “extension” payment online; the IRS will record your extension automatically when you designate the payment for Form 4868. 5
- You can request the filing extension separately (e.g., via IRS Free File), but again, that does not change the payment due date. 6
Limited exceptions related to payment timing
- Taxpayers “who are abroad” may receive up to a 6‑month filing extension, and certain rules can also extend the time to pay for that specific situation; interest may still apply from the original due date. Check the applicable regulation and instructions if you qualify. 7
- Separate, explicit extensions of time to pay do exist in the Code (for specific taxes or circumstances) but must be requested and granted; even then, interest generally accrues during the payment extension period. 8
Sources
1 – IRC § 6081(a) 📄 Summarize
2 – IRC § 6151(a) 📄 Summarize
3 – IRS Newsroom – IR-2024-76 📄 Summarize
4 – IRS Determination-201113001 📄 Summarize
5 – IRS.gov – Direct Pay help 📄 Summarize
6 – IRS.gov – Get an extension to file your tax return 📄 Summarize
7 – IRS Determination 200236042 📄 Summarize
8 – Treasury Regulation 20.6161-1 📄 Summarize
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