Although we only have six days to go, it is still not too late to file that tax extension (bonus: it’s free and your automatically guaranteed six months).  However, although filing may be free and delayed for six-months, paying is not BOO!!!.  The IRS requires you to send in a partial or full payment of your estimated tax liability for the year.

Still interested? Filing is super simple, just follow the steps below and you can thank me later:

1. Download and print Form 4868 from the IRS website (or save ink and pick up a copy at your local public library–then again, you’d now be wasting gas, so…)
2. Fill out Part I, Lines 1-3
3. Estimate your total tax liability for the year  (this is now made simple, thanks to H&R Block or TurboTax’s free online tax estimators check ‘em out)
4. Fill in your estimated total tax liability in Part II, Line 4
5. Fill in Lines 5-9– indicating how much tax you’ve already paid, what you ultimately owe the government, how much you’ll be paying upfront and whether or not you are currently out of the country-  If you pay 90% or more of your real liability, you will not incur a late penalty. If you pay less, you will owe interest on the tax you didn’t pay in the time and may incur a late fee.
6. Attach a check or money order for the amount indicated in Part II, Line 7.
7. Make a copy of the completed form for your records.
8. Submit the form via certified mail by April 15th.
   • • -The mailing address where you should file your form is listed on Page 4 of Form 4868.

• After filing Form 4868, you will receive an automatic six-month extension. You have until October 15 to file your return. You may not file for a second extension.

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