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Today (April 15) marks the deadline for filing federal income tax returns in the United States. If you haven't completed your taxes yet, you can file for an extension to gain additional time. Filing for an extension requires submitting Form 4868 on the IRS website, which grants an automatic six-month extension until October 15. However, it's important to note that an extension only gives extra time to file, not to pay any taxes owed, which are still due today to avoid penalties and interest.
Taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas across 12 states have automatic extensions to file and pay their 2024 taxes. The IRS reminds taxpayers that electronic filing can reduce errors, and many can file electronically at no cost. Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less can use IRS Free File software, available through October 15. Additionally, the IRS Direct File program is now available to eligible taxpayers in 25 states.
For those who owe taxes but can't pay in full, the IRS offers online payment plans. Applying for a payment plan online provides immediate confirmation of acceptance or denial. Even with a payment plan, interest and penalties may accrue, but the failure-to-pay penalty is reduced.
According to Axios, the IRS has received over 101 million tax returns as of April 4, slightly down from last year. Taxpayers can check the status of their refunds using the "Where's My Refund?" tool, which updates 24 hours after e-filing.