Filing a tax extension: What you need to know

Key takeaways

• Filing a tax extension does not give you more time to pay your tax and will not help if you do not have money to cover it.  

• You won’t receive a tax refund until you file your return, which means that filing an extension means a delay in your refund.  

• If you live outside of the U.S., are the victim of a natural disaster, support personnel in combat zones or contingency, or a member of the military who served, or are currently serving, in a combat zone, you may automatically qualify for a tax extension.  

• Often, the IRS will delay the Federal filing deadline in states affected by extreme weather conditions or storms. 

• The IRS offers payment plans for taxpayers who can’t afford to pay their tax by the deadline.  

• If you owe tax, you can pay quickly and securely via your IRS Online Account or IRS Direct Pay. 

Does an extension give me more time to pay my taxes?  

No. If you owe, you must pay by the filing deadline (or arrange a payment plan with the IRS). If you haven't paid your estimated balance due by April 15, 2026, the IRS could charge you interest and penalties. Nobody wants to pay more than they should. 

Will an extension help if I don't have the money to pay my taxes?  

No, an extension doesn’t put off your tax bill. However, if you can’t pay your taxes in full, you may qualify for an IRS Installment Agreement payment plan. These plans allow for up to 72 months to pay any balance you owe. Ask your Tax Pro about applying for an Installment Agreement plan. 

Will filing an extension delay my refund?  

Filing an extension will delay any refund until the return is filed. If you choose not to file a return because you feel you don’t earn enough to meet the filing requirement, you may miss out on receiving a refund for potentially eligible tax credits. Until you file your return, you can’t receive your refund. The most common examples of these refundable credits are the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit Taxpayers often fail to file a tax return and claim a refund for these credits and others for which they may be eligible. The IRS doesn’t impose a penalty for filing after the April deadline if a refund is due. However, some states do charge a penalty for late filing, even when there is a refund due. You can talk to one of our Tax Pros about your options if you think this may apply to you. 

Who may qualify for extra time to file and pay taxes in 2026?  

You may have also automatically qualified for extra time to file and pay taxes due without penalties and interest, if you are among these groups: 

• Members of the military who served, or are currently serving in a combat zone. You may qualify for an additional extension of at least 180 days to file and pay taxes. 

• Support personnel in combat zones or contingency operations in support of the Armed Forces. You may also qualify for a filing and payment extension of at least 180 days. 

• Certain disaster victims. Those who qualify have more time to file and pay what they owe. See below for more information. 

• If you live outside the U.S., are a U.S. citizen or resident alien who lives and works outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico or are an active-duty military member stationed or deployed outside of the U.S but not in a combat zone, you may qualify for an automatic two-month filing and payment extension. The IRS will charge interest on any taxes still owed after the original due date. 

Can extreme weather push back filing deadlines?  

Often, the IRS will delay the Federal filing deadline in states affected by extreme weather conditions or storms by declaring a Federally declared disaster zone. In 2024, the IRS extended the tax deadline for states affected by Helene (categorized as a hurricane, tropical storm, and post-tropical cyclone in different states) to May 1, 2025.  

The IRS also extended the tax deadline for Alaska to May 1, 2025, due to flooding, and extended the deadline for victims of hurricanes, mudslides, tornadoes, landslides, and other natural disasters in parts of Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Yor, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Washington. In 2025, the only tax deadline the IRS has extended so far is for those impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles, California. 

What if I’m out of the country?  

You may not need an extension to file your return after the Federal tax deadline if you’re out of the country. You automatically have two extra months (generally until June 15) to file and pay any tax due if: 

1. You’re living outside of the United States and Puerto Rico and your main place of business or post of duty is outside of the United States and Puerto Rico. 
   -or- 

1. You’re in military or naval service on duty outside of the United States and Puerto Rico. 

Payment plans  

The IRS has many options, including payment plans. Even if you can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of taxes owed, you should still file a tax return to reduce possible late-filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay.  

Paying electronically  

If you owe taxes, you can pay quickly and securely via your IRS Online Account, IRS Direct Pay, or you can apply online for a payment plan (Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request).If you pay electronically, you’ll receive immediate confirmation when you send your payment. With Direct Pay and the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), you can receive email notifications about your payments. A Jackson Hewitt Tax Pro can help you set these up. Have a question or concern about tax deadline extensions? Need help requesting an extension? Jackson Hewitt Tax Pros are here to help. Book your appointment to talk taxes today.

About the Author

Mark Steber is Senior Vice President and Chief Tax Officer for Jackson Hewitt. With over 30 years of experience, he oversees tax service delivery, quality assurance and tax law adherence. Mark is Jackson Hewitt’s national spokesperson and liaison to the Internal Revenue Service and other government authorities. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), holds registrations in Alabama and Georgia, and is an expert on consumer income taxes including electronic tax and tax data protection.

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