Important: If you expect to owe federal taxes and cannot meet the mid-April filing deadline, it’s important to file an extension to avoid a late filing penalty.
- Extensions must be filed by the original April deadline (typically April 15).
- An extension only gives you more time to file your return, not more time to pay.
- Any taxes owed are still due by the April deadline, even if you file for an extension.
Failing to pay on time may result in penalties and interest, so it’s best to pay as much as you can by the deadline, even if you can’t pay the full amount.
If you cannot meet the April tax deadline and need to file an extension, you can do so by completing Form 4868 through Ramsey SmartTax. To find the applicable section in SmartTax, follow these steps:
- Federal
- Miscellaneous Forms
- Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File
- Complete extension information
- Go to Extension Payment
- Enter payment information (if applicable)
- E‑file Extension
Note: There is no fee for filing an extension. However, if you already have information in your account, you may have been upgraded to a Classic return for which the program is requesting payment. Remove the information and file with only the Basic Information to file the extension for free.
If you are unable to log in to SmartTax or experience other filing issues, you can also check out the IRS resources for additional information.
If you've consulted the IRS website and have more questions regarding Ramsey SmartTax, contact TaxSlayer—the company that powers Ramsey SmartTax—at 888-458-1112 or support@taxslayer.com, letting them know you are a SmartTax user.