How to Ask for a Tax Extension

What is a tax extension and who can apply for one?

Denia Pérez

Mar 20, 2026

Sometimes individuals need an extension to file their taxes. Photo: Associated Press

The filing deadline for taxes is fast approaching. April 15 is the date by which everyone who has earned income over $400 for the year through self-employment or $15,750 or more in gross income needs to file taxes in the U.S. But what if you need extra time?

This guide will explain the purpose of a tax extension and how you can ask for one if you need more time to file your 2025 taxes.

Also read: How to File Personal Income Tax in New York City

Immigration News, Curated

Sign up to get our curation of news, insights on big stories, job announcements, and events happening in immigration.

Why Is It Important to Pay Taxes?

Everyone from individuals to businesses, nonprofits and even local governments have to pay federal taxes. The money collected is used to pay for a variety of public goods and services like transportation, medicaid, and social security benefits. Regardless of your immigration status, it is important to pay taxes. Not doing so can have negative consequences that include penalties and in some cases, jail.

Also read: What Immigrants Should Know About the IRS-ICE Deal This Tax Season

How Do I File for an Extension?

Years After Pandemic, Immigrant Healthcare Workers Demand Better Wages and Workplace Protections

BY Amir Khafagy

Jun 22, 2026

If you won’t be able to file your taxes by April 15, you can ask the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for an extension. The extension gives you more time to file your taxes. With an extension, the new deadline by which you must file your taxes is Oct.15.

These are four ways to apply for an extension:

By paying what you estimate that you owe on this IRS platform and checking the box that you are paying as part of filing for an extension.
By using IRS Free File, a free software program for people of all incomes to use to file taxes and ask for an extension.
By mail, using Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
If you were affected by a natural disaster, you may be eligible for even more time and can click here for more information.

Filing your taxes doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you need more time, you can ask for an extension and if you need support finding a tax preparation site, you can find one near you by also reading: 2026 Tax Prep in New York City: Get Help Filing for Free.

community

Denia Pérez

Denia Pérez is the Latino Community Correspondent at Documented. She is an immigration lawyer by training and longtime activist in the immigrants' rights movement. Denia's experience as a DACAmented person and her parents' experience in removal proceedings profoundly impacted her desire to attend law school and serve her community. In 2018, she became the first DACAmented person admitted to the Connecticut bar and has dedicated her professional life since then to ensuring that policies and resources for the undocumented and Latino community are created with intention and input from those communities. She is excited to apply her policy and legal expertise to this role and deepen her connection to the NYC Latino community.

Support Trusted Journalism Made With and For Immigrants

Documented is the only New York City newsroom centering the voices of immigrant communities. Each week, we bring immigrants critical multilingual reporting on local and national news impacting their lives.

Our community doesn’t just shape our reporting – it sustains it.

If you appreciated this article and want to help our nonprofit newsroom uplift immigrants’ stories, will you support our work and donate today?

Thank you for the time,
Mazin Sidahmed
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Documented

Donate to Documented