IRS offering six-month extension to file tax returns

People who need extra time to prepare and file their federal income tax return can seek an automatic six-month extension, but they need to do so by April 18.

IRS spokesman William Brunson said that out of an estimated 17.6 million Californians who will file income tax returns this year, nearly 2 million will request extensions. An extension gives someone until Oct. 17 to file their return, but it does not change the Monday deadline for paying an estimate of taxes owed.

To request an extension, taxpayers can go to the IRS Free File website at www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free, or by filing IRS Form 4868, available online at www.irs.gov/uac/About-Form-4868.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 5:44 PM with the headline "IRS offering six-month extension to file tax returns."