IRS Form 8868 Application for Extension of Time to File an Exempt Organization Return or Excise Taxes Related to Employee Benefit Plans

Form 8868 Instructions

Follow these Form 8868 instructions to automatically apply for an extension to submit your return later:

1. Identify the exempt organization - write down its full name, correspondence address, and taxpayer identification number . Indicate the return code to specify the form the application is filed for - remember that you have to submit a separate extension instrument for every return. The list of codes is provided in the form - choose the correct one.

2. State the name of the corporate officer that currently holds accounting records or books or has formal authorization from your entity to discuss the information of this kind with the IRS . Add their telephone number and fax number as well. Put a tick in the appropriate box if your organization does not have a place of business or office in the country. Enter the group exemption number in case you file the papers for a group return - this part of the form is for organizations that did not receive tax-exempt status on their own and instead rely on the exemption granted to their parent organization. You will also need to enclose a list that identifies all the members of the group by their names and taxpayer identification numbers.

3. Confirm your intention to use your right for an automatic six-month extension . Specify the date that will become your new deadline - six months from the day you submit the paperwork. It is essential to record the calendar year the organization's return describes or the tax year - make sure the application contains all the necessary dates to ease the authorities' workload. In certain instances, the tax year is shorter than twelve months - you are obligated to explain why by checking the box whether this is the first return you will file, the final return due to the dissolution or liquidation, or there were changes to the accounting period.

4. If the conditions listed in the form apply to your situation, you need to indicate the amount of the tentative tax, refundable credits, tax payments you already made, and the balance due . You are supposed to attach a payment with the form if you owe any tax to the government.

Where to Mail Form 8868?

There are two ways to send Tax Form 8868 to tax authorities - e-filing and mailing the papers to a processing center. Electronic filing is recommended since it is the fastest and safest way to submit information to the IRS. However, the taxpayer is free to choose the filing method that suits them. Form 8868 mailing address you can use to submit the paperwork the traditional way is Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service Center, Ogden, UT 84201-0045 . Note that if you must file IRS Form 8870, Information Return for Transfers Associated With Certain Personal Benefit Contracts, the extension has to be requested via a paper instrument - e-filing is prohibited in this case.

As for the Form 8868 deadline, taxpayers are expected to file the instrument by May 15 of the year that follows the calendar year covered in their main return. Alternatively, it is allowed to outline a fiscal year - in this case, you have to submit the form by the fifteenth day of the fifth month after that year is over. There is no need to attach any copies to the Form 8868 extension - only an original document is required.