Turn These 3 Days into 4 Months

Say you meant to file your taxes early, but you kept that to-do list item on the back burner for a couple of months now, and, lo and behold, it’s T minus three days till the deadline. Don’t fret. Whether you’re in over your head or you’re a perfectionist who just doesn’t want to scramble, you can still file -- for an extension. The deadline? Also this Friday.

An extension will buy you an extra four months. Yes, four months. And you can file for one by phone, fax or computer. The IRS does not charge a fee for this service. Here’s what you need to do:

• Download form 4868, aptly titled “Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,” at IRS.gov.

• With your filled-out 4868 form in hand, you can call the IRS at this toll-free line especially set up for extension requests: 1-888-796-1074. You can pay for any expected balance due to the IRS through this number, too. Just be sure to have your bank routing number and your adjusted gross income from your 2003 tax return (for identity verification) ready if you’d like to do so.

• Rather do it by fax? Use the IRS TaxFax by calling 703-368-9694 and requesting item #13141 by return fax.

• Want to e-file your request? You will need to use either your tax preparation software or go to a tax preparer. Be sure to print and keep the request acknowledgement you get from the IRS Web site for your own records.

And if you’re a citizen living and working outside of the country, you probably already know that you are especially privileged; you’ve got an automatic extension until June 15, and you can get an additional two months if you ask for an extension by that date. But if you’re on vacation abroad, don’t get too excited; you still need to file either an extension or your return by this Friday.

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