Business Tax Filing Extensions: What They Do and Don’t Do
As a small business owner, tax season can be stressful, especially if you need extra time to organize your paperwork. Many entrepreneurs assume that filing a business tax extension payment deadline for small business automatically gives them more time to pay what they owe. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Understanding the difference between filing and payment deadlines is critical to avoid costly IRS penalties and interest. So, what is a business tax extension? A tax extension is a request to delay your filing deadline, not your payment deadline. For most businesses, this involves submitting IRS Form 7004 (or Form 4868 for sole proprietors) by your original due date so you get up to six extra months to submit your tax return. It’s a lifeline for busy entrepreneurs, but don’t confuse it with more time to pay what you owe.