Lesson 13: Filing Deadlines and Extensions

Welcome to Lesson 13! We're diving into the thrilling world of filing deadlines and extension requests for federal estate tax returns. Knowing these deadlines and how to request an extension can help you dodge penalties and stay in the IRS's good books.

Filing Deadlines

The clock starts ticking as soon as the decedent passes away. You generally have nine months to file the federal estate tax return (Form 706). Missing this deadline can lead to late filing penalties and interest—no one wants that!

Note: For detailed information about When to File Form 706, please refer to Lesson 11.
The filing deadline is set by the IRS and is typically nine months after the decedent's death. Example: If a decedent passed away on January 1, the estate tax return is due by October 1 of the same year.

Requesting Extensions

An estate may request an extension to file Form 706 if it cannot meet the initial deadline. To request an extension, you must file IRS Form 4768, Application for Extension of Time to File a Return and/or Pay U.S. Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Taxes.
Important: An extension of time to file Form 706 does not extend the time to pay the estate tax. Failure to pay by the original due date may result in penalties and interest.

Visualizing Deadlines and Extensions

The following diagram explains the timeline for filing an estate tax return and requesting an extension:

graph TD A["Date of Death"] --> B["9 Months After Date of Death"] B -->|File Form 706| C["Submission to IRS"] B -->|Request Extension| D["Submit Form 4768"] D --> E["Extension Granted (6 Months)"] E -->|File Form 706| F["Submission to IRS"]

Key Points

  • The default filing deadline for Form 706 is nine months after the decedent's death.
  • An extension to file does not mean an extension to pay – taxes are still due by the original deadline to avoid penalties.
  • Request an extension by filing Form 4768 before the original filing deadline.

For more details on the federal estate tax return process, refer to our Complete Guide to Form 706.

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