When it comes to tax deadlines, filing tax returns in a timely manner is very important. Some of the more common deadlines that people are familiar with are:

  • March 15 Deadline – Partnership Form 1065 & S Corporation Form 1120-S business returns
  • April 15 Deadline – Personal Form1040 & Corporate Form 1120 returns.

Missing these deadlines can lead to very expensive penalties. But meeting these original deadlines can also be difficult for many reasons, such as the bookkeeping for a business not being completed or not receiving necessary forms and schedules needed to file an accurate tax return.

If you are facing a similar delay, your tax professional at KT may recommend filing an extension for your tax return(s).

What is an Extension?

An extension is a form that is filed to do just what the name implies: extend the original due date for the filing of your tax return(s). If proper paperwork is filed with the IRS by March 15 (Form 1065 and Form 1120-S) or by April 15 (Form 1040 and Form 1120), the IRS will allow the extended filing deadline to be September 15 and October 15, respectively.

Note – There is no extension of time to pay taxes, only to file taxes.

Some people get nervous when they hear the word “extension.” They think it will put them front and center on the IRS’ radar (i.e., raise a red flag), or it will mean much more work for both the preparer of the tax return and the taxpayer than not filing the extension. On the contrary, there are several reasons for filing for an extension of time to file a tax return.

Benefits of Extension

One benefit of an extension is cash flow. For example, let’s say you file a Form 1120S tax return, and you choose to make a $10,000 simplified employee pension (SEP) retirement plan contribution on behalf of yourself the owner and/or the employees. Without an extension, the contribution is due no later than the original due date of the tax return, March 15.

Let’s also assume you have property taxes due April 30, sales taxes due on April 20, and your personal tax return payment due by April 15. The SEP contribution could hamper cash flow, so by filing an extension, the due date of the tax return and the SEP contribution are moved to September 15. This gives you extra time to put money in the retirement plan while still enjoying the benefit of the income tax deduction for the prior tax year.

Another benefit is that an extension allows for additional time for tax planning to see if the SEP contribution noted earlier is wanted or needed or if prior year expenses should be accelerated or delayed. Tax laws affecting your current tax return can also change during the extension period, especially in the 2026 tax year when it’s possible there will be several tax law changes occurring.

From a client service standpoint, the January 1 – April 15 time period is very busy for us tax professionals. An extension gives us the time to provide the tax advisory services that go above and beyond the process of preparing your tax return(s).

And for businesses, with 1099 filing deadlines right after the first of the year, filing an extension for a business helps ease the stress of tax filing deadlines during tax season.

As you can see, filing an extension has many benefits and very little, if any, negative consequences. However, we recommend consulting with a tax professional at KT to discuss if filing an extension is the right course of action for you.