What to Do If You Can’t File Your Taxes on Time in California

Life gets busy—especially in California, where juggling work, family, and everyday chaos can make April 15 sneak up on you. If you’re not ready to file your taxes, don’t panic. Here’s exactly what to do if you can’t file your taxes on time for both the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB).

1. File an Extension—It’s Easy (and Free!)

If you need more time to prepare your tax return, you can file for an automatic extension. This gives you until October 15, 2025, to file your federal and state returns.

For Federal Taxes (IRS):

• Use Form 4868 – You can file it online using tax software or mail a paper version.

• Make a payment if you owe – An extension to file is not an extension to pay. Interest and penalties start accruing after April 15 if you don’t pay enough.

For California (FTB):

• No form needed! California automatically grants a 6-month extension to file (until October 15), as long as you pay your tax by April 15.

• If you owe money and don’t pay by April 15, you’ll owe penalties and interest.

2. Estimate and Pay What You Owe

Even if you don’t have all your paperwork ready, estimate your tax bill and make a payment by April 15. You’ll avoid the Failure-to-Pay penalty, which is usually 0.5% per month on the unpaid amount (up to 25%).

California has similar rules, with interest added to any unpaid tax starting from April 15.

3. Know the Penalties

If you don’t file or pay on time, you could face two separate penalties:

• Failure to File: 5% of the tax owed per month (up to 25%)

• Failure to Pay: 0.5% per month (IRS), plus interest

California’s FTB applies similar penalties. Filing something on time is always better than doing nothing.

4. File as Soon as You Can

Even if you miss the April 15 deadline and didn’t file an extension, don’t delay. File as soon as possible to stop the late-filing penalties from piling up.

5. What If You’re Getting a Refund?

Good news: there’s no penalty for filing late if you’re owed a refund. But you still need to file within 3 years to claim it.

Still worried? Contact us today and we’ll help you avoid penalties and keep the IRS and FTB off your back.