Filing Extension Online for Multiple People Requires Printing Form 4868 and Mailing it?

[TaxDonor1]

I am using Turbo Tax Premium to file for myself/wife, kids and a parent. I need to file extensions for everyone.

Within the program, it creates Form 4868 with instructions to mail it along with payments, as needed. That seems very primitive. 

I was then pointed to this Intuit site to submit it electronically, which I guess is a service they offer to everyone regardless of whether they purchased the product or not: https://easy-extension.turbotax.intuit.com/

I was able to do that for myself after entering information that the desktop product already has and purchasing the free version of TurboTax. But when I go back to that site to submit the extensions for other family members, I can't do so. Do I need to create a separate login for each person and purchase the free version for each of them? Can I use my contact email and phone for all of them or do I have to coordinate with each of them?

The IRS has this place to file and pay: https://directpay.irs.gov/

But if you don't have anything to pay, it won't work, and you can't pay unless you have historic information on their past filings to verify your identity. I simply want to enter the SSN and payment. 

So is printing paper and mail the best TurboTax has for my situation?

[MonikaK1]

The option to prepare an extension appears in Other Tax Forms under Other Tax Situations in both TurboTax Online and TurboTax Desktop. In TurboTax Online, the program links to the easy-extension website, whereas in Desktop, it prepares the extension form for printing.

Anyone who files for an extension is required to pay any estimated taxes due by the due date of the return. The extension is only to allow you to file up to 6 months after the deadline and not be assessed a late filing penalty. It doesn't extend the time to pay your tax. By filing your return on time, including extensions, you can avoid the penalty for late filing. Filing timely does not stop interest from accruing on any unpaid balance.

In completing the extension for another person, you can indicate that the payment is being made by check or other option where prompted. Each person whose extension is being prepared is responsible for their own payment. The IRS asks for additional information about the payer on the DirectPay website in order to help prevent identity theft.

See this TurboTax help article for more information about extensions.