IRS Extension 2020

[Robocop2020]

i directpay-ed on IRS with a reason "extension", payment type: 4868. I received an automatic confirmation number. Is this confirmation number the same as extension approval?

[Opus 17]

No, you must also file form 4868. Paying is not the same as filing the form. TurboTax is usually able to file a form 4868 electronically starting sometime in March.

[Robocop2020]

Hi,

I am a little bit confused. On the irs website, it says that you can file for automatic extension by making a direct payment and selection as a reason “extension”. 
see below:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/oc-electronic-payment-and-automatic-extension.pdf

am I reading this wrong ? 

[Opus 17]

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@Robocop2020 wrote:

Hi,

I am a little bit confused. On the irs website, it says that you can file for automatic extension by making a direct payment and selection as a reason “extension”. 
see below:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/oc-electronic-payment-and-automatic-extension.pdf

am I reading this wrong ? 

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You are correct, although this is something I never heard of before.  I don't know when this started but it seems like a smart idea. Here is the IRS page instead of a press release. 

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return

If you use Turbotax to file the 4868, TT will remember your payment and automatically apply it.  If you made a separate payment, you will need to manually add the payment.