File Extension from Desktop Version

[user17752394338]

You are right. After calling TurboTax in vane, that is what I did. 

[user17762079480]

You can file an extension from the desktop software. Go to Forms on upper right, Open Forms, search for extension, choose Form 4868, make sure the numbers are correct, print it, send it in. I do it off of the file I have open so the info is correct. Save it with your tax file.

[Fabri-geek]

I understand your answer - but it seems absurd that I have to get 99% thru my return, then to file an extension - start a separate return simply to get an extension. 

I don't want to have "multiple" sets of records simply because Intuit is trying to push the users away from the Desktop model. (If Intuit were forward thinking - they'd create a Linux version of TT...that being said, if it makes sense, it'll never happen). 

[cbirckhe]

Your help link you provided merely tells the user to Search Extension for the Desktop version. And when you search for help there is NO help to instruct you on how to File an Extension in the Desktop version.  I know that filing an extension used to be a feature in this product!!!

I've used this product for decades and it is really going downhill!  I had to switch to Tax Act to complete my return because you don't support form  8997!  Even filing an extension is a hassle.  A complete waste of money this year!

[RV1118]

I'm using Turbo Tax Deluxe 2025.  I do not see a "Search Topics" to select!

[Alipali333]

If there's a way to electronically file the  Federal extension from the desktop version, the software certainly doesn't make it easy to find. In fact, I can't **bleep**ing find it despite going online. Looking for guidance several times. And then having to go to these stupid forums where I have to verify and sign in 17 different times. I attempted to file an extension and the only option it gives me is to print it out and mail it. 

Despite trying to follow the prompts of the so-called help, I cannot figure out how to file electronically. I know I must be able to or at least I should be able to but this piece of crap software does not give me that option. Anybody from TurboTax cares it all about their customer's experience they should monitor these forums and FIX this **bleep**. (Yeah its quarter to midnight on 4/14 so im not in a great mood). Ive been a TurboTax customer for over ten years now because yeah, its sticky...which means ive spent over $1k on a **bleep**ty ux. Every year I say this will be the last year....

[ScubaGT63]

but it doesnt autofill the amounts from your in progress tax return if you have one and just want a bit more time to review.... and from within turbotax premier desktop there is no obvious way to file an extension although i was able to create form 4868 from the forms tab- turbotax really does not make it easy to file an extensin so im now doing it outside of turbotax -- likewise for a state extension

[ScubaGT63]

i followed these instructions 

TurboTax Desktop

• Open or continue your return.

• In Search Topics, search for extend.

• Answer Yes on the Applying for an Extension screen and then select Continue.

• Follow the instructions to prepare, print, and mail your 4868 form.
  
  and in search topics nothing useful comes up when you search extend- nothing that allows to answer Yes per the above

   or rather i cannot locate "SEARCH TOPICS"

[Alipali333]

Thank you for this - it worked and i was able to file electronically. Of course i had to redo it three times because of "errors" but got there in the end. Shouldn't be this challenging and shouldn't have to search in the help section to figure out how to do something that should be so easy but thanks to YOU who posted 

[neelycpa]

I filed the extension with a payment , but I do not see this information in my tax return now. Why not?

[HarveySchmidlapp]

I'm jumping in here as a supporter of having Intuit add the ability to e-file an extension to the desktop version of TurboTax. It's really frustrating to have a desktop package that does so much but a simple thing like that gets left off. And it's clear that they know how to do it, or their on-line version wouldn't work, either. At the very least, it would be helpful if, when you get to that part to enter the things for the extension form (which SHOULD be autofilled but with the ability to override them) it should tell you "Don't bother looking for a way to e-file this. It doesn't exist." All their online help should also say, while the form can be generated by the desktop version of the software, it CANNOT be e-filed from there, so while it isn't quite useless, it's close.

I did bite the bullet and filed an extension using the online version. I was tempted to do it on the IRS e-file site, instead, but I didn't. I'm finding that TurboTax seems to be pushing a little harder on selling the extras every year. Even the fact that I don't have physical installation media is annoying to me. This is my tenth year using TurboTax. Before I started using it I used an online service at taxact.com and I will consider going back to that next year.

[mesquitebean]

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@neelycpa wrote:

I filed the extension with a payment , but I do not see this information in my tax return now. Why not?

---

The extension payment may or may not show up automatically in the return depending on how you filed it, and we don't know your method.  Regardless of how the extension request was filed, people should always check the return interview's extension topic to see that it shows up correctly there, and if not, they can manually enter it there.   We can tell you how to get to that topic, but I don't know if you are using Online TurboTax or desktop software.   

We can also tell you how to view the forms to confirm the extension payment shows up in the total amount shown on the Form 1040, Line 31.   The extension payment first appears on Schedule 3, Line 10, then that section's total (Schedule 3, Part 2, Line 15) flows to the Form 1040, Line 31.   If you are using Online TurboTax, we can tell you how to view the Form 1040 and the Schedule 3.   If you are using desktop TurboTax, you have the benefit of Forms Mode.

Also, depending on how recently you filed and paid, you should see evidence of the payment in your online IRS account (if you have one.)  That can take 2-3 days or so, or it might show evidence of the payment, but that it's still being processed.

[julie56]

those instructions do not allow you to do an online extension they instruct you to mail a form; if you want to do an electronic extension they are forcing you back to the online free extension and by the way the instructions to type the work extend from the topic list does not work

[strammel]

You should be able to e-file the extension from the Desktop App. Please make that happen for the next release.

[SharonD007]

The extension gives you until October 15, 2026, to file your taxes without getting a failure to file penalty.  You don't get extra time to pay your taxes so you must pay any taxes that you may have that are due by April 15, 2026, so you won't be assessed the failure to pay penalty.

Refer to the TurboTax Help article How do I file an IRS tax extension? for instructions. If you need to file a state extension, review the article How do I file an extension for my personal state taxes?