No, you can't get an extension, but the IRS gives you plenty of time to amend a return that you filed.
Generally speaking, you have 3 years from the date you filed the return (or 2 years from the date you paid the tax due on the return — whichever is later) to file an amended return.
Here are a few examples for 2022 tax year returns:
- If you filed on January 31, 2023 (before the April deadline) and owed no tax, you'd have until April 16, 2025 to file an amended 2022 return.
- This is because returns filed on or before the April 15 deadline are considered to have been filed on the deadline.
- However, if you filed after the April deadline (say, on August 1, 2023), you'd have three years from that date to file an amendment (August 1, 2026 in this example).
- If you filed on March 21, 2023 and paid additional tax due on that date, you'd have until March 21, 2026 to file an amended 2022 return.
- This is because three years from the filing date (March 21, 2026) is later than two years from the payment date (March 21, 2025).
- If you filed on April 15, 2023 but didn't pay the additional tax due until March 31, 2024, you'll have until April 26, 2025 to file an amended 2022 return.
- That's because three years from the filing date (April 26, 2026) is later than two years from the payment date (March 31, 2026).
