How to Get a California State Tax Extension: A Step-by-Step Guide

Friday, 22 March 2024, 00:00

Learn how to delay filing your California state taxes until October without incurring late fees. Discover the various payment options available, including filing electronically or via mail. Find out how to submit form FTB 3519 and pay by check or money order to secure your extension. Lastly, explore strategies for postponing tax payments and potential penalties, including installment plans and one-time payment extensions.
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How to Get a California State Tax Extension: A Step-by-Step Guide

Need a California state tax extension to avoid paying late fees for the 2023 tax year?

File this, file that. Maybe you're not ready to file. That's okay -- the Golden State makes it easy to delay filing taxes. Whether you're waiting on a form or just need more time, you can delay filing your taxes until Oct. 15. (And if payments are a problem, you can delay those, too.)

To recap:

  • You can delay filing taxes, but you can't delay paying taxes, with few exceptions.
  • Read on to find out how to get a California state tax extension the right way.

Cheapest: Make extension payment via WebPay

So, you've decided to file taxes between April 15 and Oct. 15, 2024. There's one thing you need to do to avoid late fees, and that's make an extension payment. Extension payments can be made via a handful of ways, including bank transfer, credit card payment, or check. The cheapest way to pay is by using WebPay, the FTB's fast and free payment platform.

When in doubt, overpay. California will refund you for overpaying, but if you severely underpay your taxes, you could be on the hook for late fees.

If you submit your extension payment electronically, you don't need to fill out any other special forms.

Snail mail: File form FTB 3519

To submit a tax extension by mail, fill out the form FTB 3519 and submit it by April 15, 2024.

How to file form FTB 3519

  1. Fill out Form FTB 3519 with your personal information.
  2. Make your check or money order payable to 'Franchise Tax Board.'
  3. Write your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, the tax year, and 'Form FTB 3519' on the check or money order.
  4. Mail the envelope to the address provided on the form:
    Franchise Tax Board
    PO Box 942867
    Sacramento, CA 94267-0008

Submitting the form will prevent the FTB from charging you fees for late filing. Once you file your tax return, you'll be refunded for overpayment or charged for underpayment.

Easiest: Use tax-filing software to file a tax extension

Your tax preparation platform may file a California state tax extension for you.

How to delay paying taxes in 2024

Generally speaking, the longer you wait to pay post-deadline, the bigger the fees you'll owe. One notable exception is installment payments. If you meet the prerequisites, you can pay your state tax return in installments, spreading out payments over three to five years.

Still can't afford to pay taxes? File your taxes anyway. The penalty for filing late is much worse than the penalty for paying late. Better to file on time and pay late than to be late on both.


This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.


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