2009 tax extension filed
As I begin writing, there are 7 more days before the traditional tax due date. I've known my rough tax estimate since January but I finally took the time to download every statement to enter into TaxAct. For a few bank accounts, the 1099s are undoubtedly at my U.S. mailing address but it was easy enough to look through the online statements and add up the interest. I am missing the details for my rental investment expenses but since I don't qualify for taking deductions for losses this year, those missing details won't change what I will owe for 2009. I do owe money so I have to file for an extension and pay my bill by April 15. (Those due refunds have plenty of time.)
My first inclination was to do it online. The IRS does allow FreeFile for extensions regardless of income. But when I went to look at the requirements, I was a bit puzzled. I used TaxAct last year to eFile but I can't remember if I made a PIN or not. I checked out TaxAct but it only had eFile for Form 4868 versus 2350. Then my mom called me about other matters and mentioned she was heading to the IRS the next day. Since Form 2350 is quite simple to fill out, I decided I would print, sign, scan and email it to my mom for her to hand to the IRS. In addition, I asked her to write a check for me to cover the minor dollars and I would immediately repay her using online bill pay. The toughest part was running to my office (3 flights of stairs down, 6 flights up) to use the printer, bringing the document back home for my wife to sign, heading back again to the office to scan it and one final trip home to call my mom. Whew ... that was some nice exercise.
California taxes will be easier for me to deal with. California automatically grants filing extensions until October 15. Just like for federal taxes, I have to pay what I likely will owe by April 15. However, the FTB website has options for both ACH deduction and credit card payments -- no need for tax programs or eFile partners. Good thing because my state tax bill is much bigger than federal due to the lack of an overseas deduction and I did not want to ask my mom to write such a big check for me.
I'm planning to be back in the U.S. in the next few months. One of my tasks will be to go through all my tax documents and applicable receipts to scan those that I am missing. With that info on hand, I will be able to generate and file my final tax return -- hopefully with no extra money due.
My first inclination was to do it online. The IRS does allow FreeFile for extensions regardless of income. But when I went to look at the requirements, I was a bit puzzled. I used TaxAct last year to eFile but I can't remember if I made a PIN or not. I checked out TaxAct but it only had eFile for Form 4868 versus 2350. Then my mom called me about other matters and mentioned she was heading to the IRS the next day. Since Form 2350 is quite simple to fill out, I decided I would print, sign, scan and email it to my mom for her to hand to the IRS. In addition, I asked her to write a check for me to cover the minor dollars and I would immediately repay her using online bill pay. The toughest part was running to my office (3 flights of stairs down, 6 flights up) to use the printer, bringing the document back home for my wife to sign, heading back again to the office to scan it and one final trip home to call my mom. Whew ... that was some nice exercise.
California taxes will be easier for me to deal with. California automatically grants filing extensions until October 15. Just like for federal taxes, I have to pay what I likely will owe by April 15. However, the FTB website has options for both ACH deduction and credit card payments -- no need for tax programs or eFile partners. Good thing because my state tax bill is much bigger than federal due to the lack of an overseas deduction and I did not want to ask my mom to write such a big check for me.
I'm planning to be back in the U.S. in the next few months. One of my tasks will be to go through all my tax documents and applicable receipts to scan those that I am missing. With that info on hand, I will be able to generate and file my final tax return -- hopefully with no extra money due.
(Filed in taxes)
Turns out the IRS only accepts original signatures only so my scanned copies were not accepted. The only way I could file for an extension by paper would be to bring it to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate -- the closest of which is 3 hours away in Guangzhou. So I decided to try TaxAct again. After reading up on Form 4868, I decided what the hell ... just use that for my extension. Extension filed and taxes paid online.