When should I file for an extension if I need more time.
Q) When should I file for an extension if I need more time.
A) According the the IRS: U.S. citizens and resident aliens who file calendar year returns are required to file a tax return by April 15. However, taxpayers who are overseas on the due date receive an automatic extension of two months (generally until June 15 for calendar year filers). If the last date for filing falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the return must be filed by the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. For your 2013 return to be considered timely filed, it must be postmarked by June 16, 2014. A tax return delivered by U.S. mail or a designated delivery service that is postmarked or dated by the delivery service on or before the due date is considered to have been filed. Keep your proof of international postage. You may want to consider using a designated delivery service to ensure the delivery of your international correspondence.
Because the IRS processes the first return it receives, if another person claims your dependent first, the IRS will reject your return. The IRS won’t tell you who claimed your dependent. But if you don’t suspect anyone who could have claimed the dependent, your dependent may be a victim of tax identity theft. You’ll need to take some steps to protect your right to claim the dependent and your refund if you don’t think that the other person was eligible to claim your dependent. First, double check that you meet all of the requirements to claim the dependent.
The IRS may delay your refund while the IRS looks into the issue, but you should still receive your refund. File a paper return. Note that when you file a paper return, it can take six to eight weeks for the IRS to process. This includes things like birth certificates and proof of identity, but also documents that show that your dependent lived with you at the same address for more than half of the year. This doesn’t mean that you can’t correct the situation. Don’t panic. The most important thing to remember is to prove with proper documentation that you are entitled to claim the dependent. Document your case as the IRS rules for claiming a dependent can get complicated.