I think there should be an asterisk besides the term: "Free File."

Once upon a time, free file meant file all your taxes for free. Now, it's more like one of the two (whichever it may be) is free online and the other will cost you a lot more than the cost of paper, printing and postage. Wanna mail it in? Sure, we have a charge for that too!

How can it be an automatic extension if you have to request it?

Thank god I took the jump. There was so much content after the jump that it totally makes it worth the inconvince of having to click to read a full article.

File your late taxes, slacker, or the anxious-looking kittie dies...

I have a friend who hasn't filed her taxes and hasn't filed an extension either because she "knows" that she'll be getting money back, so it's all okay somehow. I don't think this is right, but since they aren't my taxes or my substantial penalties, I haven't looked.
Offhand, does anyone know if what she says is true?
Do you still have to file if you will be getting money back?

Awesome photo.

@marsneedsrabbits: If you are owed money, you can file past 4/15 w/o a penalty. However the IRS will look at your gross income vs your withholding and NOT count the standard deduction.

So either you're owed so woefully much that you're an idiot not to collect your money. Or you owe money, or appear to owe money as the IRS sees things, and they'll assess penalties until you prove them wrong. Either of these two lead to undue complications.

That's how a tax guy explained it to me, at any rate.

Bottom line, tell your friend to put down the freaken bong and file. Soon.

@trai_dep: Also, if you don't owe, you can file at any time without penalty.

Must be my turn now to say: YAY! CATURDAY!!! :)

i am actually owed money, but i am studying abroad in the uk, and forgot to file my taxes. how screwed am i if i dont do it by years end?

That cat looks ready to do damage.

@ceejeemcbeegee: Kewl. Good to know.

You should be able to charge them interest and penalties for losing people's refund checks. I'd say....300% APR is reasonable and $50,000 per lost check is reasonable.

If you're owed a refund, you have three years to request it by filing. So like if you haven't filed for 2006, you have until 4/15/10 (or whatever the actual filing date is that year) to do so.

The IRS says so.

I am a CPA in MA. Its an automatic 6 months because it used to be split into two separate extensions. One for 4 months and then you had to request another 2.