California Income Tax Extension

Option 1: If you do not anticipate owing California income taxes or receiving a CA tax refund by the tax deadline, you are not required to file for a CA tax extension. However, if you expect a CA tax refund, you must file or e-File your CA tax return to receive your refund.

Option 2: If you have eFiled a federal extension and do not owe California income taxes or expect a tax refund by the tax deadline, your accepted federal extension will serve as your state extension, eliminating the need to mail in Form FTB-3519.

Option 1: Pay all or some of your California income taxes online via: California Web Pay or via Official Payments.

Option 2: If you owe CA income taxes, you will either have to submit a CA tax return or extension by the tax deadline in order to avoid late filing penalties. You can only eFile and IRS tax extension, but not a California extension. The tax extension will only avoid late filing penalties until the October deadline.
Note: Unless you pay all your Taxes or eFile your tax return by the October deadline, the late filing penalties will start again after that deadline.

Option 3: Complete Form FTB-3519, include a Check or Money Order, and mail both to the address on Form FTB-3519. Important: Even if you filed an extension, you will still need to file your CA tax return either via eFile or by paper by the October deadline.

All California Tax Income Tax Return Deadlines

Important: If you owe California and/or IRS income taxes and fail to file an IRS and California tax return or extension by the Tax Due Date, you will incur IRS and CA late filing penalties. The IRS late filing penalty is usually higher than the late payment penalty. Estimate the IRS late filing and payment penalties. Moreover, if you fail to pay your taxes by the Tax deadline, you will be subject to late tax payment penalties. Filing an extension on time will ONLY eliminate the late filing penalties, not the late tax payment penalties.

e-File a Tax Extension for free on eFile.com. Here are instructions on whether you should consider a Tax Extension or not.

Discuss your extension questions and goals with a Taxpert for free and we will guide you through the process.