Need an Extension Filing Your Idaho Income Tax Return?

BOISE, Idaho (News Release) – If you can’t file your 2015 Idaho individual income tax return by the April 18 due date, you may be eligible to get an automatic, six-month extension if you pay enough of your total tax.

To qualify, you need to pay either an estimated 80 percent of the tax you owe for 2015 or 100 percent of your total state income taxes reported on your 2014 tax return by Monday, April 18.

An automatic extension means you don’t have to file a written request. However, an extension of time to file your return isn’t an extension of time to pay your tax. With a valid extension, you can avoid a penalty for filing late, but you’ll be charged 4 percent interest annually on the remaining tax until it’s paid.

Complete the worksheet on Idaho Form 51, Estimated Payment of Idaho Individual Income Tax, to see if you owe additional tax beyond the payments you may have made or amounts that may have been withheld from your paychecks or unemployment checks. Form 51 is available on the Idaho State Tax Commission’s website at tax.idaho.gov and in the 2015 Idaho income tax packet.

To make a payment and avoid being charged a penalty, you can mail Form 51 with your check or money order, make a credit card payment through the Tax Commission website (see “E-pay” page at tax.idaho.gov/epay), or make a payment at any Tax Commission office.

If you qualify for an extension to file, your Idaho return and any additional tax payment must be postmarked by Oct. 17.

For more information, call the Tax Commission toll-free at 800-972-7660.