California Income Tax Extension

Should You File a California Tax Extension?

Determine whether you owe CA taxes by the Tax Day or if you expect a tax refund and then follow the suggestions below.

Extension Situation
Extension Suggestion
California Tax Refund

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.

Owe California Taxes

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.

California Income Tax Calculator
California Tax Deadlines
Tax Penalties
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.
Taxpert®
Discuss your extension questions and goals with a Taxpert for free and we will guide you through the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a CA tax extension?

A California tax extension grants a 6 months extension from the original tax due date.

You will need to e-file a tax extension on or before April 15, 2024.

No, if you do not anticipate owing California income taxes or you will receive a CA tax refund by the tax deadline, you are not required to file for a CA tax extension.

Here are the different options to file a CA Extension:

  1. Pay all or some of your California income taxes online via: California Web Pay or via Official Payments.
  2. You will either have to submit a CA tax return or extension by the tax deadline.
  3. Complete Form FTB-3519, include a Check or Money Order.

No, if you have eFiled a federal extension and do not owe California income taxes by the tax deadline, your accepted federal extension will serve as your state extension.

The late filing penalty is 5% of the amount due, calculated from the original due date of your tax return. This penalty applies for each month or partial month that the amount remains unpaid, after accounting for any payments or credits made by the original due date. The maximum penalty is capped at 25% of the total amount due.

  • Note: a tax extension is an extension to file, not payments owed.

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