# 4868 form: fill out and sign online, free

> Form 4868 is the Internal Revenue Service's "Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return." In its words: "A U.S. citizen or resident files this form to request an automatic extension of time to file a U.S. individual income tax return." (IRS, About Form 4868)

Page: https://pdfinish.com/forms/4868
Last updated: October 26, 2026

## 4868 at a glance

- **Agency:** Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- **What it is for:** A U.S. citizen or resident files this form to request an automatic extension of time to file a U.S. individual income tax return.
- **Who fills it:** A U.S. citizen or resident, as the IRS describes it.
- **Who it goes to:** See the instructions printed on the form for the three ways to request the extension, and where to send it if you mail it.
- **Signature:** The form has no signature line.
- **Revision:** 2025
- **Last checked:** October 26, 2026
- **Official form (PDF):** https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf
- **Official instructions:** https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868

## What the agency says

- The IRS says on the form that there are three ways to request an automatic extension, and that you should “Don’t mail in Form 4868 if you file electronically, unless you’re making a payment with a check or money order.” It also says you can “Complete Form 4868 to use as a worksheet.” The IRS page also lists Free File software for requesting an extension electronically. (Source: [IRS, Form 4868 (printed on the form)](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf))

## How to fill it out

1. **Open the form.** Press Fill it now. The form opens in Finish PDF in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
2. **Type in the boxes.** Click a box and type, or tick a checkbox. Add your signature in the Sign step and press Lock to put your entries into the page.
3. **Save your copy.** Name the file and download it. Your original blank form is never changed.

## Common questions

### Is the 4868 form free to fill out here?

Free to start. Your 2 free uses in total need no account. Filling in a form and signing it are free; the file you download counts as one of your free uses. After that, start your 7-day free trial of Pro or buy Pro for $2.99 a month.

### Is my information uploaded?

No. The form is filled in your browser and never uploaded, so what you type, including any Social Security number or other tax ID, stays on your device. We do not record what you type.

### Is this the latest version of Form 4868?

It is the version the agency listed as current when we last checked on 2026-10-26: 2025. We compare our copy with the agency's every week. If the agency updates the form, this page says so and points to the official link until we update ours.

### Can I sign the 4868 electronically?

Whether an electronic signature is accepted is up to whoever asked you for the form, unless the agency says otherwise. Check the agency's instructions at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868. PDFinish places a picture of your signature on the page; it is not a certificate-based digital signature.

### Where do I send the 4868?

In the agency's words: See the instructions printed on the form for the three ways to request the extension, and where to send it if you mail it. Read the agency's instructions at https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868.

### What do I put in each box of the 4868?

We do not tell you what to enter. The agency's own instructions explain each line: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4868.

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Also searched as: Form 4868, 4868 extension form, tax extension form, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File, IRS extension form.

PDFinish is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. The forms are the agency's own, unchanged. General information, not tax, legal or immigration advice.