Filing your tax returns on time is important to avoid penalties for tardiness. In most cases, this means you'll have to submit your 1040 forms by April 15, which is usually tax day. If the 15th is on a weekend or a holiday, your forms will be due on the next business day.

及时填写纳税申报单对避免因迟到而受到处罚很重要。在大多数情况下，这意味着你必须在4月15日(通常是缴税日)之前提交你的1040份表格。如果15号是周末或假日，你的表格将在下一个工作日提交。

Unfortunately, sometimes things come up and it becomes difficult or impossible for you to make the deadline. If you're worried that will happen to you, it's easy to request an extension of the time to file. However, there are some important caveats to be aware of, including the fact that a delay in the filing deadline doesn't allow you to pay your taxes late without incurring a penalty.

不幸的是，有时会出现一些事情，让你很难或不可能在截止日期前完成。如果你担心这样的事情会发生在你身上，申请延长报税时间是很容易的。然而，有一些重要的注意事项需要注意，包括延迟报税截止日期将不允许您在不受到惩罚的情况下迟交税款。

Here's what you need to know about how to file a tax extension and what the implications are of doing so.

以下是你需要知道的关于如何申请税务延期以及这样做的影响。

Image source: Getty Images.How can you request more time to complete your tax returns?

图片来源:Getty Images。你如何要求更多时间填写报税表?

If you are an individual tax filer and you need a tax extension, you simply have to submit a single form to the IRS: Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return [opens PDF].

如果你是个人纳税申报者，你需要税务延期，你只需要向美国国税局提交一张表格:表格4868，申请自动延长美国个人所得税申报时间[打开PDF]。

The form can be filed via mail or you can e-file it at no cost using Free File. When you submit it, you're granted an automatic extension of your tax filing deadline. You don't have to wait for the IRS to approve your request for more time.

表格可以通过邮件归档，或者你也可以使用免费文件将其电子归档。当你提交的时候，你会自动延长你的纳税申报截止日期。你不必等待美国国税局批准你延长时间的请求。

However, you must submit your Form 4868 by the normal due date for your returns in order to get your extension. So if you want to delay filing your 2020 taxes, you will have to request more time before April 15, 2021 when your 1040 forms would otherwise be due.

然而，你必须在正常的截止日期前提交你的表格4868，以便获得延期。因此，如果你想推迟提交2020年纳税申报，你必须在2021年4月15日之前申请更多时间，否则你的1040表格将到期。

You also have the option to request an extension if you pay your estimated income taxes in full using Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), or using a credit or debit card. If you indicate you need an extension when you make your estimated tax payment, you won't need to file Form 4868 just to get more time to file your returns.How long is the tax extension for?

如果你使用直接支付、电子联邦纳税系统(EFTPS)或信用卡或借记卡全额支付你的预估所得税，你也可以选择请求延期。如果你在报税时指出需要延期，你就不需要填写4868表格来获得更多的时间来报税。税的延期是多长时间?

When you request an extension of time to file your taxes, you will have until Oct. 15 to complete and submit your returns. Again, if Oct. 15 falls on a weekend or on a holiday, the deadline will be on the next business day. You still must pay your taxes on time

当你要求延长报税时间时，你可以在10月15日之前完成并提交纳税申报单。同样，如果10月15日恰逢周末或节假日，截止日期将在下一个工作日。你还是得按时交税

An extension gives you more time to file a tax return but it doesn't change the deadline when payments are due. If you owe the IRS money, you should pay it on or before the April deadline. Failure to do so could result in accruing penalties and interest.

延期会让你有更多时间提交纳税申报单，但不会改变到期付款的截止日期。如果你欠美国国税局的钱，你应该在4月最后期限之前付清。如果不这样做，可能会招致罚款和利息。

There is one exception to this general rule, though. If you've paid in at least 90% of the amount you owe the IRS by April 15 and you requested an extension of the filing deadline prior to tax day, you will avoid the customary failure-to-pay penalty. You'll have to pay your outstanding balance before the October extended deadline though. Always file your taxes or request an extension by the deadline

不过，这个普遍规律有一个例外。如果你在4月15日之前已经支付了至少90%的欠款，并且在纳税日前要求延长报税截止日期，你将避免习惯性的未支付罚款。但你必须在10月份延期的最后期限之前支付你的未偿余额。总是在最后期限前报税或申请延期

If you're worried about your ability to file or pay your taxes, it's best to be proactive and request an extension. It's also important to file your returns by the April or October deadline even if you cannot pay the full amount due. That's because the failure to file penalty is substantially higher than the penalty imposed just for failure to pay.

如果你担心自己的报税能力，最好主动提出申请延期。同样重要的是，即使你不能支付全部到期金额，你也要在4月或10月的截止日期前提交申报表。这是因为，未提交罚款的数额远远高于仅因未支付罚款的数额。

When possible, you should get both your payments and returns submitted by April so you don't have taxes hanging over your head well into the subsequent year. But if you can't do that, just make sure to let the IRS know that you need until October to get things done -- and then set aside the time to be sure you hit that extended deadline to avoid potentially serious financial consequences.

如果可能的话，你应该在4月份之前收到付款和纳税申报单，这样你就不会在接下来的一年里一直背负着沉重的税收负担。但如果你做不到，一定要让IRS知道你需要到10月份才能把事情办好，然后留出时间确保你在延长的截止日期前完成工作，以避免潜在的严重财务后果。