Can we file for Federal extension and still claim state refund immediately?
So my wife and I realized we definitely owe federal taxes this year (ugh, totally miscalculated our withholding). We're planning to file for a federal extension since we need more time to come up with the money we owe. But here's the thing - our state calculations show we're actually getting a decent refund there (about $842). I'm wondering if it's possible to go ahead and file our state return now to get that refund coming our way, while still using the extension for our federal return? Or do we have to wait until we file the federal return in October to also file the state? Really hoping to get that state refund sooner rather than later since it would actually help us pay what we owe to the feds! Anyone dealt with this situation before? Our tax situation isn't super complicated - just W-2 income, mortgage interest deduction, and some charitable contributions. Thanks for any advice!
19 comments
Join the conversation
Jamal Carter
Yes, you can absolutely file your state return while extending your federal return! These are two separate processes and there's no requirement that you file them simultaneously. When you file for a federal extension using Form 4868, you're only extending the time to file your federal return, not the time to pay what you owe. You'll still need to estimate and pay your federal tax liability by the original deadline to avoid penalties and interest. The extension just gives you until October 15th to submit the actual paperwork. For your state return, since you're owed a refund, it makes perfect sense to file that now. There's no reason to delay getting your money back. Just make sure you have all the information you need for an accurate state return, since some states do require information from your federal return to complete their forms.
0 coins
Zoe Papadakis
•Thanks for the quick response! That's really helpful. Just to be clear - when I'm filling out my state return, it sometimes asks for numbers from specific lines on the federal return. Since I haven't completed the federal return yet (just estimated), should I just use my best estimate of what those federal numbers will be?
0 coins
Jamal Carter
•You should complete your federal return calculations even if you're not filing it yet. This way, you'll have accurate numbers to transfer to your state return. You don't need to officially submit the federal return, but having it prepared will ensure your state return is correct. If your state requires actual federal AGI or other specific line items, using estimates could potentially lead to having to amend your state return later if those numbers change when you finalize your federal return in October. Most tax software will actually let you complete both returns and just hold off on submitting the federal one while filing the state.
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
I was in a similar situation last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was super helpful for figuring out this exact problem! I had calculated that I owed fed taxes but was due a state refund and wasn't sure if I could file separately. The tool analyzed my tax documents and confirmed I could file my state return immediately while extending federal. It also helped me figure out exactly how much I needed to pay with my extension to avoid penalties. Saved me from making some mistakes on my estimated payment!
0 coins
Mei Liu
•How exactly does taxr.ai work? Like do you have to upload all your tax documents or just answer questions? I'm curious because I've never heard of it before and I'm in a similar situation.
0 coins
Liam O'Sullivan
•Does it actually estimate both your federal and state taxes separately? I've used TurboTax before and it does both but won't let me file just one without the other which is frustrating.
0 coins
AstroAdventurer
•It works by analyzing your tax documents through their secure upload system. You can upload W-2s, 1099s, and other tax forms, and it extracts all the relevant information automatically. Much faster than answering a bunch of questions! The system handles federal and state calculations separately, so you can see exactly what you'll owe or get refunded for each. What I liked best was that it gave me a clear breakdown of exactly what I needed to pay with my extension request to avoid penalties while still delaying my actual federal filing.
0 coins
Liam O'Sullivan
Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. Seriously impressed! It confirmed I could file my state return immediately while extending my federal filing. The document analysis saved me hours of manually entering everything. The system even generated the proper estimated payment amount for my federal extension and explained exactly how to submit it. I filed my state return last week and my refund is already processing! Meanwhile, I've paid my federal estimate and have until October to finalize everything. Such a relief to handle these separately and get my state refund coming quickly.
0 coins
Amara Chukwu
If you're planning to extend your federal return but need to actually talk to someone at the IRS about your payment options, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year where I needed to set up a payment plan with the IRS but couldn't get through on their phone lines. After days of trying, I found Claimyr and was skeptical but desperate. Their service actually got me a callback from the IRS within about 2 hours! You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was able to discuss my extension and payment options with an actual IRS agent instead of guessing what to do.
0 coins
Giovanni Conti
•How does this actually work? I've literally spent hours on hold with the IRS and eventually gave up. Sounds too good to be true that there's a way to skip the line.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashimi
•This sounds like a scam honestly. How could some random service get you through to the IRS faster than calling directly? The IRS phone system is notoriously backed up for everyone.
0 coins
Amara Chukwu
•The service works by using specialized technology that continually calls the IRS for you and navigates their phone tree until it reaches a human. Once it gets through, it calls you and connects you directly to the IRS agent. It's basically doing the hold time for you so you don't have to sit there with a phone to your ear for hours. It's definitely not a scam - they don't ask for any personal tax information. They're just getting you through the phone system. I was skeptical too but was desperate after trying for days to get through. I figured it was worth trying since I was getting nowhere on my own.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashimi
I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself because I was getting absolutely nowhere trying to call the IRS about my extension payment options. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 90 minutes connecting me directly to an IRS representative. I was able to discuss my extension situation and set up a payment plan for what I owed. The agent confirmed that I could absolutely file my state return immediately while extending my federal return. Saved me literally hours of frustration and hold music. Sometimes being proven wrong is actually a good thing!
0 coins
NeonNova
One important thing to mention - make sure your state doesn't have any special requirements regarding federal extensions. Most states allow you to file separately, but a few states have weird rules where your state extension is tied to your federal extension status. I learned this the hard way in 2023 when I lived in a state that required you to submit a copy of your federal extension form with your state return if you filed the state before completing your federal. Check your specific state's tax department website to be sure.
0 coins
Zoe Papadakis
•That's a great point I hadn't considered. Do you know if there's a quick way to check this for my state (Illinois)? I tried looking at the tax department website but got lost in all the technical language.
0 coins
NeonNova
•For Illinois specifically, you're in luck! Illinois automatically gives you the same extension period as the federal government without requiring a separate form if you've filed a federal extension. And yes, you can absolutely file your Illinois return before your federal return if you're due a refund. Just make sure that when you do complete your federal return later, the numbers match what you reported on your Illinois return. If there are significant differences, you might need to file an amended state return, but that's relatively straightforward.
0 coins
Dylan Campbell
I'm wondering if anyone knows if the software matters for this situation? I use FreeTaxUSA and it seems like it wants me to complete both returns together. Is there a way to just file the state through them while saving the federal as a draft until October?
0 coins
Sofia Hernandez
•With FreeTaxUSA, you can absolutely do this! Complete both your federal and state returns in the software, but when you get to the filing stage, only select to e-file your state return. There should be an option to "file state only" somewhere in the filing process. For your federal, make sure you fill out and submit Form 4868 for the extension and pay your estimated amount owed. You can either generate this form through FreeTaxUSA or use the IRS direct pay website to make the payment, which automatically gives you the extension.
0 coins
Dmitry Kuznetsov
Just to add another perspective - I did exactly this last year with H&R Block software. Completed both returns, filed for federal extension + made payment, and filed state right away. Got my state refund in about 3 weeks while taking my time to finalize some complicated deductions on my federal return. The only hiccup was that I did have to amend my state return later because I found additional deductions that changed my federal AGI by a significant amount, which affected my state calculations. So just be aware that if your federal numbers change substantially when you finalize in October, you might need to amend your state return.
0 coins