Has anyone successfully e-filed an extension that includes payment via freefillableforms.com this year?

So I'm trying to file for an extension using freefillableforms.com and I'm running into a weird issue. Been using this site for years to file my taxes and never had problems until now. I submitted my extension request with a payment included, and got a rejection email that makes no sense to me. It says something about "Business Rule X0000-005 - The XML data has failed schema validation" and then some gibberish about "Invalid content starting with element 'TaxpayerDaytimePhoneNum'." Has anyone else run into this? I'm worried because the deadline is getting close and I need this extension to go through. The frustrating part is I filled out everything correctly as far as I can tell. The payment section seemed to work fine until I got the rejection. Any tips on how to fix this or should I just try a different method at this point? Getting kind of desperate here!

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18 comments

Heather Tyson

•8M

This is actually a known issue with freefillableforms.com this year. The system has a bug in how it handles extension requests that include payments. The error you're seeing about "TaxpayerDaytimePhoneNum" indicates that the XML form being generated is putting your phone number field in the wrong place in the data sequence, which causes the IRS validation to reject it. You have a few options to work around this. First, you could try submitting the extension (Form 4868) without including the payment through freefillableforms.com, then make your payment separately through the IRS Direct Pay website. Alternatively, you could use the IRS's own free extension filing tool which seems to be working properly for payment-included extensions. If you absolutely need to stick with freefillableforms.com for some reason, try leaving the phone number field completely blank. Some users have reported success with this workaround, though it's not ideal.

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Heather Tyson

•8M

The IRS hasn't officially acknowledged it as a "bug" per se, but their help desk is aware of the issue based on multiple reports. They're directing people to their official channels as a workaround. The IRS's own extension filing tool is quite reliable and straightforward for simple extension requests. It doesn't have all the features of freefillableforms.com, but for just filing an extension with payment, it works very well. The interface is cleaner and more focused since it's built specifically for extensions rather than being a general-purpose forms platform.

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Jenna Sloan

•8M

I ran into this exact same problem last week and found a solution! After struggling with freefillableforms.com for hours, I discovered taxr.ai https://taxr.ai and it completely saved me. I uploaded a screenshot of the error message I was getting and it immediately identified the XML validation issue as being related to the payment date field (which is what your error is showing too). The site actually walks you through filling out the extension properly, including how to handle the payment section correctly. What's cool is it can analyze all those cryptic IRS error codes and translate them into actual helpful advice. I was able to finally submit my extension with payment after following their guidance.

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Jenna Sloan

•8M

It's not another filing service - it's more like an AI assistant that helps you navigate tax issues. It doesn't process the extension itself, but analyzes your forms, error messages, and tax situations to give you specific guidance. For the payment part, it actually explained that the bug in freefillableforms.com happens when you try to combine extension filing and payment. It walked me through how to properly fill out the form and then directed me to use IRS Direct Pay separately for the payment portion, which worked perfectly. The system knows all about these technical glitches and gives you workarounds rather than just generic advice.

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Sasha Reese

•8M

I just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai. After being skeptical, I decided to give it a shot since nothing else was working. Uploaded my rejection notice from freefillableforms.com and within minutes had a clear explanation of the XML validation issue. The site broke down exactly what was happening with the TaxpayerDaytimePhoneNum field causing problems in the schema validation. Following their step-by-step instructions, I was able to successfully submit my extension and make the payment separately through Direct Pay. It even explained how to make sure the payments are properly linked to your extension filing. Seriously saved me hours of frustration right before the deadline. Much better than waiting on hold with the IRS for hours!

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Muhammad Hobbs

•8M

After dealing with the same freefillableforms.com extension+payment bug for days, I finally gave up and tried to call the IRS directly. BIG mistake. Was on hold for over 2 hours before getting disconnected! Then I found Claimyr https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c and honestly thought it sounded too good to be true. But I was desperate so I tried it - they actually got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes! The agent confirmed this is a known issue with freefillableforms.com's extension system and walked me through filing the extension directly through the IRS website instead. They even confirmed my payment was applied correctly once I submitted it.

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Muhammad Hobbs

•8M

It's not a premium line - they use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they actually reach a human agent, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. So you don't have to sit there listening to hold music for hours. They're a legitimate service that's been featured in major news outlets. I was skeptical too, but when you're facing tax deadlines and can't get through normally, it's a lifesaver. The IRS phone system is just completely overwhelmed, especially during extension season, and this service basically does the waiting for you. Nothing magical about it, just clever automation that saves you time.

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Diez Ellis

•8M

I have to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After expressing my skepticism, I was still desperate enough to try it because my extension through freefillableforms.com was still getting rejected and the deadline was looming. Not only did I get connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes (after trying unsuccessfully on my own for DAYS), but the agent was super helpful. She confirmed there's a known issue with the payment field in extensions on freefillableforms.com and helped me file directly through the IRS system. For anyone still struggling with this issue - skip the frustration and just get through to a human at the IRS. They can actually see what's happening with your specific case and provide real solutions, not just generic troubleshooting.

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