Need an extension to file your Idaho income taxes?

If you can’t file your 2018 Idaho income tax return by the April 15 due date, you may be able to get an automatic six-month extension if you pay enough of your total tax by April 15.

To qualify, you need to pay:

An estimated 80 percent of the tax you owe for 2018, or 100 percent of the total tax reported on your 2017 income tax return

An automatic extension means you don’t have to file a written request. But an extension of time to file your return isn’t an extension of time to pay your tax. With a valid extension, you can avoid a penalty for filing late. You’ll be charged 5-percent annual interest on the remaining tax until it’s paid.

To see if you qualify, complete the worksheet on Idaho Form 51 , Estimated Payment of Idaho Individual Income Tax. The worksheet will help you figure out if you owe more tax beyond the payments you may have made or the amounts that may have been withheld from your paychecks or unemployment checks. You can find Form 51 at tax.idaho.gov and in the 2018 Idaho income tax packet.
To make a payment and avoid a penalty, do one of the following:

Mail Form 51 with your check or money order Make an online payment through the Idaho State Tax Commission website. See the “E-pay” page at tax.idaho.gov/epay . The free Quick Pay service lets you make an online payment without creating an account. Make a payment at any Tax Commission office . If you qualify for an extension to file, your Idaho tax return and any extra tax payment must be postmarked or sent electronically by Oct. 15.