Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§6081 Extension of time for filing returns
Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Procedure and Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 61— - INFORMATION AND RETURNS › Subchapter Subchapter A— - Returns and Records › Part PART VI— - EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FILING RETURNS › § 6081
Summary
The IRS can give extra time to file any return, form, or statement. For most taxpayers, the extension can’t be longer than 6 months unless the taxpayer is living abroad. A corporation can get a 6-month extension for its income tax return if it files the IRS form required and pays its estimated tax by the payment due date. The IRS may end that extension by mailing a notice at least 10 days before the end date in the notice. For C corporations with tax years ending December 31 that begin before January 1, 2026, the extension is 5 months. For C corporations with tax years ending June 30 that begin before January 1, 2026, the extension is 7 months. Time delayed for war or Presidential disaster/terror/military actions is covered by other rules (sections 7508 and 7508A).
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §6081
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)The Secretary may grant a reasonable extension of time for filing any return, declaration, statement, or other document required by this title or by regulations. Except in the case of taxpayers who are abroad, no such extension shall be for more than 6 months.
(b)An extension of 6 months for the filing of the return of income taxes imposed by subtitle A shall be allowed any corporation if, in such manner and at such time as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe, there is filed on behalf of such corporation the form prescribed by the Secretary, and if such corporation pays, on or before the date prescribed for payment of the tax, the amount properly estimated as its tax; but this extension may be terminated at any time by the Secretary by mailing to the taxpayer notice of such termination at least 10 days prior to the date for termination fixed in such notice. In the case of any return for a taxable year of a C corporation which ends on December 31 and begins before January 1, 2026, the first sentence of this subsection shall be applied by substituting “5 months” for “6 months”. In the case of any return for a taxable year of a C corporation which ends on June 30 and begins before January 1, 2026, the first sentence of this subsection shall be applied by substituting “7 months” for “6 months”.
(c)For time for performing certain acts postponed by reason of war, see section 7508, and by reason of Presidentially declared disaster or terroristic or military action, see section 7508A.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–41 substituted “6 months” for “3 months” in first sentence and inserted at end “In the case of any return for a taxable year of a C corporation which ends on December 31 and begins before
January 1, 2026, the first sentence of this subsection shall be applied by substituting ‘5 months’ for ‘6 months’. In the case of any return for a taxable year of a C corporation which ends on June 30 and begins before
January 1, 2026, the first sentence of this subsection shall be applied by substituting ‘7 months’ for ‘6 months’.” 2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–134 amended heading and text of subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For time for performing certain acts postponed by reason of war, see section 7508.” 1982—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–248 struck out “or the first installment thereof required under section 6152” after “the amount properly estimated as its tax”. 1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary” wherever appearing.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2015 Amendment Pub. L. 114–41, title II, § 2006(c)(2), July 31, 2015, 129 Stat. 459, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this subsection [amending this section] shall apply to returns for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.”
Effective Date
of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107–134, title I, § 112(f), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2435, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [enacting section 1148 of Title 29, Labor, and amending this section, section 6161, 6404, 7508, and 7508A of this title, and section 1302 of Title 29] shall apply to disasters and terroristic or military actions occurring on or after September 11, 2001, with respect to any action of the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 23, 2002].”
Effective Date
of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1982, see section 234(e) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out as a note under section 6655 of this title. Modification of Due Dates by Regulation Pub. L. 114–41, title II, § 2006(b),
July 31, 2015, 129 Stat. 458, as amended by Pub. L. 114–94, div. C, title XXXII, § 32104(a), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1738, provided that: “In the case of returns for taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2015, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary’s designee, shall modify appropriate
Regulations
to provide as follows: “(1) The maximum extension for the returns of partnerships filing Form 1065 shall be a 6-month period ending on September 15 for calendar year taxpayers. “(2) The maximum extension for the returns of trusts filing Form 1041 shall be a 5½-month period ending on September 30 for calendar year taxpayers. “[(3) Repealed. Pub. L. 114–94, div. C, title XXXII, § 32104(a), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1738.] “(4) The maximum extension for the returns of organizations exempt from income tax filing Form 990 (series) shall be an automatic 6-month period ending on November 15 for calendar year filers. “(5) The maximum extension for the returns of organizations exempt from income tax that are required to file Form 4720 returns of excise taxes shall be an automatic 6-month period beginning on the due date for filing the return (without regard to any extensions). “(6) The maximum extension for the returns of trusts required to file Form 5227 shall be an automatic 6-month period beginning on the due date for filing the return (without regard to any extensions). “(7) The maximum extension for filing Form 6069, Return of Excise Tax on Excess Contributions to Black Lung Benefit Trust Under section 4953 and Computation of section 192 Deduction, shall be an automatic 6-month period beginning on the due date for filing the return (without regard to any extensions). “(8) The maximum extension for a taxpayer required to file Form 8870 shall be an automatic 6-month period beginning on the due date for filing the return (without regard to any extensions). “(9) The due date of Form 3520–A, Annual Information Return of a Foreign Trust with a United States Owner, shall be the 15th day of the 3d month after the close of the trust’s taxable year, and the maximum extension shall be a 6-month period beginning on such day. “(10) The due date of Form 3520, Annual Return to Report Transactions with Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts, for calendar year filers shall be April 15 with a maximum extension for a 6-month period ending on October 15. “(11) The due date of FinCEN Report 114 (relating to Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) shall be April 15 with a maximum extension for a 6-month period ending on October 15 and with provision for an extension under rules similar to the rules in Treas. Reg. section 1.6081–5. For any taxpayer required to file such Form for the first time, any penalty for failure to timely request for, or file, an extension, may be waived by the Secretary.” [Pub. L. 114–94, div. C, title XXXII, § 32104(b), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1738, provided that: “The amendment made by this section [amending section 2006(b) of Pub. L. 114–41, set out above] shall apply to returns for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2015.” ]
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 6081
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73