Indiana Tax Extension: A Quick Guide for Taxpayers

Filing state taxes can be challenging, especially when waiting on important documents or dealing with financial constraints.

An Indiana tax extension gives you 7 more months to file, but it's critical to remember that the payment deadline is still April 15th.

Below are the key steps to meet the requirements and avoid penalties or interest.

Indiana Tax Extension Requirements You Need to Know

What is a Tax Extension?

A filing extension allows you to delay submitting your state income tax return without incurring penalties.

However, any owed payments must still be made by April 15th, or you will face penalties and interest charges.

If you haven't already requested a federal extension using IRS Form 4868, file Form IT-9 to request an extension.

Indiana Deadlines

• April 15th, 2026: The deadline to file for an extension and pay at least 90% of your taxes. However, interest will still accrue on the unpaid balance until it's paid in full.
• November 15, 2025: The final deadline to file your Indiana tax return after receiving an extension.

IRS and Indiana State Tax Extension: What You Need to Know

• If you didn’t file a federal extension and want an Indiana extension, you must file Form IT-9 and pay at least 90% of your tax liability by April 15th.

How to File an Indiana Tax Extension

Here's the step-by-step process for filing:

1. Get Form IT-9: Download the form from the Indiana Department of Revenue website or use tax software that supports the state tax filing process.

2. Make Your Payment: You must pay at least 90% of your taxes owed by April 15th to avoid penalties and interest. Ensure all calculations are accurate to avoid an error when submitting your payment.

• Online: Use the Indiana Taxpayer Information Management Engine (INTIME) to pay online.
• By Mail: Make checks payable to the Indiana Department of Revenue, and mail the form along with your payment.

3. Payment Plan: If you cannot pay the total amount owed, consider setting up a payment plan with the Indiana Department of Revenue to avoid defaulting or falling behind on your state tax obligation..

4. Submit by April 15: Ensure that your payment and Form IT-9 are submitted by the deadline to avoid penalties. Indiana may send a notice if there are issues with your extension or payment submission.

Indiana Tax Penalties Example

If you owe $10,000 in Indiana state taxes and only pay $7,000 by April 15th (70% paid):

• Failure to Pay Penalty: 0.5% per month on the $3,000 unpaid balance, up to 25%
• Interest: Accrues daily on the unpaid balance at a rate 3% above the federal prime rate
• Failure to File Penalty: 5% per month (up to 25%) if you fail to file, reduced if the failure to pay penalty is also applied in the same month
• If the failure to pay penalty also applies, the failure to file penalty is reduced by the amount of the failure to pay penalty in the same month
• If you're on an approved payment plan, the failure to pay penalty is reduced to 0.25% per month
• If unpaid 10+ days after a notice of intent to levy, the failure to pay penalty increases to 1% per month

Indiana Tax Revenue Breakdown: Fiscal Year 2023

This pie chart provides a detailed breakdown of Indiana's total tax receipts for the 2023 fiscal year, showing the contributions of various tax types. The largest portion of the state's revenue comes from Sales & Use Tax, amounting to $11.00 billion, followed closely by Individual Income Tax at $7.58 billion. Local Option Income Taxes contribute $4.13 billion, while Motor Fuel/Carrier Fees add $1.91 billion. Other significant but smaller sources include Corporate Income Tax at $1.30 billion, Cigarette/Alcohol Taxes at $0.89 billion, and Gaming Taxes at $0.69 billion. This breakdown provides a clear perspective on which taxes are most critical to Indiana’s fiscal health.

Does Filing a Federal Extension Cover My Indiana Taxes?

Yes — but only if you don’t owe any additional Indiana income tax. If you do owe, you must file Form IT-9 and pay at least 90% of your tax liability by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.

Summary

An Indiana tax extension gives you more time to file your tax return, but requires paying at least 90% of your owed taxes by April 15th to avoid penalties and interest. Use Form IT-9 or Form 4868 for federal and state extensions, and make sure your payment is made on time. Avoid mistakes by using trusted tax software or consulting an expert.

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