Use IRS Free File for tax-filing extension, regardless of your income

Need extra time to file your return? For your 2009 returns, you can use the IRS's Free File system to prepare and electronically file the IRS's 6-month extention application, Form 4868, even if normally you wouldn't qualify for the system's general income eligibility ceiling. (For 2009, that ceiling was $57,000 of adjusted gross income per household.) You don't have to use Free File later, when you finally get around to preparing and filing the return.

Free File offers two options:

• Software, provided by private companies, that guides you through the process of filling out tax forms. We recommend this for tax-prep neophytes. You'll have a choice of using software from 20 private companies.

• The IRS's Fillable Forms, an electronic version of the traditional paper form, with links to salient IRS publications and documents. This is good for folks who know their way around a tax form, or relish the challenge.

The IRS grants six-month extensions automatically to anyone who files by Thursday night, using Form 4868. Keep in mind that a filing extension is not a paying extension. You'll still have to provide an estimate of what you owe, and pay that amount by tomorrow. If you don't, you're liable for penalties and interest on the unpaid balance.

The exception is residents of certain areas recently declared disaster areas--including storm and flood victims from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and West Virginia. They'll automatically get filing and payment extensions until May 11. They'll also have until that date to add to or establish IRA contributions for tax-year 2009.

If your state has an income tax, you also may need to fill out a state extension form.

Consumer Reports Tax Information Guide offers advice from Consumer Reports magazine and Consumer Reports Money Adviser on preparing, filing, and taking advantage of all the tax breaks open to you.