CA Individual extension

[GerryR]

I'm trying to avoid the 5% late filing penalty and being CA will not consider an extension unless you send some money with it.  Can you send in an extension with $1 and therefore have a valid extension and avoid the 5% late filing penalty even if the client owes several thousand dollars?

[abctax55]

being CA will not consider an extension unless you send some money with it

That statement is NOT true.  The extension is automatic in CA.  The extension has to be filed to send money.

[George4Tacks]

It should also be noted that extension must be sent by the due date of the tax return, not after the due date. 

[itonewbie]

You appear to have gotten the various penalties mixed up.

CA provides taxpayers with an automatic 6-month extension without any need to file any form or make any payment.  Essentially, taxpayers who fail to file by April 18 will be extended to October 17.  The 5% per month late filing penalty (subject to both a ceiling and a floor) will not be assessed unless the taxpayer then fails to file by the extended due date.

The 5% penalty you mentioned is part of the late payment penalty.  0.5% is also imposed for each month the payment is late, for up to 40 months.  The penalty is subject to a maximum of 25%.  Taxpayers are, however, presumed to have reasonable cause and can avoid this penalty if at least 90% of the tax (not tax due) is paid by the original due date.

In other words, you cannot avoid the 5% late payment penalty by simply making a $1 tax payment.