Form 4868 vs Form 7004: Personal or Business Extension?
Quick answer
Form 4868 extends personal returns (Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR and 1040-SS), including sole proprietors and one-owner LLCs owned by a person. Form 7004 extends business returns that a business files itself: partnerships, corporations, trusts and estates. File the one that matches the return you file.
| Form 4868 | Form 7004 | |
|---|---|---|
| Extends | Form 1040, 1040-SR, 1040-NR, 1040-SS | Business income tax, information and other returns, such as Forms 1065, 1120, 1120-S and 1041 |
| Who files | Individuals and married couples, including sole proprietors | Partnerships, corporations, multi-member LLCs, trusts and estates |
| Identification | Social Security number or ITIN | Employer identification number (EIN) |
| Due | April 15, 2027 for most people | The original due date of the business return |
| Extends time to pay? | No | No |
Which one you need
- Sole proprietor, freelancer or gig worker: Form 4868. Your business is on Schedule C of your Form 1040.
- Single-member LLC owned by you: Form 4868, unless the LLC elected to be taxed as a corporation. An LLC with one owner that's a person reports on the owner's return by default.
- Partnership or multi-member LLC, S corporation, C corporation, trust or estate: Form 7004.
- Own a share of a partnership or S corp? The business files Form 7004 for its return; you file Form 4868 for your own.
If you need both
File each one separately. A partnership's or S corporation's extension doesn't extend your personal return, and yours doesn't extend theirs. Waiting on a Schedule K-1 from the business is one reason partners and shareholders file Form 4868.
Filing Form 7004
Our sister site Form7004.org fills out Form 7004 free and shows where to mail it, the same way this site handles Form 4868. Which business extension form you need.
Questions people ask
Can I use Form 7004 for my personal return?
No. Form 7004 is for business returns. Individuals use Form 4868.
My LLC elected S corporation status. Which form?
The LLC files Form 1120-S, so it uses Form 7004. You use Form 4868 for your personal return.
Is the 6-month extension the same for both?
Form 4868 gives most people 6 months. Form 7004's extension is usually 6 months too, but depends on the return; Form7004.org lists each one.
Last reviewed: · Based on 3 IRS sources
Fill out Form 4868 free. No account, and your Social Security number never leaves this page.