Ten Days Out: A Pre-October 15 Checklist for Extension Filers
With ten days left before the October 15 extended deadline, this is the point where a final, deliberate pass through the remaining items matters more than anything else. Here's what's worth checking before the date arrives.
Confirm What's Actually Been Filed vs. What's Still Pending
For anyone juggling multiple returns — a personal 1040, a Schedule C business, a rental property, a K-1 from a partnership — it's worth confirming which pieces are actually complete and which are still waiting on a document, a signature, or a final number. A return that's 90% ready but missing one Schedule K-1 still can't be filed, so identifying that gap now, rather than on October 14, matters.
Double-Check Any Balance Due Has Been Paid, or a Plan Is in Place
Interest and the failure-to-pay penalty have generally been accruing on any unpaid balance since April, regardless of the extension. If full payment still isn't possible, this is the window to set up a short-term or long-term payment plan before the return is filed, rather than filing first and figuring out payment options afterward.
Retirement Contributions: Last Call for SEP-IRA and Solo 401(k) Employer Contributions
If a SEP-IRA or solo 401(k) employer contribution for the prior year hasn't been made yet, the extended due date is the last opportunity to fund it. Once October 15 passes, that window closes for the prior tax year regardless of how the return is otherwise handled.
FBAR Closes the Same Day
Anyone with foreign financial accounts that crossed the $10,000 aggregate threshold during the year should confirm FinCEN Form 114 has been filed. This is a separate filing from the income tax return, made through FinCEN's own system, and it shares the October 15 deadline without being tied to the income tax extension itself.
If a Number Is Still Uncertain, File Anyway
A return with a reasonable, good-faith estimate for one uncertain item is generally in a much stronger position than a return that isn't filed at all. If a superseding return is later needed to correct that estimate, that's a far more manageable process than dealing with a missed deadline. Waiting for perfect information at the cost of missing the date is rarely the better trade.
This information is educational and describes general considerations for the final stretch before the extended filing deadline. It does not account for the specific facts of any individual return. If any of these items are still unresolved with the deadline approaching, it's worth reaching out now rather than waiting — our team can help you sort priorities in the time that's left.
Related service: Tax Advisory & Planning
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