The Cheapest Way to File a Tax Extension (2026)
An honest look at what an IRS extension actually costs across the main providers — including the free options for a simple personal return. For business (7004) and nonprofit (8868) extensions, GrantExtension is among the cheapest full-service filers at a flat $9.95.
The honest answer for a simple personal 1040: the cheapest option can be free. IRS Free File, IRS Direct Pay (paying estimated tax and selecting "extension" counts as a filed 4868 — no form needed), and TurboTax Easy Extension can all extend a basic Form 4868 at $0 during the filing season. We'd rather tell you that than pretend otherwise. TurboTax also files a free Form 7004 for S-corps and partnerships in season, but its free extensions open and close each year: as of October 2026 they are closed until the next filing season. Where we win is C-corp, trust, and nonprofit extensions — which those free options don't cover — plus tax-pro volume pricing and an easier, faster experience for every form we file.
Single federal e-file, price per form
| Provider | 4868 | 7004 | 8868 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GrantExtension | Not offered this season | $9.95 | $9.95 |
| IRS Free File / Direct Pay | Free | n/a | n/a |
| TurboTax Easy Extension | Free | Free (S-corp/partnership only) | n/a |
| EZExtension | $9.99 | $9.99 | Not offered yet |
| Tax2efile | $9.99 | $14.99 | $14.99 |
| TaxZerone | $11.99 | $17.99 | $14.99 |
| ExpressExtension | $12.95 | $19.95 | $14.95 |
| TaxBandits | $12.95 | $19.95 | $14.95 |
| TaxExtension.com | $19.95+ (tiers) | $24.95+ (tiers) | Not offered |
| FileLater | Not published (~$29.95 reported) | Not published (~$34.95 reported) | Not offered |
Figures verified from each provider's site as of October 2026. "n/a" = form not offered; tiered providers (TaxExtension.com) vary by plan. Free options (IRS Free File, IRS Direct Pay, TurboTax) cover the simple 4868, and TurboTax adds 7004 for S-corps and partnerships. IRS Free File and TurboTax accept free extensions only during the filing season.
How to pick the cheapest option
- Simple personal 1040, comfortable with IRS tools? Free File or Direct Pay can extend you for $0. We aren't filing Form 4868 this season, so use one of those.
- Business return (7004)? No free IRS option exists; TurboTax files it free only for S-corps and partnerships, and only while its free extension is open for the season. For C-corps, trusts, and everyone else we file it for a flat $9.95 — below every paid service we compared.
- Nonprofit (8868)? Several cheap filers skip 8868 entirely (the $9.99 price leader doesn't offer it). We file it for a flat $9.95.
Why GrantExtension for a business or nonprofit extension
- Transparent flat pricing — one fee shown before you pay, no tiers or per-credit math.
- Business and nonprofit forms (7004 and 8868) in one clean, mobile-first flow.
- About a 5-minute filing with instant IRS e-file and email confirmation.
- Your SSN or EIN is encrypted at rest, never shown in full after filing, and deleted 3 years after the return's due date.
- Money-back guarantee if the IRS rejects a return we can't fix.