California - Extension of Time to File Tax Return

The Franchise Tax Board of the State of California provides form FTB 3519 for California tax filers to request an extension of time to file a tax return. Form FTB 3519 is also used to make a tax payment based upon completing the tax payment worksheet. The worksheet estimates the tax liability - it is not submitted with Form 3519.

For tax year 2012, filers completing form 3519 have until October 15 2013 to file their California state tax return form 540 in a timely fashion. If a filer does not file their tax return by the October deadline they will incur a late filing penalty plus interest charged from the original due date of the return.

A person should only use form FTB 3519 if they cannot file a return by the April 2013 deadline and they owe tax. The second prong of the filing requirement is important. If a person does not owe tax, then they should not file form FTB 3519. Instead, they should just complete their return and file it with FTB by the extension deadline of October 15, 2013.

The full name is form FTB 3519 Payment for Automatic Extension for Individuals. More information is available (and the form can be downloaded as a PDF) at ftb.ca.gov.