Filing a Tax Extension

It's inevitable: You're fairly sure you're going to have all your tax documentation together, and then something goes awry. You don't receive all your tax forms, you've misplaced a receipt or you're otherwise unable to file your return by the due date. This year, you get a bit of a break: Tax Day has been pushed off a few days to April 18, 2011. But if that's still not enough time to prepare your federal tax return, you'll need to file an extension.

To get started, you need the following information:

• Your personal details, including your Social Security number, address and the name and taxpayer ID number of your spouse

• A copy of your 2009 tax return

• A list of tax payments made in 2009