Form 2350 is used by a U.S. citizen or resident alien to request an extension of time to file if they (a) are living abroad, and (b) expect to file Form 2555 and need time to meet either of the two tests (bona fide resident or physical presence) to qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion and/or the foreign housing exclusion or deduction.
Irrespective of whether or not you have begun preparing the tax return, Form 2350 can only be created outside the tax return.
There are two ways to start an extension request on Form 2350 rather than Form 4868.
- From the Quick Menu select the Extensions icon at the top of the window:
- From the Quick Menu select E-file, then Automatic Extension Application (Form 4868).
Enter the taxpayer SSN and follow the prompts until you reach the Extension Personal Information window. In this window, select the button next to "2350 (Qualifying Taxpayers Abroad)".
Note that the Extension Personal Information window is the only place you can indicate the extension application is being filed on Form 2350 rather than Form 4868. If you bypass indicating that you wish to file on Form 2350, you'll need to delete the extension request and start over.
Additional Information: