April 15 tax deadline is days away, but you can get an extension

The April 15 tax deadline is only days away now, and if you're feeling like you could use just a little more time, take it.

Instead of filing a return by April 15, you can opt to file a short, less than one-page form for an automatic extension until Oct. 15 with no questions asked. You'll basically need your name, address, Social Security number, estimated taxes owed or refunded. Importantly, the IRS reminds taxpayers "an extension to file is not an extension to pay taxes."

If you owe taxes, you must send a payment to cover it or face penalties on the amount owed.

Only the filing gets an extension. "Taxes are still owed by April 15," said Carl Breedlove, principal tax research analyst at H&R Block.

If you discover you're missing information you can't get quickly.