State is Minnesota.

As I live abroad, I am required to file an extension for federal taxes because I cannot file until I've been in this country (Japan) for 330 days.

I have been working out all of my forms to send in my extension request, Form 4868, as accurately as possible as it asks for data from the 1040. I need one more piece of information and I can finish all of it. However if I do not get this piece of information in the next day or two, I can estimate and send it off, and figure out the exact amount of taxes later during the extension period. Therefore my federal taxes are not an issue.

However, Minnesota does not grant an automatic extension with a federal extension. In fact, it does not grant an extension at all.

Unfortunately to finish my state taxes, I need that piece of information that I don't yet have (a house FMV from 2006). If I don't file by next week I am looking at a tax lien and destroyed credit.

Options??

Make a conservative estimate of the FMV, and pay your MI taxes on time. This way you may slightly over-pay your MI taxes, but you will be on time. Then when you get the true number, file an amended return to get whatever refund you are owed.

If you are not in the U.S. on April 15, 2009, then you do not need to file extension. For you the due date is June 15, 2009, however, you must still pay due tax by April 15, 2009.

For filing after June 15, 2009, Form 4868 will give you 4 months extension up to Oct 15, 2009. Your U.S. Tax Return: Form 4868 Automatic Extension for 6 months (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2009/04/form-4868-automatic-extension-for-6.html)