IRS postpones deadline for gift and GST taxes due to coronavirus

The Internal Revenue Service is postponing the date for filing gift tax and generation-skipping transfer tax returns and making payments until July 15 because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The Internal Revenue Service is postponing the date for filing gift tax and generation-skipping transfer tax returns and making payments until July 15, 2020, because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The IRS issued Notice 2020-20 on Friday, extending the relief it provided earlier this month on the tax-filing and payment dates for most other types of tax returns. The IRS also said the associated interest, additions to tax, and penalties for late filing or late payment will be suspended for the gift tax and generation-skipping transfer tax until July 15.

CORONAVIRUS IMPACT: ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
Headshot of Alex Astengo.

Alex Astengo is UK country manager for Root and has significant experience working for SaaS platform-based businesses, which offer solutions to insurers, MGAs and brokers. In his role at Root, Alex is developing Root's UK presence with the aim of becoming the go-to platform for insurance businesses intent on growing their digital offering.

Mazi Bahadori of Altruist

Mazi Bahadori is the chief operations officer at Altruist.

A seasoned veteran in financial technology, he previously served as the CCO and director of operations for Aspiration. Prior to this, he worked for PIMCO as VP of Legal and Compliance, for Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor and for Goldman Sachs as a government affairs associate.

Gregg Rozansky is senior vice president and senior associate general counsel of the Bank Policy Institute.

The relief is automatic and applies to any amounts due related to these types of returns. There’s no requirement to file for an extension and the three-month period between the original due date of April 15 and the new deadline of July 15 will be disregarded in terms of any interest, penalties or extra taxes for those who fail to file a Form 709 United States Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return by April 15.

Groups of tax and accounting professionals such as the American Institute of CPAs, the National Society of Accountants and the National Conference of CPA Practitioners have been pressing the IRS to provide additional forms of tax relief beyond the initial relief granted for tax payments from coronavirus victims.

IRS-Building-light
The IRS headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
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