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.
But with Q1 start dates looming, will it be enough?
Anthony DeStefano is a CPA and CFCM with years of experience in accounting, government contracting and taxes who operates a practice in Somerdale, New Jersey.
Mark Segal, PhD, is principal at Digital Health Policy Advisors, a digital health policy consultancy. He provides strategic counsel to clients on such issues as interoperability policy, value-based payment programs, and health IT regulation and patient safety. Until December 2017, Mark was vice president of government and industry affairs for GE Healthcare Digital. He has provided advice to ONC and CMS and has been active as a leader and expert participant in numerous health IT-related organizations and efforts addressing critical policy issues
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.
