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.
Jim Kane is director at Information Services Group, a leading global technology research and advisory firm.
Jung Ryu is the national accounts practice leader for The Standard and is responsible for developing comprehensive disability management solutions for his clients.
Ellen McCann is assistant vice president & special counsel at Unum. She holds a BA from the College of the Holy Cross and her JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School. She provides legal support to Unum’s leave management department for FMLA, ADA and paid leaves and is a frequent national speaker on these topics. In addition, she advises Unum’s HR department on all employment-related legal issues, with particular emphasis on FMLA, ADA, military leaves, wage/hour compliance and restrictive covenants.
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.
