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
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Anastasia Su is a marketing specialist at Synder. As a content creator and Synder expert, she focuses on integrations between accounting software such as QuickBooks and Xero, and various payment platforms and online marketplaces, including Stripe, Shopify, and Amazon.

Kathleen Greer is the founder of KGA, Inc., a leading provider of Employee Assistance and Work Life Programs. Kathy's career has been dedicated to reducing the stigma of mental health by delivering innovative wellbeing programs that address the challenges faced by employees and managers. As a senior advisor to the National Behavioral Consortium, Kathy continues to champion the work of top-tier EAPs across the country.

Stephen T. Romano is the founder of Romano Strategic Communication and has more than 25 years' experience developing branding, messaging, and marketing communications programs for American Express, Honeywell, Keurig, MIT, Texas Medical Center, KGA, Cleveland Clinic, Hewlett-Packard, the Smithsonian, and other leaders. His articles have appeared in Newsday, The Boston Herald, People MagazineEBN, and various trade and industry publications. 

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.

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The IRS headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
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