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.
Hal Schwartz is the COO for Functional Finance. He can be reached for further comment or information via email at hal@functionalfi.com.
Marc Rosenberg is a nationally known consultant, author and speaker on CPA firm management, strategy and partner issues. Managing partner of the Chicago-based consulting firm, Rosenberg Associates, he is founder of the authoritative annual survey of midsized CPA firm performance statistics, The Rosenberg Survey. He has consulted with more than 1,000 firms throughout his decades-long consulting career. He is best known as the author of his acclaimed Practice Management series — a compilation of knowledge and experience amassed throughout his consulting career on key topics pertinent to CPA practice management. Rosenberg is a graduate of the University of Illinois.
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.
