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.

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Pierre du Rostu

Pierre du Rostu has been CEO of the AXA Digital Commercial Platform since June 2022. In this role, he leads a team dedicated to delivering innovative global solutions to AXA's B2B customers. AXA Digital Commercial Platform's ambition is to support businesses beyond traditional insurance contracts, using technology to help them better manage a very complex risk environment. 

Pierre started his career in consulting in 2011 before joining the AXA Group in 2015, where he first held several senior positions in Commercial P&C. He then joined AXA XL as Head of Integration before taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer - International P&C and then Global Head of Innovation & Business Architecture at AXA XL. 

leussink-joep-addevent.jpg

Joep Leussink is the head of growth at AddEvent, a San Francisco-based software company creating calendar, appointment and event management solutions that empower over 250,000 companies globally to enhance their event and appointment management and engagement. As a partner to accounting firms and small-practice CPAs across the U.S., he and AddEvent advise clients on issues related to client engagement, deadline management and documentation workflows on a regular basis.

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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