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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Lee Reams Sr. is the co-founder of TaxBuzz, a vertical search engine and online community for taxpayers and tax professionals. In addition to being an expert on individual taxation and a respected speaker on tax-related topics, he has managed his own 600-plus client tax practice. He has served on numerous professional boards, including the California Tax Education Council, California State Enrolled Agent Society, and the San Fernando Valley Society of Enrolled Agents. He currently oversees a sizeable technical support forum, functioning as the tax research and answer guru for the profession's most complex tax issues.
Scott Syphax is CEO of Syphax Strategic Solutions, an advisory firm specializing in board governance, strategic planning and advisory services for national public and private organizations.
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.
