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

Rachel Trembley is a senior account manager at Corporate Synergies, focused on client satisfaction, communication, goal-setting and success. Prior to joining Corporate Synergies, Trembley worked as assistant vice president of account management at Jaeger & Flynn Associates in Clifton Park, New York.

Elsa Glorioso is senior benefits executive at OneDigital.

Aaron Doucet

Aaron Doucet is partner success manager at Xero Canada. He is a Canadian tax accountant (CPA) with a specialization in cloud accounting technology. He came to Xero due to his experience both as a Canadian corporate tax accountant within a cloud based accounting firm, as well as helping launch a national outsourced accounting program within Canada's largest national firm as its first on-boarding specialist.

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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