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.
Virgil Miller is the president of group and individual benefits at Aflac.
Rob Keller is a partner in Washington National Tax, KPMG. He specializes in the taxation of pass-throughs and S corporations and also focuses on tax planning for closely held businesses and their owners. Rob is a frequent lecturer and writer on the taxation of partnerships, S corporations, individuals, trusts and estates.
Brad Sprong is the national tax leader for KPMG U.S. Private Enterprise. He has more than 30 years of experience serving clients around the world on their tax needs. He provides services to high net worth, closely held business owners and their enterprises, specifically focused on transition, income tax, transformation to best practices and family-office design.
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.
