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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David J. Evans is the chief content officer at Arizent. He lives in Westchester County, New York.

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Swapnil Shinde is the co-founder and CEO of Zeni, the first AI-powered finance concierge for startups. Zeni’s intelligent bookkeeping, accounting and CFO services were designed to meet the needs of companies ready for rapid growth. Prior to Zeni, he co-founded Mezi, the AI-powered travel concierge and booking platform, acquired by American Express in 2018. He also co-founded Indian music streaming service Dhingana, acquired by Rdio in 2014, and Twin Ventures, an angel fund started with his twin brother Snehal Shinde. He has nearly two decades of experience as a technologist and product entrepreneur, and has worked at companies including Yahoo!, Symantec and IBM Software Labs.

Sabrina Kieffer is the COO at online learning platform Skillshare.

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.
Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg