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

Jev Golinejs is a board member and chief legal officer at Dating.com Group.

Michael Holmstrom, audit manager at Marks Paneth LLP in the Real Estate Group, is a New York CPA and has received his M.S in Accounting from SUNY Old Westbury. In addition to real-estate, Michael also has an extensive auditing background in construction, manufacturing and distribution, healthcare, food and beverage and architecture and engineering. Over the past few years, Michael has helped to prepare his firm for the future of auditing by researching audit technology and gaining an understanding of how data analytics can start to help his firm become more efficient. In addition, with the use of Excel and other software, he has helped develop some efficiencies in the audit practice.

Stefan is one of the co-founders and now Senior Product Owner for TeamMate Analytics. He began his career as an Auditor at KPMG. During 9 years there, he also spent time in Internal Audit, Forensics, Transaction Services and Management Consulting working with a wide range of clients from small owner-managed businesses to FTSE 100 companies. Stefan has a huge passion for Data Analytics and increasing its use in auditing.

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.

IRS-Building-light
The IRS headquarters building in Washington, D.C.
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