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.
Gregory Bernstein is the co-founder and CEO of The New Industrial Corporation, an investment company that specializes in project development at the intersection of venture and infrastructure capital. He is the co-founder of Reindustrialize, has been a venture capitalist with both EQT Group and Acequia Capital, and a ship captain in the U.S. Coast Guard.
As vice president for strategy at Sovos, Christiaan Van Der Valk leads research into trends in the market and tax legislation. His insight and expertise are instrumental in determining business strategy and when to buy, build or partner to create solutions that meet emerging trends. He is an internationally recognized voice on e-business strategy, law, policy, best practice and commercial issues. He was elected a World Economic Forum Global Leader for Tomorrow in 2000. He is the vice-chair of the Global Exchange Network Association (GENA) and chairs the CIAT (Inter-American Centre of Tax Administrations) Digitalization Dialogue.
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.
