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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Leslie Bowen

Leslie helps Financial Services companies transform how they connect with their customers using the Salesforce platform. Prior to joining Salesforce, Leslie was a Digital Marketer and Software Product Manager at consumer lending FinTech startups.

Geoff Green

Geoff Green serves as the Global Head for Mortgage and Lending at Salesforce. Geoff works with leading financial services organizations across all regions spanning mortgage, consumer lending, fintech and process optimization. Geoff brings a focus on borrower experience, borrower driven strategy, AI, and regulatory compliance within the context of growth and productivity. Geoff has extensive industry experience having served as an executive at the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Geoff received an MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, and played Football at Ithaca College where he received his undergraduate degree.

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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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