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.
Sydney Ivey is general manager for small business at Bank of America Merchant Services.
Charles Strecker, special counsel, represents public corporations, private companies and individuals in state and federal courts throughout the country at Baker Botts. His representation includes clients in a variety of industries, such as private equity, professional services, technology and energy. His diverse commercial litigation experience includes securities class actions, trade secret claims, professional liability matters, and disputes arising from acquisitions and divestitures.
Jessica Pulliam, partner, chairs Baker Botts’ Trial Department in Dallas. She defends public companies and their officers and directors, private enterprises and professional firms in high stakes lawsuits. She has handled matters involving class actions, corporate crisis, business torts, securities fraud, fiduciary litigation, accounting and disclosure issues, SEC and PCAOB investigations, whistleblower claims and post-deal disputes.
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.
