As a follow-up to its prior announcement that the April 15 income tax filing deadline is extended to July 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Treasury Department has announced a similar extension of the filing deadline for any individual who has to file a federal gift tax or generation-skipping transfer tax return by April 15, 2020.  For any such individual, the new due date for filing Forms 709 (United States Gift and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Return) and making payments of federal gift and generation-skipping tax is automatically postponed until July 20.

This extension is automatic, and there is no requirement to file Form 8892 to obtain the benefit of the filing and payment postponement.  A taxpayer may still choose to Form 8892 by July 15 in to obtain an extension until October 15, 2020.  Interest, penalties, and additions to tax with respect to such postponed Forms 709 and payments will begin to accrue on July 16, 2020.

Please check out Fox Rothschild’s coronavirus resource page, which is available here.

For more up-to-date coverage from Tax Controversy and Financial Crimes Report, please subscribe by clicking here.