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FTB Warns: When Paying for a Tax Preparer, Choose Wisely

Sacramento – Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today offered guidance to taxpayers who plan to hire a tax preparer for the 2009 filing season.

Taxpayers are cautioned to avoid tax preparers who:

* Claim they can get bigger refunds than other tax preparers.
* Delegate tax preparation work to someone with less experience or knowledge.
* Ask the taxpayer to sign a blank return, or sign a return in pencil.
* Base their fee on a percentage of the refund amount.
* Do not provide a copy of the tax return for the taxpayer’s records.

California Winter Storm Victims Get State Tax Relief from Franchise Tax Board

Sacramento – The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today announced special tax relief for California taxpayers affected by the recent severe winter storms that started in January.

"California families who suffered property damage can find quick relief through their tax returns," said State Controller and FTB Chair John Chiang.

California FTB's Mandatory E-Pay Penalty Will Not be Assessed in 2010

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has announced that it will not impose the personal income tax e-pay penalty against taxpayers required to make their tax payments electronically. The FTB states that since the mandatory e-pay requirements were instituted in 2009, compliance has been increasing steadily. However, rather than imposing penalties now, the FTB will continue to focus its efforts on outreach and education so that taxpayers and their representatives can implement processes and procedures to comply with the law.

California FTB Individual Taxpayers Can Now Pay-By-Phone

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has announced that personal income tax liabilities may now be paid by pay-by-phone. The pay-by-phone option is a new e-pay option provided by the state's electronic funds transfer (EFT) vendor and allows taxpayers to use the automated clearing house (ACH) debit method to instruct the state to electronically debit a taxpayer's bank account for a specific payment amount. Pay-by-phone cannot be used by group nonresident return/composite filers.

California Will Not Mail Tax Booklets to Nonresidents in 2009

(from FTB.CA.GOV)

Sacramento — The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today announced that it will no longer mail the 540NR California Nonresident or Part-Year Resident income tax booklet to taxpayers.

FTB is discontinuing this service due to the decreased use of this booklet, and its efforts to cut government spending. FTB estimates it will save the state more than $259,000 by not sending the 540NR booklet directly to nonresident taxpayers.

Taxpayers who filed a paper Form 540NR tax return for tax year 2008 will be mailed a letter in January detailing how they may get a 540NR Booklet.

Hearing Set on Apportionment Regulation for Sales of Other Than Tangible Personal Property

A hearing has been scheduled for January 13, 2010, to review proposed amendments to the existing California corporation franchise and income tax regulation governing the apportionment formula's sales factor rules for sales of other than tangible personal property.

Registered Warrants (IOUs) Received For A Tax Refund - What You Need To Know

(From FTB.CA.GOV Website)

Registered warrants are now redeemable

Effective September 4, 2009, State of California registered warrants issued by the State Controller are redeemable.

In order to receive any interest earned when you redeem your registered warrant, use the address below to either present the warrant in person or mail it to the State Treasurer's Office.

Attention: Registered Warrant Desk
State Treasurer's Office
915 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
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