California’s Tax Filing Season Begun
Jan 13, 2025 05:57PM ● By Franchise Tax Board News Release
The California Franchise Tax Board kicked off the 2025 tax filing season on Jan. 7. Photo by Pixaby
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The California Franchise Tax Board
(FTB) kicked off the 2025 tax filing season on Jan. 7 by providing taxpayers
with vital information regarding cash-back tax credits, disaster loss relief,
and the advantages of filing and making payments electronically. Taxpayers must
pay any taxes owed by April 15 to avoid penalties.
“I encourage all California taxpayers to file their taxes early to take
advantage of valuable tax credits that can provide essential financial
resources to themselves and their families,” said State Controller and FTB
Chair Malia M. Cohen. “I also invite Californians to make the most of FTB’s
online services, including e-filing and selecting direct deposit to a bank
account, which can significantly expedite their refunds.”
E-file for faster and secure refunds. File your taxes for free
using the IRS Direct File and the Franchise Tax Board’s
CalFile. CalFile allows most Californians to e-file their state tax
returns quickly, easily and for free. Eligible Californians can file their
federal taxes online using Direct File and then they will be directed to
CalFile to complete their state return. Direct File provides a simple way to
file federal tax returns securely and accurately.
For information about Direct File eligibility, visit www.directfile.irs.gov.
Find your answers online. Taxpayers are encouraged to use Franchise Tax Board’s
24/7 online self-service options to avoid potentially long delays when
contacting the California Franchise Tax Board. Last year, millions of taxpayers
visited the California Franchise Tax Board website at www.ftb.ca.gov.
Self-service options available through the website include checking your
refund status, making a payment, determining whether you should
file, figuring out which form to file and viewing processing and wait
times.
In California, taxpayers can access free tax assistance through the Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance program. To find a list of free tax assistance program
locations, visit ftb.ca.gov/vita. For additional free tax filing options,
visit ftb.ca.gov/efile.
Taxpayers should be vigilant against scams and take steps to protect
themselves. Scammers often impersonate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or Franchise
Tax Board employees to trick taxpayers into sending money or providing personal
information, which they can use to file fraudulent returns and steal refunds.
If you receive a suspicious letter from the Franchise Tax Board or the IRS,
contact the Franchise Tax Board at 800-852-5711 or the IRS at 800-829-1040.