Taxes & IRS

Your out-of-state pension is taxable by California if you are a California resident when you receive the payments. The state where you earned the pension does not determine its taxability in Californi...

The conservator is responsible for filing the individual state and federal tax returns for the person under conservatorship (the conservatee). The tax return is filed in the conservatee's name and und...

California no longer offers a specific tax credit for adoption costs, as the relevant law was repealed. You should instead focus on claiming the significant federal adoption tax credit and determine i...

To appeal a Franchise Tax Board (FTB) decision, you must file a formal written appeal directly with the California Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) before the strict deadline expires. This process moves yo...

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) requires Registered Domestic Partners (RDPs) to file state income taxes using the same rules and filing statuses as married spouses. You cannot file as "single...

California generally allows you to deduct charitable contributions if you itemize, but the calculation rules and limits differ slightly from federal law. To deduct these contributions, you must follow...

You can change your mailing address with the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) online, by mail, or on your annual state tax return. The fastest and most reliable method is to use your MyFTB online ...

To obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), you must pay all taxes, file all required returns, and submit final dissolution paperwork to the Secretary of State, which tri...

To file a complaint against a tax preparer in California, you must identify the preparer's professional designation and file a complaint with the appropriate state and federal agencies. The primary st...

In California, an early withdrawal from a 401(k) or IRA is taxed as ordinary income and is also subject to an additional 2.5% state penalty tax, on top of any federal penalties. Here is how to handle...

To deduct business mileage, you must keep detailed, contemporaneous records of your driving and report the deduction on the correct tax forms. California generally follows federal rules for this deduc...

In California, you must file a state income tax return if your income exceeds specific thresholds that depend on your filing status, age, and number of dependents. Even if your income is below the thr...

You can pay your California state income taxes online directly from your bank account using the Franchise Tax Board's (FTB) free Web Pay service. This allows you to schedule a secure payment without n...

California does not have an inheritance or estate tax, so you do not report the value of the inherited assets themselves as income. You are, however, required to report any taxable income you receive ...

The official source for California sales tax rates is the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) online lookup tool. This database provides the current, correct rate for any speci...

You can request a penalty waiver from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) by submitting a written request with supporting documents that establish reasonable cause for the delay, or by asking for a one-time...

In California, you generally report canceled debt income by first determining its taxability on your federal return; the taxable amount is then automatically included in the income you report on your ...

To obtain state tax-exempt status in California, your non-profit must incorporate, secure federal tax-exempt status, and then file an application with the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB). Here ar...

To close your business accounts, you must file final tax returns with both the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and formally request accoun...

California treats cryptocurrency as property for tax purposes, meaning you must report gains or losses from transactions on your state income tax return, similar to your federal return. Here is how to...

To apply for California's Property Tax Postponement Program, you must first confirm your eligibility and then submit a complete application with supporting documents to the State Controller's Office b...

To claim the California tax credit for child and dependent care, you must meet specific income limits, complete Form 3506, and attach it to your state income tax return. The credit is nonrefundable an...

In California, you must report all gambling winnings as income, and you may deduct losses up to the amount of your winnings by following federal tax rules. California's tax law conforms to the federal...

If you moved into or out of California during the tax year, you are considered a part-year resident and must file a specific state tax return to report income earned while you were a resident and inco...

As an out-of-state owner of a California rental property, you must report all rental income to California by filing a California Nonresident or Part-Year Resident Income Tax Return (Form 540NR). Calif...

To correctly pay a household employee in California, you must register as an employer, obtain required insurance, and file specific forms with federal and state agencies. This process ensures you comp...

In California, community property laws require you to combine most income earned by you and your spouse during the marriage and report exactly half of that total on your separate state tax return. He...

You can find free VITA and TCE tax preparation sites in California by using online locator tools from both the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB). These programs provide free basic tax r...

To request innocent spouse relief in California, you must file Form FTB 705 with the Franchise Tax Board, providing evidence that you meet specific legal requirements for relief from a joint tax liabi...

To resolve a California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) wage garnishment or bank levy, you must contact the FTB immediately to either pay the debt in full or negotiate an alternative payment arrangement. Ac...

To obtain a California seller's permit, you must register your business with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) by providing detailed information about your business opera...

You can obtain a copy of your prior-year California tax return either online through a MyFTB account or by mailing a request form to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). The online method is the fastest way...

You must immediately report the fraud to the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and file an official identity theft report with law enforcement. Taking these steps promptly is critical to protecting...

You must pay California use tax on a vehicle purchased in another state when you register it with the California DMV. The amount is based on your vehicle's purchase price and the sales tax rate at you...

To transfer your Proposition 13 property tax base to a new home as a senior citizen, you must sell your original primary residence and file a claim with the county assessor within the required timefra...

To appeal your county property tax assessment, you must file a formal application with your county's Assessment Appeals Board and present evidence showing your property's value is lower than its asses...

To claim the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), you do not need to submit additional documents with your tax return, but you must have proof of your income and eligibility available if the...

To determine your eligibility and claim the California Renter's Credit, you must meet income and residency requirements and file a state tax return. The credit is available even if you don't owe any s...

To properly report your home sale, you must calculate your capital gain, determine if the gain is excludable under California law, and report the transaction and any tax withheld on your California Fo...

To apply for a California Offer in Compromise (OIC), you must submit a detailed application with financial documentation to prove to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) that you cannot pay your full tax lia...

To maintain your California LLC, you must pay an annual $800 tax and a separate annual fee based on your total income, in addition to filing the required tax returns and a Statement of Information. Th...

To pay California estimated taxes, you must calculate your expected annual income, determine the tax owed using Form 540-ES, and submit payments to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) in four quarterly inst...

You can check the status of your California state tax refund on the official Franchise Tax Board (FTB) website. The FTB provides a secure online tool specifically for this purpose. Here is how to che...

To formally protest a tax deficiency, you must file a written protest with the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) within 60 days of the date on their Notice of Proposed Assessment. Failure to meet this deadlin...

Upon receiving a Notice of Proposed Assessment (NPA) from the FTB, you must review it carefully and file a formal written protest before the deadline if you disagree with the proposed changes. Here ar...

You can request a payment plan, called an installment agreement, from the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to pay your tax bill over time. Here are the steps to set up an agreement: Step 1: Gathe...

To amend a previously filed California tax return, you must complete and mail Form 540X, Amended Individual Income Tax Return, to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) with supporting documentation. Here is t...

To file a final California tax return for a deceased person, the estate's court-appointed representative or surviving spouse must file a standard Form 540 for the year of death, indicating that the ta...

California grants an automatic six-month extension to file your state tax return, but it does not grant an extension to pay any taxes you owe. To avoid penalties, you must pay your estimated tax liabi...

Your California residency status for income tax depends on your domicile and your physical presence in the state for purposes other than temporary or transitory. The California Franchise Tax Board (FT...