The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today announced that CalFile, the
electronic state tax-filing program is now offered in both English and
Spanish. CalFile is available at no cost to 6.5 million Californians.
“Making the State’s
free and convenient CalFile program available in Spanish will make tax
filing easier for even more Californians,”
said State Controller and FTB Chair John Chiang.
The benefits of CalFile include faster refunds within seven days of
filing, fewer errors, and immediate confirmation. CalFile takes income
of up to nearly $311,000, itemized deductions, and some tax credits. It
is available to taxpayers who file the Forms 540 2EZ, 540A, and to a
limited degree the 540. Taxpayers owed a refund can request FTB to
deposit their funds in up to two different bank accounts.
To use CalFile, visit FTB’s website at ftb.ca.gov.
In addition to CalFile, FTB provides a Check Your Refund online service
in Spanish. FTB also has an interactive voice response system in Spanish
and staffs its call center with bilingual agents. Many Volunteer Income
Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly sites provide
bilingual support statewide to taxpayers needing help to complete simple
tax returns.
Another free e-file service taxpayers may want to consider is
ReadyReturn. The ReadyReturn program completes tax returns for
individuals who in 2006 filed their tax return as single, had no
dependents, took the standard deduction, and in 2007 had only one
employer. ReadyReturn uses wage and withholding data already provided by
employers to complete tax returns. Taxpayers may accept the return as
presented, make changes, or choose not to use it and file using other
means.
FTB encourages taxpayers who owe money to use Web Pay rather than mail a
check. Web Pay allows taxpayers to make payments from their bank account
to satisfy their return balance due or extension payment. Taxpayers can
also pay estimated tax or make any bill payments online. Taxpayers can
also pay with their Discover/NOVUS, MasterCard, American Express, or
Visa cards for a small fee. FTB also accepts payments sent through
Western Union.
Taxpayers should also visit FTB’s website for
more online services such as My FTB Account. This application allows
taxpayers to view their payments and account balance, FTB-issued 1099s,
and California wage and withholding information. FTB’s
website also has other e-file options and more tax information.
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