Reminder: State income tax returns due Thursday

T he Franchise Ta x Board on Friday issued a reminder to taxpayers that Thursday, Oct. 15, is the deadline for filing 2019 state personal income tax returns to avoid penalties.

Taxpayers can file electronically free of charge using FTB’s CalFile program. CalFile and a list of other free or fee-based e-file services are available at FTB’s website, at www.ftb.ca.gov.

Still, Solano County taxpayers affected by the LNU Lightning Complex wildfires in August may have more time to make certain payments and file their 2019 state returns.

The state on Aug. 28 and Oct. 7 granted extensions to two dozen California counties, including Solano, permitting taxpayers to file their returns and make certain payments by Dec. 15. Besides those in Solano, the state’s decision affected taxpayers in nearby Yolo, Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties, plus 19 others.

E-filing provides faster refunds, increased accuracy, and immediate confirmation that FTB received a return. For quick refunds, FTB encourages taxpayers to opt for direct deposit to their bank accounts, Daniel Tahara, who works in the agency’s public affairs office, noted in a press release issued Friday.

Taxpayers can use FTB’s electronic payment options. Web Pay allows taxpayers to authorize a payment from a bank account to cover return balances. Individual taxpayers can also go to their MyFTB account to securely access their tax information and to view and schedule tax payments.

Payments were due July 15, but installment plans are available on the FTB website for taxpayers facing financial hardship. Those who owe $25,000 or less and can repay within five years generally qualify, Tahara wrote in the prepared statement.

Taxpayers who are 18 or older, work, and have low income, can take advantage of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and receive up to $2,982 in cash back. And those who qualify for CalEITC and have at least one child under the age of 6 as of the end of the tax year, may qualify for $1,000 for the Young Child Tax Credit.

As of Oct. 3, Californians filed more than 18.1 million personal income tax returns, 16.7 million of them electronically. The state has issued 13.8 million refunds totaling more than $14.8 billion, Tahara said.