CALIFORNIA NEWS
2024 Tax deadline: How to file a tax extension in California?
California offers an automatic filing extension but you will have still needed to have paid your estimated tax by the 15 April deadline.
With less than a day to file your taxes on time in California, many may hope to extend the deadline by a few months. The process could not be easier because, in reality, there is no process.
The California Franchise Tax Board (CFTB) does not require a petition for an extension to be filed; instead, it offers an automatic six-month extension to all those who do not meet the deadline. However, like extensions offered for federal returns by the IRS, it only applies to submitting one’s return and not any taxes that are owed by the 15 April deadline. Payments can be made online through the CFTB’s website.
Those affected by the severe floods in San Diego County that occurred on 21 January have been offered an automatic filing extension, which pushes back the deadline for both filing and paying any taxes owed to 17 June 2024.
The extension also applies to:
- "Quarterly estimated tax payments due April 15, 2024.
- Business entities whose tax returns are normally due on March 15, 2024, and April 15, 2024.
- Pass-through entity (PTE) elective tax payments due on March 15, 2024.
- Tax-exempt organization returns normally due on May 15, 2024."
Source: CFTB
To ensure that the CFTB knows that the disaster extension covers you, they advise filers to “write the name of the disaster in blue or black ink at the top of their tax return or follow the instructions of their software provider.”
How do I track my California refund?
The state makes it easy to track your refund. On the CFTB website, you can use the “Check your refund status” tool. You will be asked to provide your Social Security number, ZIP Code, your exact refund amount (which can be found on your return), and the numbers in your mailing address. For example if you live at 10 Main Street, the numbers would be 10.