California tax agency sends pay-up letters

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Nearly a million Californians who haven't filed their state taxes, including more than 25,200 in Sacramento County, are getting pay-up letters from the state Franchise Tax Board this week.

Under a notice announced Monday, the FTB said more than 900,000 letters are going out to those who earned income in California but didn't file their 2008 taxes last year.

Those non-filers range from "'conscientious tax objectors' who believe they don't need to file, to those who are still waiting for documents to those who are procrastinators," said FTB spokeswoman Brenda Voet.

The letters are based on millions of earned income records from banks, employers, the IRS and other state agencies.

Last year, the FTB's non-filer program reeled in more than $600 million from those who hadn't filed their 2007 or prior returns.

The letters going out statewide include 24,225 individuals in Sacramento County, 5,254 in Placer County, 2,673 in El Dorado and 178,854 in Los Angeles County.

Those receiving letters have 30 days to file a return or show why one was not due. Then the debt goes to the FTB's collections process, Voet said.

The interest, penalties and fees on delinquent taxes "can be substantial," Voet said, up to 50 percent of the amount owed in some cases. Voet urged delinquent taxpayers to get in contact with the FTB quickly.

"There are a lot of people experiencing financial setbacks and we need to know about that, so we can help them figure out a payback arrangement," she said.

http://www.sacbee.com/business/story/2506189.html

[NickD 203]

Wisconsin doesn't send out pay up letters, either toss you in jail or worse yet, deport you down to Illinois.

[Jasman0717 9]

Wisconsin doesn't send out pay up letters, either toss you in jail or worse yet, deport you down to Illinois.

Hum, maybe California can deport to there too

[Christi and Ian 24]

Not that I have a problem with California going after people who don't pay their taxes...

...however...

I fully expect to see Arnold, pants rolled up, collecting change from fountains soon...

[Texanadian 10]

I'm sure some Californians will end up mailing in an I.O.U. to the state treasury.