California residents that are taxpayers must file Form 540, their state income tax return. Just like the federal income tax returns, this form can be filed electronically or on paper. Those who are looking for a free way to file their state income tax returns in an efficient and fast way can benefit from the online fillable version of the FTB Form 540.
The Franchise Tax Board’s version of the 540 published on the state agency is partially fillable online, but many report issues about saving the PDF file with their information on it. You can start filling out the California FTB Form 540 below updated for the 2023 taxes you’ll file in 2024. If the form isn’t updated by the time you read this article, make sure to check back later, as we’ll replace it with the most current version.
FTB Form 540 PDF
California state income tax dates
The tax season for California state income taxes starts around the same as the federal income taxes. So expect the California tax season to begin in late January or at the start of February.
California tax filing deadline
Again – the same as the federal income taxes, your deadline to file California state income tax return is April 15. This date is also your last day to pay if you have taxes due.
Extension deadline
If you’re not able to file your state income tax return by the April 15 deadline, you can file for an extension that will give you an additional six months to file FTB Form 540, pushing the filing deadline to October 15. However, this is solely for filing. You are still required to pay your tax liability. Estimate how much you’re going to end up owing when you file your state income tax return and make a payment to the Franchise Tax Board accordingly.
Why we recommend e-filing
There are many reasons to e-file a federal or state income tax return. Eliminating the common errors and making your return less prone to mistakes is the top one of them. It also takes less time for the Franchise Tax Board to process your state return compared to mailed returns. Naturally, this means you’ll get your tax refund in a more timely fashion.
In case you don’t want to or can’t file Form 540 electronically for your 2023 taxes in 2024 due to attaching tax forms that can’t be e-filed, here is where to mail it once you prepare it.
California state tax return mailing address
| Form | Mail here if you’re disclosing a payment | Mail here if you’re NOT disclosing a payment | Mail here for other correspondence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 540 540 2EZ 540NR Schedule X | Franchise Tax Board PO Box 942867 Sacramento CA 94267-0001 | Franchise Tax Board PO Box 942840 Sacramento CA 94240-0001 | Franchise Tax Board PO Box 942840 Sacramento CA 94240-0040 |
| 540 (Scannable version only) | Franchise Tax Board PO Box 942867 Sacramento CA 94267-0001 | Franchise Tax Board PO Box 942840 Sacramento CA 94240-0001 | Tax Forms Development and Distribution MS F-284 Franchise Tax Board PO Box 1468 Sacramento CA 95812-1468 |
More information on California state income tax
There is a lot that goes into filing a tax return. If you’re preparing a tax return yourself, you must have sizeable knowledge of how California taxes work and some of the essential things that will be a part of filing a return. Read more below to learn everything you need on California state income tax for the 2024 tax season.
California Tax Brackets [year]
California Estimated Tax Payments