December 26, 2018 - Sacramento –The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has released a new, free video training course aimed at helping volunteers become IRS-certified to prepare income tax returns during tax season.

The 11-part course, taught by FTB’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) trainers and spanning just under two hours total, is available at FTB’s website, ftb.ca.gov.

VITA volunteers spend the fall and early winter training for tax season. Volunteers then give their time to prepare returns for low- to moderate-income families for free in communities around the state.

“Now from your own home you can learn to prepare tax returns and help members of your community in a meaningful way,” State Controller and FTB Chair Betty T. Yee said.

The new video course covers what volunteers need to know about federal and state income tax returns, including changes brought about by recent federal tax reform.

In-person VITA training is also available around the state. To find a location near you, visit https://www.ftb.ca.gov/volunteer.

VITA is administered by the IRS and supported by FTB. The program is an important way for families to get their federal and state tax returns done for free, allowing them to receive any refund they are due and in some cases connect with the cash-back California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC).

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FTB administers two of California's major tax programs: Personal Income Tax and the Corporation Tax. FTB also administers other non tax programs and delinquent debt collection functions, including delinquent vehicle registration debt collections on behalf of the Department of Motor Vehicles, and court–ordered debt. Annually, FTB’s tax programs collect more than 70 percent of the state’s general fund. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit: taxes.ca.gov
Source: FTB