Sacramento - The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced mailing more than 135,000 review letters to taxpayers who claimed the “Head of Household” filing status on their 2009 state tax return.
Taxpayers who do not qualify will have their tax reassessed at either a single or married-filing-separate filing status. Nearly 29,000 taxpayers who used this status last year did not meet its requirements and were issued more than $31 million in tax assessments.
Each year FTB reviews tax returns of taxpayers who claim the Head of Household filing status because the qualifications are commonly misunderstood. The status generally results in lower tax liabilities for unmarried taxpayers who care for a dependent. To qualify, the taxpayer must provide care for more than one-half of the year and pay more than one-half the cost of maintaining their home. The qualifying person must be related to the taxpayer and meet the requirements to be a qualifying child or relative. More than 2 million California taxpayers use this filing status each year.
FTB advises taxpayers who receive an audit letter to respond promptly by completing the enclosed questionnaire. Failure to respond could result in a tax assessment and penalty. Questionnaires can be submitted by any of these methods:
- Respond electronically at ftb.ca.gov. Use HOH Audit Letter Web Response page.
- Respond by fax at 866.223.8195.
- Respond by mail using the pre-addressed envelope provided with the audit letter.
FTB provides the following tools on its website to assist taxpayers:
- Head of Household “self-test.”
- Answers to frequently asked questions.
- Publication 1540, “CA Head of Household Filing Status,” in English and Spanish.
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