Millions of California taxpayers are waiting for their income tax refund checks, which have been sent out for weeks by the California Department of Revenue – Franchise Tax Board (FTB).
This agency is responsible for managing tax collection for both individuals and corporations within the state, as well as generating and sending tax refunds to those who are eligible. In case you’re not entirely sure, a tax refund occurs when a taxpayer pays more than their actual tax liability for a fiscal year.
In the case of excess income tax, this can be due to payroll withholdings, estimated payments made on account, or the application of refundable tax credits. Those eligible to receive tax refunds in California
Eligibility for a refund is not limited to California residents
Individuals who do not reside in the state but earned income from California sources and who have complied with their obligation to file Form 540, the individual income tax return, are also eligible. The right to a refund arises when the FTB verifies that the total payment made exceeds the final tax liability.
Credits for renters, energy costs, or disaster-related expenses (e.g., losses from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires) can increase refunds or reduce taxable income.
Other tax credits that generate refunds
The mechanisms that generate this excess include automatic salary withholdings, estimated payments made quarterly, and the aforementioned refundable tax credits. Among the most important credits that can increase the amount due is the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC).
This benefit offers up to $3,644 for low-income taxpayers, with thresholds reaching up to $31,950 in 2024, varying depending on the number of children claimed.
Another relevant credit is the Young Child Tax Credit, which can provide up to $1,117 for each child under 6 years old. There are also other credits linked to rental expenses, compensation for gasoline prices, or deductions for losses caused by natural disasters.
California tax brackets that demarcate refunds
California’s tax system is structured on a progressive basis, with nine different tax brackets ranging from 1% to 12.3%, plus an additional 1% tax for incomes exceeding $1 million.
Even high-income taxpayers can receive a refund if the withholdings from their payroll exceed the final net liability calculated according to these income brackets. The law contemplates various situations that allow access to deductions, such as those generated by certified natural disasters.
Calculating the tax refund: the formula applied
The final calculation of the refund amount depends on the interaction of multiple variables. Taxable income, total withholdings, applicable deductions, and refundable credits are the factors that determine the final figure. Filing Form 540 is the act that materializes this calculation.
To illustrate, if a taxpayer had $5,000 in withholdings, but their final tax liability was $3,500, the base refund would be $1,500. To this base amount, the taxpayer would be added the value of all eligible refundable credits.
Deductions, whether standard: $5,637 for singles and $11,274 for couples in tax year 2024—or itemized deductions for items such as mortgage interest or charitable donations, act by reducing the taxable income. This reduction in taxable income can result in a lower tax liability and, consequently, a larger refund.
When do California income tax refunds arrive?
A good portion of taxpayers have already received their tax refunds, but another significant segment is still waiting. Although the usual deadline for filing returns ended in April, the agency continues to process refunds corresponding to late returns, amendments (filed using Form 540-X), or those that received an extension, which was extended to October 15.
For e-filing cases where direct deposit is chosen, the average wait time is 21 business days. When the refund is requested by physical check sent by mail, this timeframe is extended by 4 to 6 weeks.
However, physical paper returns have longer processing times: they typically take between 8 and 12 weeks to be manually processed by FTB officers.
The “Where’s My Refund?” tool, hosted on the FTB’s official website (ftb.ca.gov/refund), is the primary means of doing this. To use it, you must provide your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), the ZIP code associated with your return, and the exact refund amount you expect to receive.