The month of October advances, and California taxpayers face the closing of the extended tax filing window. The deadline to file state returns without penalty is October 15, although any outstanding payments should have been made by April 15.
The Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the agency responsible for state taxes in California (not related to the IRS or any federal taxes), is processing refunds for those who overpaid during the tax year. In the filing season that began January 7, 2025, millions of residents filed their forms, and many hope to recover funds for unclaimed deductions or tax credits.
This process is intended to ease the financial burden on Californians, who suffer from one of the highest costs of living in the country, so any extra money is more than welcome.
California tax refunds: A check could have your Name on it
The mechanism for receiving a state refund is straightforward. If your tax return shows that you’ve overpaid taxes—for example, through deductions for children, medical expenses, or retirement plan contributions—the FTB will refund the difference.
For electronic returns, processing takes up to three weeks; for paper returns, up to three months. Factors such as reviews for possible fraud or errors can extend these timeframes. To check the status of your refund, access the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the FTB website.
You’ll need to have in hand your Social Security number, ZIP code, the exact amount of your expected refund, and your mailing address (e.g., 1234 for “1234 Main Street”). If the amount doesn’t match your estimate, wait for a letter of explanation before contacting the agency, as this is common in routine reviews.
Extended deadlines for filing tax returns
California offers an automatic six-month extension for filing individual returns, pushing the deadline to October 15, 2025. However, this does not apply to payments: any outstanding balance must be paid by April to avoid penalties and interest.
This policy benefits those who need more time to gather documents, but emphasizes the importance of accurately estimating tax obligations. In the current climate, with the economy still recovering from inflation and weather events, many are opting for tax preparation software to maximize refunds.
Tax relief in California for extreme weather events
An important consideration in October 2025 is natural disaster relief. The wildfires in Los Angeles County, which began on January 7, have qualified affected individuals and businesses for an extension until October 15.
This covers individual income tax returns, estimated payments, and payroll taxes due between January and October. The FTB and the IRS are coordinating these efforts; victims face no penalties for late filing during this window. This impacts areas like Los Angeles, where the fires destroyed property and tax documents.
“This extension is essential for recovery, so you have time to meet your tax obligations without leaving a hole in your family finances,” said an FTB spokesperson, noting that it includes returns from trusts and inheritances. To qualify, taxpayers must reside or operate in the declared disaster areas.
Tax refunds from previous years can still be claimed
At the same time, unclaimed refunds represent a missed opportunity for thousands. At the federal level, the IRS reports that taxpayers across the country, including California, leave significant amounts behind each year. For the 2021 tax year, the deadline to claim refunds expired in May 2024, but for 2022, 2023, and 2024, there is still time—up to three years after the original due date.
In California, local programs like the one in San Diego highlight more than $1 million in unclaimed funds available through October 5, 2025, although this includes not only taxes but also fines and property. At the state level, the FTB handles outstanding refunds through debt intercepts, but encourages checking MyFTB accounts for real-time updates.
