Small businesses drive California’s economy, and in the first quarter of 2024, the California Department of Taxation and Fees Administration registered more than 31,000 new sales and use tax accounts. CDTFA’s resources help new and long-time business owners understand their tax responsibilities.
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared May as Small Business Month, and CDTFA is offering a variety of freebies to help small business owners understand how taxes and fees apply to sales in their industry. We provide resources.
CDTFA resources available to businesses include:
Easy access to online services. On his website for CDTFA, you can register for an account, file a return, make payments, find tax rates using your address, check the status of your account, and sign up for news and updates. Online Services also allow you to check your permissions, licenses, or accounts.
Personal assistance. Taxpayers can schedule an in-person visit to their nearest regional office or arrange a virtual meeting. You can also contact a CDTFA Customer Service Center representative at 1-800-400-7115 (TTY: 711) Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. From 5:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Taxpayers can also chat with representatives online for quick and convenient answers to common questions. CDTFA also offers free one-on-one consultations with her to eligible new taxpayers through the Taxpayer Education Consultation Program. Eligible taxpayers can seek free legal assistance through the Tax Appeal Assistance Program.
Industry-specific resources. Business owners can find answers to common industry tax questions in Industry and Tax and Fee Guides, downloadable forms and publications, and her 200+ industry-specific publications. Business owners also have access to free seminars, classes, webinars, clinics, and workshops.
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration administers California’s sales and use, fuel, tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis taxes and other taxes and fees that fund certain state programs. Programs managed by CDTFA accounted for more than $96.2 billion last year and delivered essential local services such as transportation, public safety and health, libraries, schools, social services, and natural resource management programs directly into communities. We support them through tax distribution. .
