The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) ensures that every taxpayer is treated fairly and knows and understands their rights.

There are seven TAS offices in California. The one nearest to Nevada and Placer counties is in Sacramento.


Web pages

• Main page - Taxpayer Advocate Service
• See FAQs on the following page, including info about how to open a case: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/contact-us/

California Unemployment Department manages the State Unemployment Insurance Program. There are no state unemployment insurance offices that are available for public access.

Information about how to file for Unemployment Insurance is here: https://edd.ca.gov/en/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim

Questions can be asked here: https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/

Web pages

• Home - https://edd.ca.gov/
• File a Claim - https://edd.ca.gov/en/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim
• Ask EDD - https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/

Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been approved for those impacted by widespread California fires. From Cal OES News. See more details and eligibility criteria here: https://news.caloes.ca.gov/disaster-unemployment-assistance-has-been-approved-for-those-impacted-by-widespread-california-fires/


The California Employment Development Department (EDD) administers these benefits, which are available to workers, business owners, and self-employed individuals who lost their jobs or businesses or had their work hours reduced due to the ongoing wildfires.
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that individuals who lost work or self-employment as a direct result of the Dixie Fire in Plumas and Lassen Counties, and the River Fire in Placer and Nevada counties, are now eligible to apply for DUA benefits. The FEMA approval is for FEMA-designated disaster area 4610-DR (also noted as 4610-DR-CA and DR4610CA).
 
Web pages
 

• Home - https://edd.ca.gov/en
• D…

[read more]

How to Report EDD Fraud
Visit Ask EDD at https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/AskEDD/s/ and select the Report Fraud category to complete the Fraud Reporting Form. You can also call the EDD Fraud Hotline at 800-229-6297 or fax 866-340-5484.

When reporting fraud:

• Provide all relevant information about the issue. Your report will be anonymous unless you include your name and phone number.
• Send any fraudulent documents or mail to EDD PO Box 826880, MIC 43, Sacramento, CA 94280-0225. You can also write “Return to Sender” on the envelope and provide it to your mail carrier.
• Write “Return to sender” on the envelope of any mail you receive that does not pertain to you and provide it to your mail carrier.

If you need to provide more information after reporting fraud, contact us again. Include the reference number provided when you first reported the issue.

Note: To ensure the confidentiality and integrity of any investigation, the EDD does not provide status updates unless court… [read more]

The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is a 100 percent state-funded program designed to provide monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, or disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to their immigration status. The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) eliminated Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) eligibility for most non-citizens. As a result, most immigrants who were not receiving SSI/SSP in August 1996 are no longer eligible for SSI/SSP.

CAPI recipients may be eligible for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), but they must file for each benefit separately. There is no automatic eligibility link between CAPI and these other programs.

To be eligible for CAPI, you must:

1. Be ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to immigration status,
2. Be 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled,
3. Be a resident of California,
4. Meet certain income and resource requirements, and
5. Be a non-citizen and meet the immigration stat…

[read more]

MyFreeTaxes.org helps people file their federal and state taxes for free while getting the assistance they need.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.myfreetaxes.org/

Information about IRS office locations, making appointments, etc.

Phone numbers:

Individuals
800-829-1040
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time

Businesses
800-829-4933
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time

Non-profit taxes
877-829-5500
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time

Estate and gift taxes (Form 706/709)
866-699-4083
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time

Excise taxes
866-699-4096
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time

Callers who are hearing impaired
TTY/TDD 800-829-4059

Web pages

• Home - https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance
  
  
  

Need Help Paying Bills has resources for finding financial assistance with bills, free items, housing, food, and emergency or long term help for basic needs. There are local agencies as well as state and national organizations, including charities, non-profit agencies, and government social services. Find info about rent or utility bill assistance, food pantries, mortgage payment help, free health or dental clinics, and more. There is also information on financial services offered directly to consumers from private companies such as utility companies and credit counselors.

Even if you do not find a direct service on the website, it can give you ideas of what to look for in your own state or community.

The information you find on Needhelppayingbills, all of which is free, may be able to help you and your family make it through a difficult period. Learn about financial assistance programs such as LIHEAP, Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), or eviction prevention. A number of services are…

[read more]

The Department of Housing and Community Development administers State and Federal housing and community development loan and grant programs.

California Housing Finance Agency

CalHFA supports the needs of renters and homebuyers by providing financing and programs so more low and moderate-income Californians have a place to call home. Its Single-Family Division provides first mortgage loans and down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers.

• The Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan is a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers to be used in conjunction with the Dream For All Conventional first mortgage for down payment and/or closing costs. Upon sale or transfer of the home, the homebuyer repays the original down payment loan, plus a share of the appreciation in the value of the home.

Department of Fair Employment and Housing

The Department of Fair Employment and Housing is the largest state civil rights agency in the country. The Department investigates, mediates and p…

[read more]

GetYourRefund.org provides tax filing assistance to families earning less than $66,000 a year. Trained, IRS-certified volunteers will prepare and double-check your tax return to make sure it is correct before filing. Services offered in English and Spanish.

Here's a brief overview of the process:

• To get started, go to www.getyourrefund.org and click on "Get Started."
• You'll start by entering some personal information, then you'll upload photos of your ID, social security card, and any tax documents you have for 2020.
• Then a tax preparer will contact you to finalize your return before filing it. 
  
  

Web pages

• Home - https://www.getyourrefund.org/en
• Home (Español) - https://www.getyourrefund.org/es