For California residents the deadline for filing federal and state tax returns for the year 2020 is Monday, May 17, 2021. See the 2021 Tax Calendars (PDF).
San Francisco Public Library does NOT carry 1099 forms. To order 1099 forms, and other tax products, call the IRS assistance center at (800) 829-3676.
Federal and California Tax Forms
San Francisco Public Library Virtual Tax Programs
- Presentation: Tax Trouble - What to Do If You've Got Problems with the IRS. Tuesday, 3/9/2021, 12pm-1:30pm
- Presentation: Saving for Retirement. Tuesday, 3/30/2021, 12pm-1:30pm
Which Form Do I Use?
Federal
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For information on which form to use, where and when to file, see page 8 of the IRS 1040 instruction booklet.
State of California
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The California Franchise Tax Board can help you to determine which form to file.
Assistance with Filing Your Return
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Frequently Asked Questions from the CA Franchise Tax Board.
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Enter your zip code and find tax help at AARP Tax-Aide. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Online Tax Assistance.
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Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) - Search by city or county for best results.
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Tax Aid provides free high-quality tax return preparation for Bay Area families with incomes less than $55,000 in 2020.
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Earn it! Keep it! Save it! List of Bay Area counties that offer tax help, courtesy of the United Way.
- Free Tax Help: File your taxes for free online and by phone if you earned under $56,844 in 2020.
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If you believe a federal tax issue cannot be resolved online or over the phone, call the Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) at 1-844-545-5640.Or find a TAC near you. Assistance at the TAC requires an appointment.
Free Online Filing
Federal
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The Internal Revenue Service offers free filing options if you meet certain qualifications.
State of California
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The Franchise Tax Board offers a free e-file program, CalFile, if you meet certain qualifications.
Filing by Mail – Where to Send Returns
Federal
State of California
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State tax forms for California and tax-related correspondence are sent to Sacramento. All 540 forms have mailing addresses on them.
Working Families Credit (WFC)
The Working Families Credit (WFC) Program provides up to $250 to low- and moderate-income San Francisco families who have qualified for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The WFC application deadline is April 15, 2021.
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps low-to-moderate-income working taxpayers get more money back when they file their federal income tax return.
Federal forms and instructions for previous years are available for downloading.
- 1040 form (PDF) and 1040 instructions (PDF)
- 4868 -automatic extension (PDF) of time to file as an individual.
or order forms by phone: Call 800-829-3676
All forms and publications for 2020 and for previous years are available from the California Franchise Tax Board.
To order forms by phone: Call 800-338-0505