@sandrawa
Last Question first: (For desktop software users)
1) Yes, a $25 efile fee is required for all states e-filing...except NY ($20 before March 1 of the filing year, but that could change some year). Print & mail file of a state forms can be done separately without the charge....but printing-mailing-etc can take quite a bit longer to get processed.....and sometimes all the manual processing goes astray.
2) Yeah, there might be a Federal form 1040 within the CA section of the PDF. Some states require a copy of the 1040 when mail filing. Y'all might be E-filing, but the 1040 would be included in the PDF anyhow, just in case it's needed if the State asks for all the forms later. CA doesn't require the 1040 in all cases, but apparently your set of forms does require it.
(If you really want to know when exactly the 1040 is required with the CA forms...Details of when it is, or is not required can be found at the end of the CA 540 filing instructions on the CA FTB tax website)
____________*Answers are correct to the best of my knowledge when posted, but should not be considered to be legal or official tax advice.*
