Did anybody else get a California state tax refund paper check recently (June 28th) for tax year 2021? Seems fishy to me but I already got a direct deposit in 2022.

[barnabyf]

I was not expecting this at all so maybe I'm just not informed but I did find the following that may be related but it's hard to know. Otherwise, there is nothing on the paper check from the California Franchise Tax Board that indicates why I'm getting this other than Fund Name: Tax Refund Account. Any ideas? Thanks for any help with this. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-guidance-on-state-tax-payments-to-help-taxpayers

[capiower · Accepted solution]

barnabyf

Congratulations on the extra money you received! You say it was for Tax year 2021, this could be because a tax payment you made was applied to the wrong year, 

Received a refund but didn't expect it

Common reasons

Reason

What to do

Your payment went to the wrong year

If you know your payment went to the wrong year, send the refund check back to us with a letter explaining what happened. Send a letter with: Your name A statement that your payment was applied to the wrong year The correct tax year for the payment Original refund check Endorse the back of the check: Pay to the order of FTB (don’t write VOID on the check) Mail these items to: Returned Warrant Desk MS F283 Franchise Tax Board PO Box 942867 Sacramento CA 94267-0001 If you’re unsure why you received a refund, contact us.

The best thing to do in this case would be to contact CA FTB and find out why you received this extra refund. 

you can contact them here https://www.ftb.ca.gov/help/contact/phone-fax.html

I hope this resolves your question.

Michelle T. 

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[VolvoGirl]

California should send you a letter explaining it in a couple weeks.  Does it look official?  It might be fake or a scam.  You don't recognize the amount as anything?  It's not for the CA Middle Class Tax Refund?  I assume you meant you got the 2021 Direct Deposit in 2022 when you filed.  Could it be a small amount like for interest?  Or you left off an estimated payment you made or an extension payment or applied your 2020 refund to 2021?  Could be lots of reasons.  

[barnabyf]

I contacted the CA FTB via their online chat and they basically said they were sending the rest of the refund without letting me know why. I do have a faint memory of being bummed about only getting half of the refund but seems legit. Not sure why they didn't just use direct deposit again but, problem solved. Thanks!