This is a warning that California will charge you an additional 25% even if you never owed them a penny if you don't file an income tax return with them more than 8 months after April 15. For example, if you make 100K and your california income tax is 10K yet you already paid in payroll taxes 11K but you don't file for a year, then California will automatically charge you the original 10K plus 25% of the 10K which is
12.5K just because you're late. So you don't even get your refund. They keep it (they kept mine). And they send you a bill besides. All for taxes you never owed in the first place! The federal government does NOT penalize you for being late if they owe you. I know all this because after my husband died a few years ago, I moved from Texas which thankfully is a very low tax state to California which unfortunately is a very high tax state and it took me a while to get my tax feet on the ground again. I don't want this to happen to other hapless Californians.Warning: California penalizes you 25% for not filing even if they owe you! Thanks in advance for any help. Vickie