California Foster Youth Tax Credit

1. Tax Prep Checklist: JBAY has developed a Tax Prep Checklist designed to help you gather all the documents you’ll need to file your taxes.
2. Self-Filing Guide: JBAY has developed a Self-Filing Guide that provides step-by-step instructions on how you can file your own taxes and successfully claim the $1,154 Foster Youth Tax Credit for free. 
3. One-On-One Appointment: If you’d like a little more help, you can also make a free one-on-one appointment with a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. VITA sites are certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assist low- and moderate-income taxpayers to file their taxes for free. View the VITA roster to locate a site.
4. What To Do After You File Your Taxes: This guide walks you through important steps after filing your taxes, including checking your refund status, setting up payment plans if needed, troubleshooting issues such as identity theft, or someone incorrectly claiming you on their tax return.
5. Personal Assistance: Have questions or need more detailed assistance? Reach out to our friends at iFoster through phone (855-936-7837), email, or by filling out an online Need Request. iFoster will be able to help answer questions and provide individualized support.

Note: We do not recommend using a paid tax preparer. They often miss the Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC) because they are not aware of it. (They also cost money!) However, if you choose to use a paid tax preparer, make sure to take this one-pager with you to inform them about the FYTC.