New California Earned Income Tax Credit Notice

Reminder: New notice requirement and new filing deadline for tax-related forms.

California employers who provide unemployment insurance must notify all employees that they are eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). AB 1847, a new law effective January 1, 2017, requires these employers to also notify employees that they may be eligible for the California EITC.

The specific language for the required notice regarding the federal and California EITC is contained in the statute.

The notice must be provided one week before or after, or at the same time, the employer provides an annual wage summary, including but not limited to a Form W-2 or a Form 1099 (Revenue and Taxation Code sec. 19853).

Also remember that employers must now distribute and file Forms W-2 by January 31, 2017. In the past, employers typically had until the end of February to file, if filing on paper, or the end of March, if filing electronically. Now, January 31 is the deadline for both distribution and filing.

CalChamber members can download the updated EITC Notification from HR California.   Not a member? Learn more about what HRCalifornia can do for you.

Staff Contact: Gail Cecchettini Whaley