Orange County Receives Third Quarter Sales Tax of $13,043,554.07

The California State Board of Equalization announced today that September sales tax allocations to local governments will remain flat.  Statewide cash receipts from taxable transactions for the third quarter of 2010 declined over nine percent from the same period a year earlier.

An analysis of third quarter 2010 data, including cash receipts in July, prompted the BOE to proceed without an increase to local jurisdictions while continuing to monitor the statewide cash receipts for the remainder of the calendar quarter to determine whether further adjustments will be required. The latest Department of Finance sales tax projections estimated an anticipated 6.6 percent increase.

BOE makes monthly allocations to 764 local jurisdictions based on a formula that includes historical allocations, growth factor adjustments to the base, transfers and audits, and actual cash receipts. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008, the BOE reduced advance payments to local taxing jurisdictions beyond adjustments based on the negative growth factors projected at the time by the Department of Finance due to an unprecedented drop in taxable sales stemming from the recession.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization is a publicly elected tax board.  The BOE collects more than $48 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services. It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.  For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.

Schedule of September 2010 Payments: http://www.boe.ca.gov/news/2010/3q10_schedule_of_payments.xls

Sample Letter: http://www.boe.ca.gov/news/2010/3q10_growth_factor_letter.pdf

In a recent Spanish-language interview, Democratic Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, said “the Vietnamese” are trying to take control of “her” Congressional seat.

Sanchez’ opponent, Vietnamese immigrant, Republican Assemblyman Van Tran, says the Sanchez remarks are “offensive and wrong.”

sanchez anti vietnamese statement

This promises to be a close race, according to polls, so both candidates are working hard to secure the seat, but sometimes they try too hard.

In the Univision TV interview, Sanchez, said Van Tran is anti-immigrant and anti-Latino, and that the Republicans and the Vietnamese are trying to take the seat away.

Sanchez seems to say the 47th congressional district seat belongs to Latinos.

She may be suffering from foot-in-mouth disease or perhaps, like the Do Not Call registry, politicians have exempted themselves from the laws that apply to everyone else, including racism-related law.

Veterans Name Senator Lou Correa “Legislator of the Year”

The Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council, named State Senator Lou Correa as their “Legislator of the Year”. The California unit of the Vietnam Veterans of America organization has over 3,900 members.

“I am deeply humbled to receive this honor,” said Senator Lou Correa. “I am proud to support the men and women who have served, and those who continue to serve in our armed forces. They are the heroes whose sacrifices keep our country safe and defend our freedom. These men and women deserve our utmost respect and honor.”

Senator Lou Correa record

Senator Lou Correa has developed a strong record in support of America’s service men and women. Throughout his legislative career, Senator Correa has consistently been one of the strongest supporters for the rights and opportunities of all our armed forces personnel, especially for our war veterans. This year, Senator Correa authored Senate Bill 1296 to train peace officers who are emergency first responders on how to recognize and interact with war veterans and other persons suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Additionally, Senator Correa introduced Senate Bill 1075 this year to enhance education benefits to military personnel. Both legislative measures are currently awaiting the Governor’s signature.

Senator Lou Correa

“We very much appreciate all Senator Correa has done for veterans and the military over his legislative career and all his support for veterans as the Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs,” said Pete Conaty, who represents military organizations including the VVA in California. The VVA was founded in 1978 to promote, support, and aggressively advocate on the full range of issues important to Vietnam veterans, the next generation of America’s war veterans, and to also serve local communities. The VVA is the only national Vietnam veteran’s organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. Nationwide, the VVA has over 63,000 members.

In the past, Senator Correa has been honored as “Legislator of the Year” by veterans’ organizations including: the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Department of California. Additionally, he has received the “Charles Dick Medal of Merit” by the National Guard Association of the United States.

Senator Lou Correa represents the 34th Senate District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, Stanton, Buena Park, and Fullerton.

Businesses in Specific Zip Codes Notified of Upcoming Compliance Visits

The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) sent letters to more than 12,200 retail businesses in 11 different zip codes statewide notifying them of upcoming compliance visits by BOE specialists.  The affected zip codes receiving letters this month are: Carson (90745, 90746), Pasadena (91101), Rancho Cucamonga (91701, 91730, 91737, and 91739), Hayward (94545), Newark (94560), Sacramento (95834), and Santa Clara (95050).

These visits are part of the Statewide Compliance and Outreach Program (SCOP) that was launched in September 2008.  BOE Specialists have visited more than 168,000 businesses statewide, with 258 zip codes receiving notifications.

compliance

The goal of the program is to verify that all businesses are properly registered, so there is no unfair business advantage over those businesses that are properly registered and reporting their taxes and/or fees. A recent two-year pilot estimated that more than three percent of businesses operating in California do so without the appropriate permits or licenses that allow for collection of sales and use tax, as well as other taxes and fees. Non-compliance is a part of the more than $2 billion sales and use tax gap — the difference between the amount of taxes owed and the amount paid.

The BOE specialists conduct checks for seller’s permits of all storefronts and other known business locations.  When the specialists visit, business owners are asked business-related questions and are not asked for personal financial information.  If an owner has specific questions about the inquiries from the BOE specialists, they should call their regional SCOP team contact.  For general information or for forms and publications, contact the Taxpayer Information Call Center at 800-400-7115.

There are seven teams of approximately eight people each located throughout the state that conduct door-to-door visits based on zip code.  Registered retailers, as well as service industry businesses, will be checked for appropriate permits and licenses.  Those businesses found to be out of compliance will be given instructions on how to register with the BOE and given information about other necessary licenses.

The five-member California State Board of Equalization (BOE) is a publicly elected tax board.  The BOE collects more than $48 billion annually in taxes and fees supporting state and local government services.  It hears business tax appeals, acts as the appellate body for franchise and personal income tax appeals, and serves a significant role in the assessment and administration of property taxes.  For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit www.taxes.ca.gov.

For more information on the Statewide Compliance and Outreach Program, visit www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/SCOP_Overview.htm.