California Tax: Betty T. Yee Announces 2010 Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Hearings

Annual Public Hearings Set for April and June in Northern and Southern California

Betty T. Yee, Chairwoman of the Board of Equalization (BOE), today announced that the Board will hold Taxpayers' Bill of Rights hearings in Sacramento on April 13 and in Culver City on June 15.

"We are committed to effectively assisting taxpayers during these challenging economic times," said Chairwoman Yee. "Current economic circumstances pose additional taxpayer needs we are working to address. These hearings are one way we can publicly consider concerns and issues raised by taxpayers."

The five-member Board will hear public comments on issues related to the business and property taxes laws administered or overseen by the BOE, including sales and use taxes, environmental fees, fuel taxes, excise taxes, and property tax. The Taxpayers' Bill of Rights hearings will each begin at approximately 1:30 p.m. at the following two locations:

- Tuesday April 13, 2010: Board of Equalization Headquarters Building 1st Floor Board Room, Room 121 450 N Street Sacramento , CA 95814

- Tuesday June 15, 2010: Board of Equalization District Office 5901 Green Valley Circle, Suite 207 Culver City, CA 90230

Each of the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights public hearings will also be webcast live at www.boe.ca.gov.

In January 1989, the BOE was mandated by law under the Harris-Katz California Taxpayers' Bill of Rights to ensure that the rights, privacy, and property of California taxpayers were adequately protected in the assessment and collection of sales and use taxes. The Taxpayers' Bill of Rights was expanded in 1993 to include special tax programs. The Morgan Property Taxpayers' Bill of Rights was added in 1994. Both the Harris-Katz and the Morgan Taxpayers' Bill of Rights require the Board of Equalization to conduct annual hearings to give the public an opportunity to present their ideas, concerns, and recommendations to the Board Members.