There are about 850 employees processing tax returns at the Franchise Tax Board this time of year. That's more than triple the normal staff. Daniel Tahara with the F-T-B says it's a lively, busy scene:
"They actually try to keep the mood a little bit fun and keep it light, so they'll have various theme days dress up days just to try and help keep it a little bit fun and exciting while they're going 110% trying to process through all the mail."
Tahara says two shifts of employees will keep the processing
center running 18 hours a day. They'll also work a couple of
Saturdays later this month. This year the average refund is
nearly 800 dollars. That's up from last year's which was just
under 700. Tahara says 15 million Californians will file
returns this year, and at least three quarters of those will
probably be done electronically.