Residents impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles and Orange counties will get more time to pay some taxes or file tax documents.

Residents who live in any counties declared a federal disaster area — including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino and Ventura — will be given extensions on tax returns, payments or other tax transactions due on or after Oct. 21.

Those taxpayers will automatically receive postponements until Jan. 31, 2008. The postponement includes the estimated tax payment for the fourth quarter, which is normally due on Jan. 15.

“The last thing victims of these fires need to worry about is taxes,” said state Controller and Franchise Tax Board Chairman John Chiang. “We want to give people time to focus on putting their lives back together.”

People impacted by the fires can claim a disaster loss in the current tax year, or can file an amended 2006 tax return to claim the loss in the prior year — which can result in a quick refund payment. Fire victims can also receive free copies of state tax returns to replace lost or damaged ones by completing Form FTB 3516 and printing “Southern California Wildfires 2007″ in red at the top of the request.

The state Board of Equalization has set up a Web site designed to provide answers to frequently asked questions wildfire victims may have about fees and taxes.

California Franchise Tax Board
www.ftb.ca.gov

California Board of Equalization
www.boe.ca.gov/info/disaster-relief-faq.

FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant Program. Under those grants, FEMA pays for 75 percent of the state’s eligible fire-fighting costs. Eligible costs include equipment, supplies, and emergency work evacuations, shelters and traffic control

A major disaster declaration for California was granted Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, for seven affected California counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura).

FEMA Registration

Registration Hotline (1-800-621-FEMA (3362) is operating 24/7 and applicants need

Social Security number

Address of damaged residence

Description of damage

Insurance info

Contact phone number and address to receive mail

If direct deposit is preferred, provide bank routing info.

As of October 29, 2007:

FEMA has processed more than 10,120 registrations

Internet registrations are at 32%

Housing Assistance Disbursed $1,177,975

Other Needs Assistance Disbursed $0

Households approved for assistance: 422

Financial assistance approved: $1,419,746.

Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRC)

FEMA has deployed a total of 11 Mobile Disaster Recovery Centers (MDRCs) to the State of California to aid individuals in applying for FEMA Disaster Assistance.

5 more deployed from Ft. Worth (TX) on October 30, 2007

Local Assistance Centers

San Diego County

Rancho Bernardo Glassman Recreation Center at 18446 West Bernardo Drive, Rancho Bernardo.
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.;
Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Ramona Community School at 1710 Montecito Road, Ramona.
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Fallbrook Community Center at 341 Heald Lane, Fallbrook.
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Rancho San Diego Cuyamaca College at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon.
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Los Angeles County

Castaic Regional Sports Complex at 31230 North Castaic Road, Castaic.
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

George A. Caravalho Santa Clarita Sports Complex - Activities Center at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita.
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Malibu Bluffs Park at 24250 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

San Bernardino County

National Orange Show Events Center at 689 South “E” Street, San Bernardino.
Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Orange County

One Stop Center/Strip Mall at 125 Technology Way, Suite 200, Irvine
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Home Inspections

As of October 30, 2007:

Housing Inspections Issued 4,193

Housing Inspections Completed 2,346

Callers are requesting assistance with out of pocket expenses. Lodging, food, medical

Federal loans with interest rates as low as less than 3 percent per year are available to California Wildfire victims

Southern Californians who were affected by the fires may have some help with getting a loan. Federal loans with interest rates as low as less than three percent per year are available to fire victims with acceptable credit ratings and who can pay them off.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has begun taking loan applications from fire victims who apply through the FEMA disaster relief process. Through FEMA, fire victims with significant losses can also access federal and state grants.

he S.B.A. loans can go to homeowners or renters to replace damaged property, including cars. Loans to homeowners can go up to $200,000.

Persons with mortgages who are unable to get any credit elsewhere can refinance their mortgages with the low-interest federal loans, according to the SBA disaster fact sheet.

Business loans can go to nonprofit groups, the SBA said, and can go up to $1.5 million. Such loans may be used to relocate a business out of the disaster area, if necessary.

Persons getting an approved loan for damages can also get capital to pay for improvements to protect against future damages, and can fund such things as retaining walls or drains, the government said in a fact sheet.

Fire victims must have an acceptable credit record, show the ability to repay all loans, mad may have to put up collateral, such as real estate, as security for the loans. The interest rates start at just below three percent.

The deadline for loan applicants suffering physical damage to their property is Dec. 24, and the deadline for persons claiming economic damages has until July 28, 2008 to apply.

SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center:
(800) 659-2955.