CROS Project Successfully Completed

State-of-the-art Technology Streamlines Taxpayer Services

Sacramento – Today, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) signed a “final state acceptance” letter for its Centralized Revenue Opportunity System (CROS), marking the completion of the CROS project.

This innovative, on-demand system creates a responsive online filing and payment system for California business owners. It expands online services for customers and gives taxpayers convenient access to records with the ability to view real-time account information.

“We're harnessing state-of-the-art technology to help taxpayers file their returns, manage their accounts, and make payments. For the business owner completing her return at night at her kitchen table, we want to make it convenient,” said CDTFA Director Nick Maduros. “Our team worked hard to help taxpayers transition to this new system.”

With CROS, taxpayers can also register a new location, make a request for relief or an extension, and track and view their correspondence with CDTFA. CROS helps reduce filing and payment errors for customers, and offers key online services in Spanish.

CDTFA began the CROS project in October 2016 and rolled out the first phase of the sales and use tax program in May 2018, making it possible for more customers to file and pay returns online and allowing all customers to access real-time account information, including amending returns. Two additional phases in August 2019 and November 2020 transitioned all remaining programs administered by CDTFA to the new system, enabling taxpayers to manage their accounts from one central location. Today marks the formal passing of the system from the contractor to CDTFA.

CROS is a flexible, agile system that can be upgraded to meet the future changing technology needs of CDTFA's customers. CROS enables CDTFA to fulfill its mission to make life better for Californians by fairly and efficiently collecting the revenue that supports essential public services.

For more information, see our Online Services and Video Tutorials.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers California's sales and use, fuel, tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis taxes, as well as a variety of other taxes and fees that fund specific state programs. CDTFA-administered programs account for more than $73 billion annually, which in turn supports local essential services such as transportation, public safety and health, libraries, schools, social services, and natural resource management programs through the distribution of tax dollars going directly to local communities.