Useful Links

Tax
- Check the status of your federal tax refund on this Internal Revenue Service webpage.
- The California Tax Service Center provides helpful information about ALL California taxes.
- The website of the California Franchise Tax Board. You can find important tax guidance here, as well as check the status of your refund!
- The Board of Equalization collects California state sales and use tax. You can find useful guidance from its website.

For Business
- The site of the California Secretary of State provides a wide variety of information and services useful to the business and individual.
- The Central Coast Small Business Development Center at Cabrillo College offers a wide variety of services for present and potential small business owners. All counseling services are confidential and free of charge.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.
- The Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce is a local business resource. It offers a wide range of networking events as well as general tips on living and working in the community.
- The California Chamber of Commerce is a comprehensive business resource. From international trade guidelines to industry networking, including daily news updates, legislative analyses and educational forums.
- The Better Business Bureau is a site for information about being a better business person as well a clearing house for complaints about businesses. Before committing to a business relationship, check here for clues to the quality of business they conduct.
- Forbes provides business information from a recognized leader.

Investing
- Big Charts is an easy-to-use website for current & historical market information.
- Bloomberg is a leader in the field of financial news providers.
- FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) provides historical financial information from the Federal Reserve Bank.
- The web version of Financial Planning magazine provides a well-organized site full of financial insights.
- Investing in Bonds.com provides a useful resource for both the new and experienced bond investor.
- The U.S. real estate investment trust (REIT) industry has become an important segment of the U.S. economy and investment markets. The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts provides a guide for those interested in investing.
- TreasuryDirect is the first and only financial services website that lets you buy and redeem securities directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury in paperless electronic form.

Other Governmental Agencies
- The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System site provide valuable insights and information to the state of the current and future of the economy.
- The State Controller is the Chief Fiscal Officer of California, the eighth largest economy in the world. He helps administer two of the largest public pension funds in the nation and serves on 78 state boards and commissions. Learn more about what the California State Controller’s office does.
- This sub-page of the U.S. Department of Labor’s web site provides an excellent source of information on the Consumer Price Index.
- The Employee Benefits Security Administration web page.
- Social Security Administration
- The U.S. Department of Labor website is the best source of information on U.S. Labor Law.
- The U.S. Security and Exchange Commission web page.