An innovative tax return program co-developed by Joseph Bankman, Ralph M. Parsons Professor of Law and Business, has been revived bythe California Franchise Tax Board. ReadyReturn is designed to help certain California taxpayers file their tax returns by offering them the option of automatically computed, ready-to-sign forms prepared by the state. ReadyReturn was successfully piloted for the 2004 and 2005 tax years, but plans to formally adopt the program in 2006 were killed by a rider to the state’s budget bill. The program was opposed by tax software manufacturers, including Intuit, maker of TurboTax software. In the last election cycle, Intuit spent $1 million in the race for state controller, supporting Tony Strickland against ReadyReturn supporter John Chiang. Chiang won the election and, along with other members of the Franchise Tax Board, voted to reinstate the program to 1 million taxpayers. If the board’s decision stands, ReadyReturn will be available for taxpayers filing their 2007 returns.