Ask the Advocate February 2022 Tax News

2022 Tax Season is Underway

When I started my career with Franchise Tax Board there were two traditional filing seasons. The first was for those who file by the regular due date in the spring and the second in the fall for those who file by the extended due date. Due to the pandemic, it seemed as though last year’s filing season would never end! So to everyone involved in helping California taxpayers file returns, I say congratulations for a job well done!

As we enter into what I hope will be like the old traditional filing seasons, I would like to offer a few reminders.

The first reminder is to confirm with your clients that we have their current and correct contact information. It is much easier to communicate to resolve filing or return processing issues when their contact information is accurate. Secondly, clients opting to receive a refund check, opposed to direct deposit into their bank, an incorrect mailing address will result in a delay in receiving their refund.

Another reminder is for tax professionals to sign up for a MyFTB account and add their clients to their list. While our traditional service channels will still be available to you, there are many benefits to interacting with us through MyFTB including:

New features

• New Pass-Through Entity Elective Tax Payment displayed on the Payment History and the Estimate Payments pages for Business Entities.
• Option to view e-file return data in a text-only format.

Updated features

• Updated privacy and perjury language when adding a Tax Information Authorization (TIA) client.

If you still prefer to contact us using the traditional channels, here are some helpful telephone numbers:

Tax Practitioner Hotline

Phone

916-845-7057
Open weekdays, 8 AM to 5 PM

Remember to check our Wait Time feature to help you decide the best time to call.

e-file Help Desk

Phone

916-845-0353
Open weekdays, 8 AM to 5 PM

When a delay will create an immediate economic hardship for your client relating to a bank levy, wage garnishment, or tax lien, call this number:

Phone

800-883-5910
Open weekdays, 9 AM to 4 PM

If you need help to resolve an ongoing problem that you have been unable to resolve through our normal channels, please provide the facts and circumstances that need to be communicated using our online Unresolved Account Issues form, sometimes referred to as the “portal.” The information populated in the online form allows us to easily identify the issue and get it properly assigned.

I hope this year’s filing season will be a bit easier for everyone. And, I am reassured in the knowledge you are consistently doing your very best to assist in this endeavor.