Tax Administration and Electronic Communication

Here is a proposal that certainly fits within the concept of "21st century taxation" - allowing the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to communicate with taxpayers who request it, through a special set up on the FTB website or via email. This change would not be effective until January 1, 2013 or later pending "successful implementation of the Taxpayer Folder as a component of the Enterprise Data to Revenue project of the Franchise Tax Board."

While such a set up sounds like it will involve significant website and software changes that can be costly, we certainly need to move in the direction of electronic communication and filing of tax returns and other tax documents, such as protests.

This proposal is in AB 2177 (3/23/10 version; Beall). There is a hearing on the bill scheduled in the Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee on April 12, 2010.