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How to Fax the California Franchise Tax Board

The California Franchise Tax Board is the biggest state tax agency in the country, and it still takes notice responses by fax. If you have a Request for Tax Return, a Demand for Tax Return, or any letter asking for documents, the fax number printed on that notice is where the reply goes. Most carry a 30-day clock.

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Use the Number on Your Notice

FTB's own rule is simple: if your notice shows a fax number, fax your response to that number. Different units use different lines, and the notice tells you which one handles your case. Only use a published general number if your letter shows none.

Notice FTB 4502 (Additional Documentation Required): 916-845-9351
The published line for supporting documents in response to a filing notice. Confirm it on ftb.ca.gov before sending.

FTB does not initiate contact by fax or email. If a fax or email arrives claiming to be from FTB and asking for information, it is not from them.

The 30-Day Clock

A Request for Tax Return or Demand for Tax Return gives you 30 days from the date on the notice. If you do not respond, FTB assesses tax from the information it has, with interest and a delinquent filing penalty added. Mail takes days to arrive before anyone reads it. A fax arrives in minutes and your confirmation records the exact time, the same reason IRS notice responses go by fax.

Respond either by filing the return or by completing the "Reply to FTB" form that came with the notice and sending the documents it asks for.

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Identity Theft, Form 3552

If someone has filed a California return in your name, Form 3552 tells FTB to flag your account. It is the state equivalent of IRS Form 14039, and victims usually need to file both. If you received an FTB notice about it, fax the form and a copy of the notice to the number on that notice. If you are reporting it yourself with no notice, fax to 916-843-0561. Mark the cover sheet Confidential.

What to Put on Every Page

Your name as it appears on the notice, your Social Security number or entity ID, the notice number, and the tax year. FTB's Filing Compliance Bureau handles a very large volume, and an unlabelled page is a lost page. Keep the whole response under 10 pages and the fax is $1.00; up to 25 pages is $1.99. For how that compares with a copy shop or a monthly plan, see the cheapest way to send a fax.

Questions About Your Notice

For an identity theft notice, call 916-845-7088, weekdays 8am to 5pm Pacific. For other FTB questions, call 800-852-5711, or 916-845-6500 from outside the United States. Call with the notice in front of you and your confirmation email to hand if you have already faxed. If you are sending from a phone rather than a computer, the iPhone and Android guides cover photographing a page so it transmits cleanly.

Why send it here

One dollar for up to ten pages. Nothing more, and nothing that renews.

Nothing is printed on your document. It arrives exactly as you uploaded it.

If it cannot be delivered, the money goes back to your card without you asking.

No account, no password, no card kept on file. Upload, type the number, pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cost and what you get
How much does it cost to fax the FTB?
$1.00 for up to 10 pages, $1.99 for up to 25. No account, no subscription, and nothing printed on your documents.
Can I fax the Franchise Tax Board for free?
Free services cap you at three pages and several print their own advertising across the cover page. A notice response usually runs longer than three pages once the Reply form and documents are included, and an advert on paperwork going to a state tax agency is not what you want.
Is there a catch to $1.00 for an FTB fax?
No. Ten pages, no account, no card kept on file, nothing that renews. If the fax cannot be delivered the money goes back to your card automatically.
Sending a fax
Do I need an account to fax the FTB?
No. Upload the completed Reply form and documents, type the number from your notice, and pay. There is no sign-up and no password. The only thing we ask for is an email address for your confirmation.
What happens if I do not respond to a Demand for Tax Return?
FTB files for you using the income it already knows about, usually from employers and 1099s, and sends a Notice of Proposed Assessment with interest and a delinquent filing penalty. Responding with your own return almost always produces a lower figure.
What should I write on the FTB cover sheet?
Your name as shown on the notice, your SSN or entity ID, the notice number, the tax year, and the word Confidential. Add the page count so the unit knows when it has everything.
Fax numbers and format
What is the fax number for the California Franchise Tax Board?
Use the number printed on your notice. That is FTB’s own instruction, because different units use different lines. 916-845-9351 is the fax for notice FTB 4502, Additional Documentation Required; other notices print their own fax number. Confirm it on ftb.ca.gov before sending.
Receiving a reply
Does the FTB fax anything back?
Rarely. FTB replies by mail. If you ever need to receive a fax, our sister service GetAFax.com provides a number for $5 for 24 hours, with anything received arriving in your email as a PDF.
Delivery, proof and safety
How long do I have to respond to an FTB notice?
Most carry 30 days from the date on the notice. A Request for Tax Return and a Demand for Tax Return both do. If you miss it, FTB assesses tax from the information it holds and adds interest and a penalty.
Is a fax confirmation proof I responded to the FTB on time?
It records the exact date and time your fax was accepted by their machine, and the page count. It is your evidence that the response was transmitted before the deadline. Keep it with the notice.
What if my fax to the FTB fails?
You are refunded automatically and you get an email explaining what happened. State agency lines are busy at filing deadlines. Retrying costs nothing.
Is my document stored after I fax the FTB?
No. It is deleted from the servers once the fax has gone. There is no account and no archive. You keep your own copy and the confirmation email.
More questions
Does the FTB ever contact people by fax?
No. FTB does not initiate contact by fax or email. If something arrives by fax or email claiming to be from FTB and asking for information, it did not come from them.
What is Form 3552?
The FTB identity theft affidavit. It tells the Franchise Tax Board that someone may have filed a California return in your name and asks them to flag your account. Fax it to the number on your notice, or to 916-843-0561 if you are reporting it with no notice.
Can I fax a California tax return to the FTB?
Only if your notice specifically says to. Returns are normally filed electronically or by mail. What you fax is the response to a notice, the Reply form and supporting documents, unless the notice instructs otherwise.
Can I fax the FTB from outside California or outside the US?
Yes. The service runs in a browser so your location does not matter, and the FTB number is a US number. Many people who receive FTB notices have left California, which is often why the notice was issued.
Who do I call with questions about my FTB notice?
For an identity theft notice, 916-845-7088, weekdays 8am to 5pm Pacific. For other FTB questions, 800-852-5711, or 916-845-6500 from outside the United States. Have the notice in front of you.
Is this FTB page tax advice?
No. It covers how to reach FTB by fax and the deadlines on common notices. What to put on your return and whether you owe California tax are for your tax adviser, and ftb.ca.gov controls.

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