rs-california-income-tax Archives

How to Hire a Tax Attorney to Deal with the FTB

April 23, 2026April 27, 2022 by Brotman Law

Key Takeaways

One of the main reasons that I started blogging was to help people.
Because I am focused on the FTB at the moment, I want to state that I do not believe everyone needs a tax attorney to handle their issues with the Franchise Tax Board.
Indeed, if you take the time to read much of what I have written on the blog, you can almost become as knowledgeable as I am on many of these same subjects (although I have an experience edge dealing with this stuff in practice).

One of the main reasons that I started blogging was to help people. I wanted to motivate “self-help” style legal solutions by taking the knowledge that I have as an attorney and making it available on the web.

Why Do I Owe State Taxes This Year? (& Why so Much?) 2022 Guide

April 23, 2026October 22, 2021 by Brotman Law

If you haven’t had to pay any state taxes for the past few years but now face a liability, you might be wondering, why do I owe state taxes this year? It’s a pretty common question that many taxpayers struggle to find the answer to.

You may not even be aware that you owe state taxes this year. It all depends on how your income has changed over the previous year and whether you still have any credits or deductions available to you that were used previously to reduce your taxes.

Get to Know California Income Tax Brackets

April 23, 2026May 28, 2021 by Brotman Law

Key Takeaways

The Franchise Tax Board
Income Tax in California: How is it Calculated and Collected?
Understanding Income Tax Brackets: What Are Your Rates?
Filing Your California Income Tax Return
Underpayment and Penalties

In California, state income taxes are generally among the highest in the country, but the burden is spread among different segments of the population. The rate of California income tax is arranged on something of a sliding scale, separated by income tax brackets.

4 Frequently Asked Questions about California State Taxes

April 23, 2026April 9, 2021 by Brotman Law

Key Takeaways

What advice can you give me about setting up a payment plan with the State of California?
Will California grant me innocent spouse relief?
How does financial analysis work for collections cases in California?
How does California locate taxpayers and their assets?
Conclusion

As a tax attorney, I get asked a lot of questions everyday regarding – you guessed it – the rather specialized world of California taxation. To be sure, some questions are asked more frequently than others. In light of this, I’ve given some thought to four frequently asked questions and hope that my answers provide you with the information that you’re interested in.

How Does the FTB Handle Business Tax Collections?

April 23, 2026January 8, 2021 by Brotman Law

Tax attorney consultation at Brotman Law

Key Takeaways

Partnership Collections
Field Collections
Conclusion

The people who administer state tax laws generally show up in the news only when a newsworthy case is reported, typically one involving tax evasion, a “big fish” going to jail for not paying taxes.

I Got a Notice in the Mail From California Asking Me to File a Tax Return. What Should I Do?

April 23, 2026July 15, 2020 by Brotman Law

The state of California at least not yet the very first thing you want to do.

Protesting and Appealing FTB Tax Assessments

April 23, 2026July 2, 2020 by Brotman Law

Key Takeaways

A copy of the protest letter from taxpayer is sent to auditor who conducted initial examination of the taxpayer.
Taxpayers must file protest with the Franchise Tax Board, Protest Section, Sacramento, CA 95867.
Different Types of Protests (Classification of Protests)

Guide to Franchise Tax Board Collections Procedure

April 23, 2026July 2, 2020 by Brotman Law

Key Takeaways

To resolve some tax accounts FTB’s desk collectors transfer the accounts to field collectors.
information, and identify assets for possible seizure (this includes identifying when warrants
are needed).

Franchise Tax Board Business Collections

Ultimate Guide to Franchise Tax Board Audits

April 23, 2026July 2, 2020 by Brotman Law

CA Business Owner’s Guide to State Income Taxes & FTB Audit and Appeal Process

Key Takeaways

CA Business Owner’s Guide to State Income Taxes & FTB Audit and Appeal Process
Small Business Taxation in California
Types of Business Entities and How They Are Taxed
Complications Arise
Why Do I Owe State Taxes?

Small Business Taxation in California

With higher than average state income tax imposed on business and personal income, California can be an expensive state to do business in. The state’s small businesses are particularly hard hit under its tax laws. California has a higher than average state income tax imposed on business and personal income. Even if your California business is structured as a pass-through entity, meaning income should only be taxed at one level; the California Franchise Tax Board may still be double-taxing your income.The Franchise Tax Board is the agency responsible for administering personal and business income tax in the State of California. While the state generally follows the lead of the IRS in setting policy, it does not do so in every instance.

How the Franchise Tax Board Uses Tax Liens

April 23, 2026December 7, 2016 by Brotman Law

We previously discussed how the Board of Equalization handles tax liens. For this post in our series, we would like to talk about how the California Franchise Tax Board addresses the use of liens. There are differences between the way the various California tax agencies and the IRS use tax liens about which you need to take note to stay out of hot water.