The FTB Levied My Wages. What Are My Options

On: November 2, 2018

Often, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) can be harder to deal with than the IRS. The FTB’s attitude is that they gave the taxpayer sufficient notice to enter alternative arrangements. While the FTB’s levies are limited to 25%, once they are imposed they are harder to get released. The taxpayer must submit financials showing that they cannot afford to pay the levy without suffering a financial hardship. If the taxpayer does so to the FTB’s satisfaction, the FTB will reduce the levy to the point a taxpayer can afford according to the submitted financials. If the taxpayer can show the FTB that he/she cannot afford to pay the FTB anything at all, the FTB can release the levy in total, but will only do so for 6 months under a “temporary hardship” status. Every 6 months, the taxpayer will be required to repeat the process of the levy will return to its 25% level.

A tax attorney is often the better representative under these conditions, as opposed to a CPA or enrolled agent. There is a lot of begging and cajoling, and, sometimes, repeated efforts will have to be made to get an agent willing to listen to your pleas.