Legislative Change Request #1 for 2023: Close the Married Loophole

The legislative year starts at the beginning of September. From September to December, each legislator decides what they want to introduce for the next year. Below is a Legislative Request that I sent for the 2023 session.

November 29, 2022

Dear Governor Newsom Staff, GovOps Staff, Senate Governance and Finance Committee Members and Staff, Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation Members and Staff, and FTB Legislative Staff:

I request that you immediately change California State law to recognize married couples as one tax entity in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the IRS. 

The IRS treats married couples as a single taxpaying entity from the moment the couple notifies IRS of marriage until the couple notifies IRS that the marital status has changed. However, FTB considers all individuals as unmarried. Each year, after a married couple files that year’s return, FTB updates their internal records with proper marital status for only that particular year. I believe that: 

1. FTB utilizes this loophole in the system in order to falsely impose penalties and fees via policy and procedure violations

2 FTB utilizes this loophole to unlawfully enrich themselves by demanding extra additional tax liability and penalty payments above and beyond what FTB knows — by its own records — is actually owed. 

3. This policy violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution 

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Ten (10) Requests for 2021 Annual Taxpayer Bill of Rights Meeting

This year’s Franchise Tax Board Annual Taxpayers Bill of Rights Meeting was held online on Thursday, December 2, 2021. Here is the five-minute speech that I made.

The full video of the 1+ hour meeting is here.

FTB prefers, but does not require, that you submit the requests in writing prior to the meeting so they know what to expect. There is no limit to how long a written submission can be, so my written submission was much longer and more detailed than the speech was.

Written Version of the ATBOR Requests

November 30, 2021

Franchise Tax Board Taxpayer Advocate Office

Email: FTBAdvocate@ftb.ca.gov

Fax: (916) 843-8330

Re: Ten (10) Requests for Annual Taxpayer Bill of Rights Meeting

Hello Taxpayer Advocate Staff: 

Here are my ten (10) requests for the 2021 Annual Taxpayer Bill of Rights Meeting.

  1. Close the Loophole That Allows FTB To Evade Due Process for Implementation of Collection Tools

Require that FTB appear before a Superior Court judge to procure a proper judgment in accordance with the laws of the State of California prior to implementation of Collection tools, including wage garnishments, levies and liens. Please see email dated October 23, 2021 for details. 

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Second Legislative Change Request: Close the Married Loophole

Dear FTB Advocate, FTB Board of Directors, Governor Newsom, and Legislators:

I am requesting that legislators immediately change California State law to recognize married couples as one tax entity in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the IRS. 

The IRS treats married couples as a single taxpaying entity from the moment the couple notifies them of marriage until the couple notifies them that the marital status has changed.

However, FTB considers all individuals as unmarried. Each year, after a married couple files that year’s return, FTB updates their records with proper marital status for only that particular year. I believe that: 

1. FTB utilizes this loophole in the system in order to falsely impose penalties and fees via policy and procedure violations

Continue reading “Second Legislative Change Request: Close the Married Loophole”