July 11, 2012, the California State Franchise Tax Board (FTB) announced that it would implement an automated dialer system to make outbound telephone calls to California taxpayers in order to further enhance their collection efforts; which include, but are not limited to, tax liens, bank levies, and wage garnishments. Business entities that owe delinquent taxes will receive the automated calls beginning September 2012.
These automatic calls will target individuals that have been assessed California tax liabilities but have not paid them in full (i.e., people or businesses with tax debt). The automated calls will connect you with the FTB’s collections unit. If the automated call is not able to reach you directly, or if you are not available, the FTB will leave a general message advising of “final collections” type notices and taxpayer rights. The telephone calls will begin just as the FTB begins to ramp up tax levies on the bank accounts of individuals who have delinquent balances, including penalties, interest, taxes and fees.
The FTB expects to issue 475,000 tax levies this year alone, a 75 percent increase from last year. Taxpayers who feel they have been contacted in error may call the FTB at our office.