Franchise Tax Board

FIDM Types of Media

Method 2 Inquiry File
The FTB Inquiry File provided to Method 2 participants will be available on the Internet.

Method 1 Files and Method 2 Match File
Method 1 All Account Files, Method 1 Update Files and Method 2 Match Files may be submitted via the Internet.

We can’t process files on:

  • 9 track ½" tape reels.
  • 8mm tape cartridges.
  • 4mm tape cartridges.
  • Quarter inch tape cartridges.

Internet Data Exchange
We prefer you use the Internet for transferring files. The advantages of Internet filing include:

  1. Easier, faster, and less costly than other methods.
  2. No postage and package mailing.
  3. Quick confirmation that we received your file (1 or 2 working days).

Call our call site at (916) 845-6304 to receive your password and user ID to start using the Internet for the quarterly data exchange. We will email instructions for submitting your files electronically. Our instructions are specifically for Internet Explorer browsers; however, other types of browsers typically follow a similar process.

Internet Files
Internet files use the same record layout as other types of media files. The following is required for Internet filing:

  • Internet Access.
  • Pentium based PC.
  • Browser that supports SSL and 128-bit encryption.
  • Connection bandwidth large enough to send your size file. T1 or DSL connections download faster than dialup. (It takes about 10 minutes to download 1 MB connected at 28.8k, about 5 minutes per MB connected at 56k.)
  • For Method 2: 100 MB of free disk space to receive the Method 2 Inquiry File; Connection bandwidth large enough to receive a 33MB or larger Inquiry File.

Tape Cartridges

  • Must be IBM compatible and meet American National Standard Institute (ANSI) standards
    • .
  • Chromium dioxide particle based ½ inch tape.
  • ½ inch tape in plastic cartridges which are 4x5x1 inches
    • .
  • 18 track parallel (IBM 3480) or 36 track parallel (IBM 3490).
  • EBCDIC is preferred.
  • Don't use data compression..
  • FTB can't read 9 track ½" tape reels and 8mm, 4mm or Quarter Inch tape cartridges.

3 ½" Diskette and CD

  • You must use Standard ASCII.
  • Don't use delimiter character commas (,).
  • Position 420 of each record can be used for a carriage return or a line feed (cr/lf) character, if applicable.
  • No other file entries should appear in the directory.
  • Zip files are acceptable ending with a .txt or .zip extension.
  • Zip files can't be a self-extracting file ending with an .exe extension.