MyFTB Corner December 2018 Tax News

We’re expediting full online account access requests

Starting January 2, 2019, taxpayers and tax professionals* can request Full Online Account Access at the time you submit a Power of Attorney (POA) declaration or Tax Information Authorization (TIA) request. You will no longer need to wait to make the request until after the POA/TIA is approved by us.

How can the full online account access request be made?

The request can be made on the updated POA/TIA forms or in MyFTB.

  • Forms:
    • Use the updated POA (FTB 3520 PIT/3520 BE) and TIA (FTB 3534) forms (Available December 14th on our website).
    • Check “Yes” under the new section, Request MyFTB Full Online Account Access for Tax Professional(s), to request Full Online Account Access.
  • MyFTB – Tax professional submitted:
    • Use File a Power of Attorney (POA Wizard) or Add TIA Client (Available January 2, 2019).
    • Select “Full” in the Online Account Access section to request Full Online Account Access.
    • For POA declarations, upload the updated POA form.
      Note: If your client has a MyFTB account, you can choose to not upload the POA declaration when you submit it. After we validate the POA declaration, your client will need to approve your POA request on their MyFTB account. If you requested Full Online Account Access at the time of submission, your client will be able to grant you Full Online Account Access at the same time they approve the POA request.

The Full Online Account Access request will be processed when the POA/TIA relationship is approved. Your client will need to authorize the request. For more information, see “What happens after the POA/TIA relationship, submitted by a tax professional, is approved by FTB?”, below.

  • MyFTB – Taxpayer submitted:
    • Use File a Power of Attorney (POA Wizard), and:
      • Select “Full” in the Online Account Access section to grant the tax professional Full Online Account Access.
    • Note: If the taxpayer selects Full Online Account Access at the time the POA is submitted, we will grant you Full Online Account Access at the same time we approve the POA relationship.

When will the new forms be available?

The updated forms will be available on December 14, 2018 at ftb.ca.gov on the forms and publications page. We will start processing the new forms on January 2, 2019.

How will I know if I am using one of the updated forms?

The updated forms will have the new section, Request MyFTB Full Online Account Access for Tax Professional(s). 

What happens if I don’t use one of the updated forms?

The prior version of FTB 3520 PIT (REV 9-2017), FTB 3520 BE (REV 12-2017) and FTB 3534 (REV 9-2017) can still be used. However, if a prior version is used, you cannot request Full Online Account Access when you submit the form. You will need to make the request for Full Online Account Access in MyFTB after the POA/TIA relationship is approved by us, just as you can today.

What happens after the POA/TIA relationship, submitted by a tax professional, is approved by FTB?

Once the POA/TIA is approved, you will have Limited Online Account Access (if you have a Tax Professional MyFTB account). We will send your client a letter (FTB 3911) with the authorization code to authorize or deny Full Online Account Access to their account. The authorization code is active for 30 days. If your client denies the request or does not use the authorization code, you will continue to have Limited Online Account Access. Visit MyFTB tax professional online account access for more information.

If I already have full online access to my client’s online account, do I need to request it again when I file a new POA/TIA?

Yes.  To retain full online account access to your client’s account, you must request it each time you submit a new POA or TIA request for your client. If the POA or TIA is approved, you will continue to have full online account access.  Your client will not receive an authorization code.

If a new POA or TIA is submitted for your client that requests limited online account access, your online access level will be changed to limited when we approve the relationship.  Note: your online account access level does not impact the information you can receive by phone, writing, chat, or in person.

For more information, see our November article, Requesting full online account access gets easier.

*For purposes of this article, a tax professional is a representative that has a Tax Professional account in MyFTB.