Text messaging

When will FTB send a text message?

FTB will only send a text message for the reasons described below. FTB does not send text messages asking for personal or financial information or account numbers.

One-time texts:

  • If you schedule an appointment to visit an FTB Field Office, you will receive a confirmation text message along with additional updates as your appointment nears.
  • If you register for or login to a MyFTB account, we may ask you for a phone number to provide you with a verification code which you will need to access your MyFTB account. You may select whether we call you or text you with the verification code.
  • If you call FTB, the following Interactive Voice Response (IVR) phone lines provide the option to request a text message:
Interactive Voice Responses (IVR) with text message options Feature Text Message Received
Personal Income Tax Resolutions, Tax Liens Receive a link to where you can make a payment online. Here’s the link you requested to make a CA tax payment online ftb.ca.gov. Select "Make a Payment." DELETE if you did not request.
Personal Income Tax Payment Plans Receive the confirmation number for a payment plan set up through IVR. Here is the text you requested. The payment plan application confirmation number is <###>. DELETE if you did not request.
Automated Taxpayer Assistance, Taxpayer Services Center, Withholding Services Receive a link to MyFTB Registration information. Here is the text you requested for information about registering. ftb.ca.gov/myftb DELETE if you did not request this message.
Filing Enforcement, Withholding Services Receive a link to our online forms page. Here is the text you requested for information about ordering forms. ftb.ca.gov/forms DELETE if you did not request this message.

Ongoing texts:

If you have a MyFTB account, you can update your profile to receive text message alerts from FTB when one of the following activities occur on your account:

  • A new notice or document is available online in your MyFTB account.
  • We have approved a new Tax Information Authorization (TIA) relationship or approved your tax professional’s request to renew the TIA.
  • A tax professional has submitted a Power of Attorney (POA) declaration that you need to approve or reject.
  • A tax professional with a TIA or POA relationship with you has requested full access to your MyFTB online account that you need to authorize or deny.
  • Your contact preferences were updated online to add, change or remove SMS text notifications.

You and your tax professional POA representative(s) can manage the text message notifications through MyFTB. You can choose to receive text messages, change which number we send them to, or stop receiving text messages.

Read and review all of our Terms and conditions.

What to do if you didn't request a text?

If you did not request a text, do not respond or click on any links. Visit our Scams page to report it.