Add TIA client
Specific instructions on how to add a Tax Information Authorization (TIA) for your client in MyFTB.
Before you begin
You can add individual taxpayer and business entity clients to your Client List through MyFTB. You must have your client’s permission to establish this relationship. We recommend you keep their signed permission using the forms FTB 3534, Tax Information Authorization or FTB 743 (Online Account View Access Authorization).
You will also need to provide information from a tax return filed for one of the past 5 tax years. If you are unable to provide this information, you must submit form FTB 3534, Tax Information Authorization by mail.
Restrictions for adding a TIA client in MyFTB
If any of the following conditions apply to your client, you cannot submit your TIA online:
- Taxpayer is a minor
- Taxpayer is deceased
- Taxpayer has become incapacitated or incompetent
- Client is an estate or trust account
- Client files a 540NR Nonresident Group Return
You must submit paper form FTB 3534, Tax Information Authorization to add these clients to your Client List and provide additional documentation if required. Once approved, you can manage the TIA relationship (renew or revoke) on MyFTB.
Overview of adding a TIA client in MyFTB
Once you log in to your MyFTB account, select the option to Add Individual TIA Client or Add Business TIA Client. Provide your client’s identification and tax information, request your online account access level, and check the certification boxes.
If the information matches our records, we will accept your TIA request for processing. We may contact your client to verify your request. Once we complete processing your TIA request, we will notify your client.
If you request full online account access, we will also send your client an authorization code if they have not already approved that request.
TIA clients remain on your Client List for 13 months unless you or your client terminate the relationship early, you or your client passes away, or we are notified that the taxpayer has become incapacitated or incompetent. During the last 90 days of the relationship, you have the option to renew the relationship for an additional 13 months.
Steps to add your TIA client in MyFTB
Step 1: Login to your tax professional MyFTB account
Go to ftb.ca.gov/myftb select Log in to my account and enter your user name and password.
Step 2: Select the type of TIA client you wish to add from your Quick Links list
You can also access these links from the Services menu and at the top of your Client List.
Step 3: Enter your client’s information
For an individual taxpayer client, you will need to provide:
- Last name and Social Security Number (SSN)
- Year of the tax return and the filing status for that year
- CA AGI shown on that return
For a business entity client, you will need to provide:
- Identification number from the California Secretary of State (SOS) or FTB
- Year of the tax return and tax form type filed for that year
- Income shown on that return
Step 4: Request your level of online account access
You will automatically receive Limited Online Account Access when we approve your TIA relationship. If you need Full Online Account Access, you should request it here.
To learn more about online account access levels, refer to Tax professional online account access.
This request will apply to this TIA and all active POA relationships you have with this client.
Example
You currently have a POA to represent a client for a specific tax year and Full Online Account Access. You are submitting a TIA request to help them prepare their current year tax return. To keep your Full Online Account Access, you must select Full here. If you select Limited, you will have Limited Online Account Access for both your TIA and POA relationships.
Step 5: Read and acknowledge statements
Review the penalty of perjury and notification statements. By checking the boxes, you acknowledge that obtaining taxpayer account information is the privilege of the taxpayer and their authorized representatives and that you have obtained the taxpayer’s written authorization. You must agree to these statements before you submit your TIA request.
Step 6: Submit your TIA request
Select Submit to submit your TIA request.
If the information you entered matches our records, you will receive a confirmation message. This means we are processing your request. We will notify your client when we “approve” or “reject” your request, or if we need additional information.
If the information does not match our records, you will be advised to check your entries and try again. If the information entered is correct, contact the Tax Practitioner Hotline, 916-845-7057 (open weekdays, 8 AM to 5PM).
Step 7: Return to Client List
Select Return to Client List to add another client, file a power of attorney (POA), or access another client’s account.
While we are processing your request, your client will be included on the “Pending” portion of your Client List. To access this, update the Relationship Status option to “Pending” and select Search.
You cannot access your client’s account information until we approve the relationship and notify your client.
Additional resources
- How to submit a TIA in MyFTB (video)
- Tax Information Authorization
- Help with Tax Information Authorization
- Tax Information Authorization compared to Power of Attorney
- TIA vs. POA (video)
- Tax professional online account access update
- MyFTB limited vs full online access (video)
- MyFTB help