FTB 2288 Pre-Intercept Notice Instructions

You are required to send your debtors a Pre-Intercept Notice annually, after your agency/college sends us FTB 2280 PC, Intent to Participate for the process year. We provide a sample Pre-Intercept Notice only as reference.

The Pre-Intercept Notice allows the debtor to resolve or dispute the debt before you intercept their funds. The notice requirement applies to each new debt incurred after you submit the account and before you increase the requested intercept balance.

You must allow the debtor 30 days prior to submitting their accounts to us. Sending a Pre-Intercept Notice notifies them of the 30-day liability review/protest process. Submit debtor accounts to us after you send the Pre-Intercept Notice and allow time for the prescribed review/protest period.

Pre-Intercept Notice Information

Your agency’s Pre-Intercept Notice should be “identical or substantially similar” to the sample Pre-Intercept Notice provided. Send this notice to your debtors by October 1 debts referred in annual load for the upcoming process year.

Sending a Pre-Intercept Notice to all debtors reduces debtor contacts that occur after intercepts, and you may increase voluntary payments.

Pre-Intercept Notice

You are required to send your debtors a Pre-Intercept Notice that contains specific due process language, refer to sample FTB 2288. The notice must:

  • Provide the Government Code Sections that authorize your agency to submit debts for intercept.
  • Allow your debtors 30 days to resolve or dispute the debts, before submitting their debts to us.
  • Provide your agency’s contact information where the debtor can dispute the liability.

We require both new and returning agencies to provide a copy of their Pre-Intercept Notice along with FTB 2280 PC and FTB 7904, Vendor/Contractor Confidentiality Statement. Failure to meet this requirement may result in a suspension of intercepts for your agency.

Sample of Pre-Intercept Notice

Our records show that you have a $ delinquent debt due to the Agency/College. You have 30 days to voluntarily pay this amount before we submit your account to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) for interagency intercept collection.

FTB operates an intercept program in conjunction with the State Controller’s Office, collecting delinquent liabilities individuals owe to state, local agencies, and colleges. FTB intercepts tax refunds, unclaimed property claims, and lottery winnings owed to individuals. (Unless law prohibits those debts to be offset by unclaimed property or lottery winnings.) FTB redirects these funds to pay the individual’s debts to the agencies/colleges (California Government Code Sections 12419.2, 12419.7, 12419.9, 12419.10, 12419.11, and 12419.12).

If you have questions or do not believe you owe this debt, contact us within 30 days from the date of this letter. A representative will review your questions/objections. If you do not contact us within that time, or if you do not provide sufficient objections, we will proceed with intercept collections.

Effective and Cooperative Communication

It is critical that FTB Intercept Program liaisons listed on FTB 2280 PC effectively communicate with debtors and FTB staff on account information, resolution of issues, and ensuring customer needs are met. FTB requires agencies to respond to their debtors within 48 hours when contacted by FTB staff to ensure issues are resolved and customer needs are met. Failure to cooperate in effective communication and account resolution may result in a suspension of intercepts for the participating agency.