check out ftb;s latest scam

What is the name of your state? Ca
In December '03 I received a final notice saying that I owed the FTB over 3000.00 based on an estimated tax assessment, because i failed to file in '01. They based this assessment on an average annual salary in my field of work. They stated that they had been informed by an unamed third party that i had just became licensed in the year of '01. I became licensed in august '01 and had a total income of about 2300.00. I received a 1099 misc. instead of standard w-2. So I do know that I owe. I was told by my tax preparer that I had up until 2004 to file. Anyway I received the bill and was shocked because I had not received anything at all prior to this. They had sent my refund check in May of 2003 that was all. I spoke to them and the claimed that they sent out letters of request to file return and received no response. Well come to find out the letters of request were sent to my old address this is something they failed to tell me on the phone. I only found out when my ex gave them to me this past week. I have never used that address with them. They used my current address to send my refund in 5 '03 and final bill 12 '03. But in 6 '2003 the request for me to file was sent to an old address. One that I did not live at long enough to file a return. I only used it to get my license. But why wouldn't they use the last known address made known to them? They did for the final notice only now no one can seem to help me. I am still waiting for a call

[Snipes5]

It doesn't matter why they used whichever address they used. Since you know you owe them, file the return.

Your preparer was wrong. If you owe tax, you have until the due date of the return to file without incurring penalties. For 2001, that would have been April 15, 2002.

You will owe penalties and interest.

I suggest you file asap. The FTB isn't known for its generosity or compassion.

Snipes

[abezon]

That's understating it Snipes; the IRS is a cookie-baking grandma compared to the FTB.

Dude, file the frickin' 2001 tax return. Once you do, their "final assessment" isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

[Snipes5]

True true.

I never did get my $11 check from them last year, but they were kind enough to send me the form telling the IRS that they gave it to me. So now I have to declare it as income. Certainly $11 isn't worth trying to make a point with them, that's for sure.

Bottom line is, File The Return.

Snipes

But do I have to pay the estimated tax or the actual tax based on my 1099?

[Snipes5]

Fill out a tax form with the amount of income you earned, based on your Federal Tax Return for that year (assuming it was filed and was done correctly), and send them the amount of money it says you owe at the bottom of the actual CA return that you fill out for that year.

Attach your completed CA return, along with a copy of the appropriate Federal Return, to the piece of paper they sent you, and send the entire thing to the FTB by Certified Mail.

Keep copies of everything.

Snipes

it seems to me that it is not a scam but FTB business as usual.
the FTB has no real motivation for good/quality service or even to do the job right.

first, get some help, findsomeone that can help file a correct return regrdless of the 1099 you were sent, also see if they can try to get the penalities and interest off of you since the FTB seemed to want to send documents to an old or invalid addresss.

also, if your tax-pro. told you back info you can sue him in small claims court if the bad advice cost you any money.

[Snipes5]

Sue for "Bad Advice"?

Anyone who can read knows that taxes are due April 15 for the preceding year.

Too bad you can't sue for stupidity.

Oh wait, I forgot. This is the US, after all.

Snipes