California Taxpayer Advocate
Like the IRS, California's Franchise Tax Board has its own taxpayer advocate. (See my earlier posting on August 27, 2007 entitled "What Has The IRS' Taxpayer Advocate Done Lately?"). It claims that "The Taxpayer Advocate's office is available to provide an independent review of your unresolved tax problems."
Your rights as a California taxpayer are described on the Franchise Tax Board's Advocate's website in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.
There is also a comparison of California law with federal law concerning the taxpayers' bill of rights.
Common California Advocate Responsibilities Include:
Resolve problems when normal channels don’t work
Protect taxpayers’ rights
Determine whether to suspend collections while case is in review
Ensure courteous treatment of the public
Maintain independent status
Identify inequities
Provide independent review
Adhere to agency tax laws
Identify trends and issues
Encourage public suggestions
Propose changes
Promote understandable and simple:
Tax lawsRegulations
Policies
Procedures
Publications
Finally, there is a link to a list of taxpayer advocates in the California Board of Equalization (BOE), Employment Development Department (EDD), Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
If you continue to have tax problems even when dealing with the taxpayer advocate, call tax attorney Mitchell A. Port for tax help at 310.559.5259.
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