The State of California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is aware of a growing number of scams, including those conducted via text message, and they have issued warnings to taxpayers.
It is crucial to be very cautious with any text message claiming to be from the FTB.
Here’s what the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) officially says about text messages—and why some of them are outright scams:
What Kind of Texts Does FTB Actually Send?
FTB confirms they do send a limited number of legitimate text messages, but only under specific circumstances:
One-Time Text Messages:
Appointment confirmations if you schedule a visit to an FTB Field Office.
Verification codes sent when you register or log in to your MyFTB account—you can choose SMS or a call for the code.
Texts initiated through FTB’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, such as:
Payment links for making California tax payments online
Confirmation numbers for setting up payment plans
Links to MyFTB registration or forms in online form pages
Ongoing Text Message Alerts (via MyFTB):
If you’re enrolled in MyFTB, you can opt into alerts when:
A new notice or document is available.
A tax professional Tax Information Authorization (TIA) or Power of Attorney (POA) request is approved or requires your attention.
There are updates to your contact preferences.
Bottom line: FTB does not send texts requesting personal info, payments, or account numbers.
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Spotting the Scam: What FTB Warns Against
FTB has issued multiple alerts and warnings about fraudulent text message scams:
Scammers are sending texts impersonating FTB, often with urgent claims like your refund will expire—though FTB never sends refund-related texts.
These texts often include links to fake FTB websites aimed at stealing your personal or financial information.
FTB explicitly advises:
“Do not reply to text messages, download attachments, or click on any links in texts or emails if you’re not sure they’re genuine.”
One credit union (SESLOC) also reported such scams circulating with messages claiming your refund would be forfeited—yet these were confirmed to be fake. They recommend reporting such incidents to FTB at 800‑852‑5711 or via their Fraud Referral Report.
Real People Sharing Their Experience (from Reddit)
Users on r/tax described identical text scams about “expiring refunds” and small refund amounts (e.g. $1,050). Here’s how they responded:
“This looks like a fake URL (unless you copied it incorrectly)… The FTB does not contact you via text message.”
“It’s a scam. I got the same text.”
“Don’t click the link.”
One added insight:
“The actual domain address for the CA FTB is ftb.ca.gov… text omits the CA in the spoofed URL, so they’re not even trying that hard.”
Summary – What to Do (and Not Do)
| Action | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| If you receive an unexpected text claiming to be from FTB | Do not respond, click links, or provide info. |
| Unsure? | Compare sender’s domain to ftb.ca.gov—and never trust .cfd, .top, or anything suspicious. |
| Want verification? | Contact FTB directly: 800‑852‑5711. |
| Think it’s a scam? | Report it to FTB via their Scams page or Fraud Referral unit. |
Summary
Legit FTB texts: Appointment confirmations, MyFTB login codes, IVR-initiated informational links, and account alerts.
ILLEGITIMATE: Any text that:
Talks about refunds expiring
Requests personal or payment information
Comes from anything other than official domains (e.g., ftb.ca.gov)
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