California Franchise Tax Board

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The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is the state agency responsible for administering California’s personal income tax and business income and franchise taxes. It processes returns, collects taxes and fees, and manages payment plans, refunds, and enforcement for the State of California.

Sacramento, CA
ftb.ca.gov
Owned by State of California

About California Franchise Tax Board

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is a state government agency that administers California’s personal income tax and most corporate and business entity income and franchise taxes. It oversees the assessment and collection of tax and fee obligations for individuals, corporations, LLCs, and other entities doing business in California, and provides online portals and phone support for filing, payments, and account management.([sos.ca.gov](https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/tax-information?utm_source=openai))

A descriptor like “CAFRNCHISTXBRD BU / BUSENTY / BUS TAXFE” with a California phone number (such as 916‑545‑4445) typically indicates an electronic payment, fee, or tax related to a California business entity or franchise tax processed by the California Franchise Tax Board. Public organizational and treasurer reports show these exact strings used for California business tax and fee payments, confirming the association with FTB business entity tax transactions.([app2.boardontrack.com](https://app2.boardontrack.com/org/gJjJga/attachment/publicDownload/356256?s=gJjJga&utm_source=openai)) Charges may represent annual minimum franchise tax, LLC fees, penalties, interest, installment plan withdrawals, or other business-related tax obligations.

If you have a question about this charge, first match the date and amount against California returns or notices you (or your business) filed, as well as any payment plans set up with FTB. You can log into your FTB online account (MyFTB) to verify recent payments and balances, or review confirmation emails/notices that reference electronic funds transfers.([webapp.ftb.ca.gov](https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/MyFTBAccess/Help/IDNum?utm_source=openai)) If you still do not recognize the transaction, contact the California Franchise Tax Board directly using the phone numbers listed on ftb.ca.gov, and speak with an agent who can look up the payment by your entity ID or Social Security Number. If FTB confirms the charge is not associated with your account, you can then follow up with your bank about disputing the transaction.

Bank Statement Variations

1 known variations

These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to California Franchise Tax Board.

  1. CAFRNCHISTXBRD BU 04/13 PURCHA CAFRNCHISTXBRD BU 04/13 PURCHASE 9165454445 AL DEBIT CARD *0788

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a charge labeled “CAFRNCHISTXBRD BU” or “CAFRNCHISTXBRD BUS TAXFE” mean on my bank statement?

Those abbreviations are truncated merchant descriptors for the California Franchise Tax Board and usually indicate a business-related California tax or fee payment, such as an annual minimum franchise tax, LLC fee, or other entity tax or penalty processed by FTB.([app2.boardontrack.com](https://app2.boardontrack.com/org/gJjJga/attachment/publicDownload/356256?s=gJjJga&utm_source=openai))

Why did the California Franchise Tax Board charge my business account?

The California Franchise Tax Board may charge your business account for a scheduled electronic payment you authorized when filing a return, paying an assessment, or setting up a payment plan, or for automatic collection of the annual minimum franchise tax or LLC fee if you registered an entity to do business in California.([sos.ca.gov](https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/tax-information?utm_source=openai))

How can I verify which tax or fee a specific FTB charge is paying?

Log in to your MyFTB account and review your payment history to see the exact tax year, form, and liability each electronic payment was applied to. If you do not have online access, you can call the appropriate FTB phone line listed on ftb.ca.gov with your SSN or entity ID so an agent can look up the payment and explain what it covered.([webapp.ftb.ca.gov](https://webapp.ftb.ca.gov/MyFTBAccess/Help/IDNum?utm_source=openai))

Can I cancel or change a scheduled electronic payment with the California Franchise Tax Board?

In many cases, scheduled electronic payments can be changed or canceled if you contact the FTB before the payment date; however, direct debit authorizations tied to filed returns or electronic funds transfer setups may have time limits for modification. Check your payment confirmation notice for instructions, or call FTB as soon as possible if you need to adjust a scheduled debit.([ftb.ca.gov](https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2025/2025-100-booklet.html?utm_source=openai))

Why do I see multiple small FTB charges such as “BUS ENT Y TA” or “BUS TAX FE” for different amounts?

Multiple smaller California Franchise Tax Board charges can result from separate payments for different tax years, distinct business entities under your control, installment plan withdrawals, or small penalty/interest assessments posted after your main tax payment. Reviewing your MyFTB account or recent FTB notices will usually show how each payment was allocated.([ftb.ca.gov](https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2024/2024-100-booklet.html?utm_source=openai))

How do I request a refund or adjustment for a California Franchise Tax Board payment I believe is incorrect?

If you think an FTB payment was incorrect, first confirm the underlying assessment (return, notice, or bill). If the tax or fee was overpaid, you can generally request a refund via an amended return, a formal protest, or by calling FTB if the issue is a duplicate or misapplied payment. The FTB website provides forms and instructions for corrections and refund claims for both individuals and business entities.([ftb.ca.gov](https://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2025/2025-100-booklet.html?utm_source=openai))

What should I do if I don’t recognize a California Franchise Tax Board charge at all?

Start by checking whether you or your business have any connection to California taxes, such as prior residency, California-source income, or a registered California entity. If the charge is still unfamiliar, contact FTB directly using phone numbers from ftb.ca.gov—not from unsolicited emails or texts—so they can verify whether the payment is tied to your account. If FTB has no record under your identifiers, report the transaction to your bank as potentially unauthorized.([sos.ca.gov](https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/tax-information?utm_source=openai))

Can the California Franchise Tax Board place automatic debits or garnishments on my account without new authorization?

If you have an outstanding California tax balance and do not respond to notices, FTB has statutory authority to collect through bank levies, wage garnishments, or intercepts of other payments after due process. These actions are different from voluntary electronic payments and will typically be preceded by written notices explaining the balance due and your appeal rights. If you suspect a levy, contact FTB immediately to discuss your options.([anyflip.com](https://anyflip.com/akzu/krbg/basic/?utm_source=openai))

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