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Heads up: if you're moving for a job, get a letter from your new employer stating your start date and that it's a permanent position. That helped me a ton!
Just went through this nightmare myself! In addition to what others mentioned, I'd recommend getting a declaration of domicile if your new state offers it - it's basically an official statement that you intend to make that state your permanent home. Also, if you have kids, school enrollment records are gold. The FTB loves seeing evidence that you've moved your whole life, not just your mailing address. Save yourself the headache and gather MORE documents than you think you need - better to overwhelm them with proof than have them come back asking for more stuff later!
This is exactly the kind of detailed advice I needed! The declaration of domicile tip is brilliant - I had no idea that was even a thing. Did you end up submitting it along with your initial application or did they request it later? Also wondering how long the whole process took from start to finish once you had all your documents together?
I totally get the frustration! I've been dealing with the same issue for my tax refund. One thing that helped me was checking the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the FTB website first - sometimes that has more up-to-date info than what the phone reps can see. Also, try calling the general FTB number (1-800-852-5711) instead of EDD if it's about tax refunds specifically. The wait times can still be crazy, but I've had better luck getting through there. Hang in there! 💪
Wait, are we talking about EDD (Employment Development Department) or FTB (Franchise Tax Board) here? I'm seeing some confusion in the comments. If you're checking on a tax refund, that would be FTB, not EDD. EDD handles unemployment benefits. For FTB tax refunds, definitely use the "Where's My Refund?" tool on ftb.ca.gov first - it's updated more frequently than what phone reps can see. If you still need to call, try 1-800-852-5711 early morning (like 7-8 AM). I've found Tuesday-Thursday tend to have shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. Hope this helps clear things up! 🤞
I've been lurking here for a while but had to create an account to share this - I actually work for a tax resolution company and we deal with FTB daily. Here's the insider scoop: their phone system is absolutely overwhelmed, but there are a few tricks that work. First, try calling at exactly 8:00 AM Pacific on Tuesday or Wednesday (avoid Mondays like the plague). Second, if you're calling about a payment, have your SSN, tax year, and payment amount ready - they can often resolve simple payment issues in under 10 minutes if you have everything ready. Third, and this is key - if you get disconnected, ask for the rep's direct extension before you hang up. Most people don't know you can do this, but they're allowed to give it out. Also, @GalacticGladiator is spot on about that appointment scheduler - it's a lifesaver but super hidden on their site. Hope this helps everyone here! 🙏
Wow, this is incredibly helpful! Thank you for taking the time to share these insider tips @Fatima. The detail about asking for a direct extension is brilliant - I never would have thought to do that, but it makes total sense. I'm definitely going to try the Tuesday 8 AM approach with all my documents ready. Quick question though - when you mention having the "payment amount ready," do you mean the amount I'm trying to pay, or the amount they say I owe? Sometimes there's a discrepancy and I want to make sure I'm prepared with the right info. Thanks again for sharing your professional knowledge with us mere mortals! 😄
This is exactly the kind of insider knowledge we need more of! @Fatima thank you so much for sharing these professional tips. The Tuesday/Wednesday timing makes perfect sense - I bet Mondays are chaos with everyone trying to catch up from the weekend. I'm definitely going to try that 8 AM sharp strategy this week. One follow-up question: when you mention having everything ready, should I also have my bank account info handy for setting up payments, or do they usually handle that separately? Don't want to fumble around looking for routing numbers when I finally get someone on the line! This community is amazing - love how we're all helping each other navigate this bureaucratic maze 💪
I've been dealing with the FTB for my small business and can confirm that their system is absolutely brutal. One thing that helped me was using their "Practitioner Priority Line" - even though I'm not technically a tax pro, I mentioned I was calling on behalf of my business and they transferred me there. The wait was still long but way shorter than the regular line. Also, if you're having payment processing issues specifically, try reaching out to their "Electronic Funds Transfer" department directly - they handle payment problems and seem to have shorter queues. The number is buried on their website but it's worth hunting for. Hang in there @Amara, we've all been in this frustrating boat! 🚢
Hey @NeonNebula! I just wanted to echo what everyone else has said - you're definitely not alone in this mistake. I work in tax prep and see payment mix-ups like this at least a few times each season. The most important thing is that you caught it relatively quickly. When you call the IRS tomorrow, make sure to have your confirmation numbers for the payment you made, along with both your SSN and business EIN ready. They'll likely walk you through the process step by step. One tip: if you get disconnected or the agent can't help, don't hesitate to call back and try again. Different agents sometimes have different levels of experience with these situations. You've got this! 💪
This is really helpful advice, especially about calling back if you get an unhelpful agent! I've heard that can make a big difference. @NeonNebula, it sounds like you're in good hands with all this advice. The tax prep perspective is really valuable - knowing this happens regularly should definitely ease some of your stress about the situation.
I feel for you! I made a similar mistake about 3 years ago and remember that sinking feeling when I realized what I'd done. The good news is that this is absolutely fixable, and the IRS has seen this before. Here's what worked for me: I called the IRS first (yes, the wait was brutal, but it was worth it to get guidance directly from them), then filed amended returns for both personal and business. The agent I spoke with was actually really understanding and walked me through exactly what forms I needed. The whole process took about 5-6 months to fully resolve, but I didn't face any penalties since it was clearly an honest mistake and I was proactive about fixing it. Just make sure to keep copies of everything and follow up if you don't hear back within their stated timeframes. You're going to get through this! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really comforting to hear from someone who went through the exact same thing. 5-6 months sounds like a long time, but knowing it worked out in the end makes me feel so much better about this whole situation. I'm definitely going to follow your advice about keeping copies of everything and following up regularly. Did you have to pay any interest on the taxes while everything was getting sorted out?
Zara Mirza
I'm dealing with this exact same issue right now! Been locked out of my LLC account for about a week and getting that same "information doesn't match records" error. It's so frustrating because you have no idea what's actually wrong! This thread has been a goldmine though - I never would have thought of half these solutions. Definitely going to try the EIN instead of SSN approach first since that seems to have worked for multiple people. I've been using my SSN this whole time and it never occurred to me they might want the business number for LLC accounts. Also going to double-check my business name formatting - I bet I've been including "LLC" at the end when it's probably registered without it in their system. The browser clearing and early morning calling tips are super helpful too! It's honestly both maddening and reassuring to see how many people are dealing with this. Makes you wonder if they had some kind of system update that broke a bunch of accounts recently. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - gives me hope this nightmare is actually solvable! 🤞
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James Martinez
•I'm so glad I found this thread too! I'm dealing with the exact same nightmare right now - been locked out of my personal FTB account for about 5 days and that error message is driving me absolutely insane. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful though! I'm definitely going to try the EIN approach even though mine is a personal account - maybe there's some crossover issue if I have business filings too. The business name formatting tips are really eye-opening, and I bet similar issues happen with personal name formatting. Planning to clear my browser completely and try calling first thing tomorrow morning. It's crazy how many people are dealing with this - definitely feels like they broke something on their end recently! Thanks for adding to the helpful summary of solutions everyone's shared 🙏
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Dylan Wright
I'm going through the exact same nightmare right now! Been locked out of my LLC account for about 3 weeks and that "information doesn't match records" error is absolutely infuriating. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful though - there are so many potential solutions I never would have considered! I'm definitely going to try the EIN instead of SSN approach first since that seems to be the most successful fix based on everyone's experiences. I've been using my SSN this whole time and it never occurred to me that FTB might require the business number for LLC accounts, even single-member ones. Also planning to double-check that I'm entering my business name exactly as it appears on my Articles of Organization - probably without "LLC" at the end knowing how picky their system is. The browser clearing and early morning calling tips are pure gold too! One thing I'll add that might help others - if you've had any recent changes to your registered agent, business address, or filed any amendments, make sure those are properly synced in their system. I updated my registered address about 8 months ago and I'm wondering if that's causing the mismatch. It's honestly both frustrating and comforting to see how widespread this issue is. Makes me think they had some kind of system update that broke a bunch of accounts. Thanks everyone for sharing your solutions - this community is a lifesaver when dealing with FTB's bureaucratic maze! Will definitely update if I find the magic combination that works 🤞
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