Tax Guide for New Permit and License Holders
Obtaining Assistance from Us

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Need Tax Assistance?

Our website offers many resources to help you understand our tax and fee programs.

We have several helpful industry guides, online seminars, and answers to frequently asked questions. If you are unable to locate the information you need or require immediate assistance, you may call our Customer Service Center. Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday (except state holidays) from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time).

  • Toll-free: 1-800-400-7115 (TTY:711)
  • Outside the US: 1-916-445-6362

You can email us with any general or non-confidential tax or fee questions.

You can obtain relief from tax and any penalty or interest charges if you failed to report tax correctly because you relied on erroneous written advice from us. For more information, see Written Tax Advice section below.

Local CDTFA Office Locations

We offer many online services but also have local offices throughout California.

Working with our local offices, you can:

  • Receive tax advice or an educational consultation
  • Make updates to your permits, licenses, and accounts
  • Assist you with completing a return
  • Request a certificate of tax clearance for the purchase of a business
  • Request a use tax clearance for nontaxable vehicle and vessel transfers
  • Obtain an escrow clearance

We also have several computer kiosks located in each of our local offices that enable you to file and make payments. Feel free to visit the local office nearest you.

Know Your Rights

As a California taxpayer, you have a right to be treated courteously and professionally by our team members.

We are committed to upholding all your taxpayer rights. When you are unable to resolve a matter through normal channels, you may contact the Taxpayers' Rights Advocate Office. They can explain your rights and help facilitate resolutions between you and the CDTFA.

To learn more, see publication 70, Understanding Your Rights as a California Taxpayer.

Educational Consultations

Now that your new business is up and running, you are faced with the challenge of interpreting and complying with the complex and changing Sales and Use Tax laws.

As part of our commitment to helping you understand your sales and use tax obligations, we have established the Taxpayer Educational Consultation Program. This free program provides eligible businesses with education and assistance and helps them prepare for their sales and use tax reporting requirements.

Written Tax Advice

If you have specific tax and fee questions regarding your business, we recommend that you get answers from us in writing. This will enable us to give you the best advice and can protect you from penalties and interest if we give you erroneous information. For this relief to apply, a request for advice must be in writing, identify the taxpayer to whom the advice applies, and fully describe the facts and circumstances of the transaction.

For written advice on sales and use tax program, including the California Lumber Products Assessment or Prepaid Mobile Telephony Services (MTS) Surcharge, send your request to:

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
Audit and Information Section, MIC:44
P.O. Box 942879
Sacramento, CA 94279-0044.

For written advice on all other special tax and fee programs, send your request to:

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
Program Administration Branch, MIC:31
P.O. Box 942879
Sacramento, CA 94279-0031.

For more information, see publication 8, Get it in Writing!

Keeping Your Business Information Current

To ensure we provide you with the most helpful information about your account, please noify us of any changes to your business, including updates to your business address, name, ownership information, sub-locations, and business closure. You can update your business information in the following ways:

Information in Other Languages

We offer many forms and publications in multiple languages. Go to the links below and use the Show All Languages dropdown to find a specific language.

In addition, we offer resources in multiple languages on our Languages webpage.

If you require assistance with interpretation, please call us to schedule an appointment. We will make every attempt to provide access to a CDTFA employee who speaks your language.

Other Non-CDTFA Licenses

After you have registered with us, we suggest you visit the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to help you determine if other state, federal, and local agencies have any licensing or registration requirements that may affect you.

GO-Biz offers extensive information on state, local, and federal permit requirements:

  • CalGold — Provides information about other federal, state, or local government permits that may be required for your business.
  • California Office of Small Business Advocate — Provides personalized business assistance including quick start guides for starting and growing your business and the California Business Navigator that provides custom information for your business including permits, licenses, and incentives.

In an effort to ease the process for a taxpayer interested in starting a business in California, we partnered with the Employment Development Department, the Franchise Tax Board, and the Internal Revenue Service to establish the California Tax Service Center. The website acts as a one-stop source for the latest tax information.