Section 18621.10 Of Article 3. General Provisions Applicable To All Persons From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 3.
18621.10
. (a) For taxable years beginning on or after January 1,
2014, if an acceptable return of a business entity was prepared using
a tax preparation software, that return shall be filed using
electronic technology in a form and manner prescribed by the
Franchise Tax Board.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Acceptable return" means any original or amended return that
is required to be filed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with
Section 18601), Section 18633, Section 18633.5, or Article 3
(commencing with Section 23771) of Chapter 4 of Part 11, other than
the return for unrelated business taxable income required by Section
23771.
(2) "Business entity" means a corporation, including an "S"
corporation, an organization exempt from tax pursuant to Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 23701) of Part 11, a partnership, or a
limited liability company.
(3) "Tax preparation software" means any computer software program
used to prepare an acceptable return or for use in tax compliance.
(4) "Electronic technology" includes, but is not limited to, the
Internet, cloud computing, or an electronic information delivery
system.
(5) "Technology constraints" means an inability of the tax
preparation software used by a business entity to electronically file
the acceptable return as required by this section as a result of the
complex nature of the return or inadequacy of the software.
(c) Any business entity required to file a return electronically
under this section may annually request a waiver of the requirements
of this section from the Franchise Tax Board with respect to an
acceptable return filed for a taxable year. The Franchise Tax Board
may grant a waiver if it determines the business entity is unable to
comply with the requirements of this section due to, but not limited
to, technology constraints, where compliance would result in undue
financial burden, or due to circumstances that constitute reasonable
cause, and not willful neglect, as applicable with respect to the
penalty imposed under Section 19171.
(d) This section applies to an acceptable return required to be
filed on or after January 1, 2015.