Section 21015.5 Of Part 10.7. Taxpayers' Bill Of Rights From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.7.
21015.5
. (a) (1) No levy may be made on any property or property
right of any person unless the board has notified the person in
writing of his or her rights as described in subparagraph (C) of
paragraph (3) before the levy is made. Except as provided in
subdivision (f), the notice shall be required only once for the
taxable period to which the unpaid tax specified in subparagraph (A)
of paragraph (3) relates. The notice shall not be required if the
unpaid tax for which notice would otherwise be required under this
paragraph is consolidated for collection purposes with a preexisting
unpaid tax for which notice has been given under this paragraph.
(2) The notice required by paragraph (1) shall be made by
first-class mail to the address of record not less than 30 days
before the day of the first levy with respect to the amount of the
unpaid tax for the taxable period. Notice under paragraph (1) is not
required if previous mail to the same address was returned
undelivered with no forwarding address.
(3) The notice required under paragraph (1) shall specify, in
simple and nontechnical terms, all of the following:
(A) The amount of unpaid tax.
(B) A telephone number to call in the event of any questions.
(C) The right of the person to request a review during the 30-day
period described in paragraph (2).
(D) The proposed action or actions that may be taken by the
Franchise Tax Board and the rights of the person with respect to the
action or actions, including a brief statement that sets forth all of
the following:
(i) The provisions of California law relating to levy and sale of
property.
(ii) The procedures applicable to the levy and sale of property
under California law.
(iii) The independent departmental administrative review available
to the taxpayers with respect to the levy and sale and the
procedures to obtain that review.
(iv) The alternatives available to taxpayers that could prevent
levy on property, including installment agreements under Section
19008.
(v) California legal requirements and procedures with respect to
the release of levy.
(b) (1) The Taxpayers' Rights Advocate shall establish procedures
for an independent departmental administrative review for taxpayers
who request review under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a).
(2) A person shall be entitled to only one review under this
section with respect to the taxable period to which the unpaid tax
specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a)
relates.
(3) An independent departmental administrative review under this
subdivision shall be conducted by an officer or employee, or officers
or employees, who have had no prior involvement with respect to the
unpaid tax specified in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of
subdivision (a) before the first review under this section or Section
19225. A taxpayer may waive the requirement of this paragraph.
Administrative review under this subdivision is not subject to
Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Part 1 of Division 3
of the Government Code.
(c) (1) The person or persons conducting the independent
departmental administrative review shall obtain verification that the
requirements of any applicable law or administrative procedures have
been met by the board.
(2) The taxpayer may raise during the review any relevant issue
relating to the unpaid tax or the lien, including any of the
following:
(A) Appropriate spousal defenses.
(B) Challenges to the appropriateness of collection actions.
(C) Offers of collection alternatives, that may include the
posting of a bond, the substitution of other assets, an installment
agreement, or an offer in compromise.
(3) The determination of the person or persons conducting the
review under this subdivision shall take into consideration all of
the following:
(A) The verification presented under paragraph (1).
(B) The issues raised under paragraph (2).
(C) Whether any proposed collection action balances the need for
the efficient collection of taxes with the legitimate concern of the
person that any collection action not be more intrusive than
necessary.
(4) An issue may not be raised during the review if:
(A) The issue was raised and considered at a previous review under
this section or in any other administrative or judicial proceeding.
(B) The person seeking to raise the issue participated
meaningfully in the review or proceeding.
(C) The issue meets the requirements of clause (i) or (ii) of
Section 6702(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, as modified by
Section 19179.
This paragraph does not apply to any issue with respect to a
change in circumstances of that person that affects the
determination.
(d) If review is requested under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3)
of subdivision (a), the levy actions that are the subject of the
requested review shall be suspended for the period during which the
review is pending. In no event shall any period expire before the
15th day after the day upon which there is a final determination in
the review.
(e) This section does not apply if the board has made a finding
under Section 19081 or Section 19082 that the collection of tax is in
jeopardy except that the taxpayer shall be given the opportunity for
the review described in this section within a reasonable period of
time after the levy.
(f) If the board holds in abeyance the collection of a liability
imposed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) or Part 10.2
(commencing with Section 18401), that is final and otherwise due and
payable, for a period in excess of six months from the date the hold
is first placed on the account, the board shall thereafter mail to
the taxpayer a notice prior to issuing a levy or filing or recording
a notice of state tax lien.
(g) This section is operative for collection actions initiated
after the date which is 180 days after the effective date of the act
adding this section.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the
board determines that any portion of a request for review under this
section meets the requirements of clause (i) or (ii) of Section 6702
(b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, as modified by Section 19179,
then the Franchise Tax Board may treat that portion as if it were
never submitted and that portion shall not be subject to any further
administrative or judicial review.