late refund
 

My California refund is late this year, and I've been wondering why. Today I received a letter from the California State Franchise Tax board that my refund is up for review and delayed because of identity fraud. They want my drivers license, ss card, w2 and check stubs. Well, I have all the information except the check stubs. I never save them.

Wonder if they'll send the refund w/out the stubs?

It seems like a lot to ask. Maybe I should try calling them. I know it will be almost impossible to speak to anyone from the state.

Sounds like a scam to me.

I suggest you find the number from a verified source and call them.

They usually ask for the moon and settle for whatever they can get. Send them a copy of your passport if you have it.

When I had issues after my divorce, I was able to find a number that was actually answered by a human meat Popsicle. Just takes time.

+1, Just the name (California State Franchise Tax board) sound phoney.

Human meat popsicle(lol). Yep, they sure are. Thanks, Joe Bob.

And ask for half the money they will get from the black market resale info...

As phony as it sounds, it does have a .gov domain - https://www.ftb.ca.gov/ - and that ain't getting faked (easily).

There ya go, check it online.

https://www.ftb.ca.gov/online/refund/index.asp?WT.mc_id=HP_Online_WheresMyRefund&WT.svl =Ref2

I had that a few years ago. I work it out so I always owe them money in April, always.

That is the actual name of the agency responsible for state income tax in California.

The fact that the OP was first notified by mail is also standard procedure for a legitimate audit/review. In fact, the Board warns people to be aware of any notifications that have not been initiated by mail first. The information asked for is also directly relevant to the issue at hand--identity fraud--and the information can be transmitted via snail mail directly to the legitimate Franchise Tax Board. That information, save possibly the most recent check stubs, is already in their hands so sending it again is no risk to the OP.

The OP was probably a victim of someone filing for his return, online. By asking for physical copies of the documents listed--drivers license, SS card, W2s and pay stubs, the office can know the person responding is the legitimate filer. When filing online, one only needs to produce the information from those documents which, of course, can be stolen from different sources and compiled to fill in the e-file forms, online.

Since I typically get a refund, I used to wait to the last minute to file my returns, but since the uptick on online fraud which results in someone "stealing" refunds, I have been filing as early as possible. I guess that's an upside.

Yes, a phone call would not hurt and is probably warranted in this age of fraud, but it is extremely likely that this is a legitimate review.

Refund? Lucky bastage.
I went single and zero all year and still had to send the feds an additional $12k.

Then you must make too much!

Refund fraud is a HUGE business right now.

I had no idea until it happened to us. A few years ago we submitted our Fed return and it was rejected because *it had already been filed*. Then come to find out this has happened to half the poeple I know...

So now we have a PIN number that we have to use to send it in. it's a pain, but ended that issue.