You know what I love most about Disneyland? It’s not just the rides or the churros (though let’s be honest, those churros are something else). It’s watching families create memories, completely carefree, even if just for a day.
That’s exactly what I was doing last weekend – enjoying our quarterly family Disney trip (thank goodness for military discounts), when everything changed.
The Line That Changed Lives
I was standing in line for Space Mountain, watching my kids argue about which side of the rocket they’d sit on, when my phone buzzed. 10:43 AM. Saturday. The timestamp is burned into my memory because it marked the moment Sarah’s world turned upside down.
“They took it all. Every single penny. I can’t even buy groceries.”
Sarah’s voice trembled in a way that made me step out of line immediately, much to my kids’ disappointment. My wife gave me that knowing look – the one that says, “Another FTB emergency?”
The Morning Everything Changed
Just 24 hours earlier, Sarah had been living her normal life. A successful boutique owner in Sacramento, she had built her business from the ground up over the last eight years. Her morning routine was simple: 6 AM wake-up, quick spin class, shower, then her daily reward – that $6 oat milk latte from the local coffee shop she’d been visiting for years.
Except this morning, her card was declined.
“Ma’am, do you have another card?” the barista asked, trying to be discrete.
Red-faced, Sarah pulled out her backup card. Declined again.
One frantic bank login later, she was staring at numbers that didn’t make sense: $0.00 available balance. $0.00 current balance.
The night before, she had over $47,000 in her business account.
The Franchise Tax Board had struck. No warning. No courtesy call. Just complete financial devastation in the blink of an eye.
A Tale of Two Tax Agencies
Standing there in Disneyland, watching happy families stream by, I tried to explain to Sarah what had happened. The truth is, most Californians don’t understand how differently the FTB operates compared to the IRS.
Think the IRS is tough? They’re like your friendly neighborhood tax collector compared to the FTB. Here’s what I mean:
IRS Collections:
• Multiple notices over several months
• Clear warning letters
• Various payment options
• 10-year statute of limitations
• Multiple appeal rights
• Payment plans available
• Usually willing to negotiate
FTB Collections:
• Minimal notice requirements
• Lightning-fast levies
• Limited payment options
• No statute of limitations
• Restricted appeal rights
• Aggressive collection tactics
• Take first, ask questions later
The 10-Day Nightmare
“But here’s what you need to understand right now,” I told Sarah, finding a quiet corner near Tomorrow Land. “You have 10 days. That’s it.”
“Ten days for what?” she asked.
“Ten days to try to get your money back. After that, it’s gone forever.”
The silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
Sarah had already burned through two of those precious days trying to figure things out on her own. Calling the FTB. Waiting on hold. Getting disconnected. Calling again. Being told different things by different representatives.
Meanwhile, the clock was ticking.
The New Reality
This isn’t some rare occurrence. While I stood there at Disneyland, watching the fireworks later that night, I couldn’t help but think about the statistics I’d seen just last month:
• 312 bank accounts levied in San Diego alone
• 89 business licenses suspended
• 437 wage garnishments implemented
• Over $14 million collected through automated levies
And thanks to the FTB’s new automated collection system in 2024, these numbers are climbing faster than Tower of Terror.
Sarah’s Story: A Warning
“I thought I had time,” Sarah explained. “They sent something months ago, but I was dealing with my mom’s cancer treatments. The business was doing well, I just… I thought I had time to figure it out.”
This is the cruel irony of FTB collections. They don’t care about your reasons. They don’t care about your circumstances. And they certainly don’t care about your timeline.
The Hidden Threat
What makes the FTB particularly dangerous is their efficiency. Their new automated system can:
• Cross-reference multiple databases instantly
• Identify assets and income sources automatically
• Trigger levies without human intervention
• Track out-of-state residents
• Monitor social media for business activity
• Analyze banking patterns
You might think you’re flying under the radar. You’re not.
The Silver Lining
Sarah’s story has a better ending than most. We managed to prove financial hardship and negotiate a release of some funds within the 10-day window. Her business survived, though it was a close call.
But I keep thinking about all the others. The ones who don’t know what’s coming. The ones who, right now, are going about their daily lives, not realizing they’re one morning away from a zero balance.
Are You Next?
If any of these sound familiar, you might be in the FTB’s crosshairs:
• Received an FTB notice but haven’t responded
• Moved out of state with outstanding California tax debt
• Made payment arrangements but missed payments
• Haven’t filed California returns in recent years
• Got a notice but thought “I’ll handle it later”
• Have unfiled returns from years worked in California
The Time to Act is Now
I ended up missing Space Mountain that day. But helping Sarah avoid financial disaster? Worth it.
These days, when people ask me why I specialize in FTB cases, I think about that Saturday morning call. I think about Sarah. And I think about all the people who didn’t get help in time.
Don’t wait for that morning when your card gets declined. Don’t wait until you’re racing against that 10-day countdown.
Schedule a call with me here.
Because while Disneyland might be the happiest place on earth, dealing with the FTB alone is anything but magical.
P.S. A final thought: Just like you wouldn’t try to navigate Disneyland without a map, don’t try to handle the FTB without a guide. The stakes are too high, and the time too short. Let’s talk about your options before it’s too late.