Article 2 - Deficiency Determinations

California Revenue and Taxation Code — §§ 8776-8783

Sections (9)

Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 556.

If the board is dissatisfied with the return filed, it may compute and determine the amount to be paid upon the basis of any information available to it. One or more deficiency determinations may be made of the amount of tax due for one or for more than one month. When a business is discontinued a determination may be made at any time thereafter, within the periods specified in Section 8782, as to liability arising out of that business, irrespective of whether the determination is issued prior to the due date of the liability as otherwise specified in this part.

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 555, Sec. 26. Effective January 1, 1996.

The amount of the determination, exclusive of penalties, shall bear interest at the modified adjusted rate per month, or fraction thereof, established pursuant to Section 6591.5, from the last day of the calendar month following the reporting period for which the amount of the tax, or any portion thereof, should have been reported until the date of payment.

Added by Stats. 1941, Ch. 38.

In making a determination the board may offset overpayments for a month or months against underpayments for another month or months and against the interest and penalties on the underpayments.

Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 2129.

If any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency determination is made is due to negligence or intentional disregard of this part or the rules and regulations adopted under this part, a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the determination shall be added thereto.

Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 2129.

If any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency determination is made is due to fraud or an intent to evade this part or the rules and regulations adopted under this part, a penalty of 25 percent of the amount of the determination shall be added thereto.

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 499, Sec. 22. (SB 1528) Effective January 1, 2025.

The department shall give the user written notice of its determination. The notice shall be served in one of the following manners:

(a)By placing the notice in a sealed envelope, with postage paid, addressed to the user at their address as it appears in the records of the department. Service made pursuant to this subdivision shall be deemed complete at the time of the deposit of the notice in the United States Post Office, or a mailbox, sub-post office, substation, or mail chute, or other facility maintained or provided by the United States Postal Service, without extension of time for any reason.
(b)By personally delivering the notice to the person to be served. Service made

pursuant to this subdivision shall be deemed complete at the time of such delivery. Personal service to a corporation may be made by delivery of a notice to any person designated in the Code of Civil Procedure to be served for the corporation with summons and complaint in a civil action.

(c)(1) By delivering the notice electronically via secure transmission when either of the following applies:

(A) The taxpayer requests the notice of determination to be sent electronically via secure transmission.

(B) The department has evidence that the taxpayer no longer receives mail at the address of record and has previously provided an address for electronic mail.

(2)Service provided pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be deemed complete at the

time the department electronically transmits the notice via the taxpayer’s secure web portal, without extension of time for any reason.

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 499, Sec. 23. (SB 1528) Effective January 1, 2025.

Except in the case of fraud, intent to evade the tax, or failure to make a return, every notice of a deficiency determination shall be served within three years after the last day of the calendar month following the period for which the return was due or within three years after the return is filed, whichever period expires later. If the user fails to make a return, the notice of determination shall be served within eight years after the last day of the month following the period for which the return was due.

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 499, Sec. 24. (SB 1528) Effective January 1, 2025.

In the case of a deficiency arising under this part during the lifetime of a decedent, a notice of deficiency determination shall be served within four months after written request therefor, in the form required by the department, by the fiduciary of the estate or trust or by any other person liable for the tax or any portion thereof.

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 499, Sec. 25. (SB 1528) Effective January 1, 2025.

If before the expiration of the time prescribed in Section 8782 for serving a notice of deficiency determination the taxpayer has consented in writing to the service of the notice after such time, the notice may be served at any time prior to the expiration of the period agreed upon. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon.