Paying Your Taxes
California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), CDTFA sales tax, quarterly estimates, and local gross receipts
📋 Executive Summary
Taxes represent one of the largest ongoing expenses and compliance burdens for California businesses. This chapter covers the multi-agency California tax ecosystem: Franchise Tax Board (FTB) income taxes and the $800 minimum franchise tax, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) sales and use taxes, IRS Federal income and self-employment taxes, and quarterly estimated tax payments.
💡 Key Takeaways & Core Concepts
- Core Principle: California's Franchise Tax Board (FTB) levies a mandatory $800 annual minimum franchise tax on all California LLCs, Corporations, and LPs for the privilege of doing business in CA.
- Core Principle: Under recent California law (AB 85), newly formed LLCs, LPs, and LLPs enjoy an exemption from the $800 minimum franchise tax for their FIRST taxable year only (starting year two, the $800 is mandatory).
- Core Principle: Quarterly estimated taxes must be paid four times a year to both the IRS (Form 1040-ES) and the California FTB (Form 540-ES) to avoid underpayment interest and penalties.
- Core Principle: California base state sales tax is 7.25%, but local district taxes can push the total rate to over 10.75% depending on the specific city/county transaction location.
- Core Principle: Employers must register with the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to pay state payroll taxes, including State Disability Insurance (SDI), Employment Training Tax (ETT), and State Unemployment Insurance (SUI).
✅ California Practical Action Checklist
Obtain Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Apply instantly online via IRS.gov (free, immediate issuance).
Calendar FTB Form 3522 Payment Deadline
Pay the annual $800 LLC Franchise Tax by the 15th day of the 4th month of your tax year (April 15 for calendar year entities).
Calculate Quarterly Estimated Tax Milestones
Pay IRS and FTB estimated payments on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15.
Register for CDTFA Electronic Tax Filing
File monthly, quarterly, or annual California sales tax returns and remit collected taxes via the CDTFA online portal.
Check City Gross Receipts / Payroll Tax
Some California cities (such as San Francisco and Los Angeles) levy local gross receipts taxes or business taxes in addition to state taxes.
📖 Key Terminology Glossary
The California state agency responsible for collecting personal income tax and corporate/entity franchise taxes.
The official payment voucher used by LLCs to remit their annual $800 minimum franchise tax to the state of California.
Prepayments of income and self-employment taxes made four times a year by self-employed individuals and entities whose tax is not automatically withheld from a paycheck.
The California state agency administering sales and use taxes, fuel taxes, and special cannabis/tobacco fees.
IRS and FTB provisions that protect taxpayers from underpayment penalties if they prepay at least 90% of current year tax or 100% (110% for high earners) of prior year tax liability.
❓ Chapter Q&A & Self-Assessment
Test your comprehension of this chapter. Click each card below to reveal the answer and statutory explanation.
Q1
What is California's $800 Minimum Franchise Tax and when is it due for an LLC?
It is an annual mandatory state tax paid to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB Form 3522) for the privilege of operating an entity in California, due on the 15th day of the 4th month of the tax year (April 15 for calendar-year businesses).
Every LLC, corporation, and limited partnership registered in California must pay this $800 minimum tax every year, even if the business is inactive, made zero sales, or operated at a substantial financial loss. Under AB 85, first-year LLCs formed in recent years receive a waiver for Year 1, but must pay starting Year 2.
Q2
What is the penalty if a self-employed business owner fails to make quarterly estimated tax payments?
The IRS and California FTB assess non-deductible underpayment interest penalties calculated from the date the quarterly installment was due until the date paid.
The US and California tax systems operate on a 'pay-as-you-go' basis. If you wait until filing your annual tax return in April to pay your full year's taxes, you will be penalized for underpaying in Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, unless you meet the Safe Harbor withholding guidelines.
Q3
How does California Sales Tax apply to service businesses versus product retailers?
California sales tax applies primarily to the retail sale of tangible personal property (physical goods); pure professional services (consulting, legal, copywriting) are generally exempt from sales tax.
If you sell physical products (or physical products bundled with fabrication/labor), you must collect sales tax based on the destination delivery address rate and remit it to the CDTFA. If you provide purely labor or intangible advice, no sales tax is charged, although specific services (like graphic design delivering physical prints) can trigger tax rules.
Q4
What additional fee does California impose on high-grossing LLCs beyond the $800 minimum tax?
The California LLC Annual Fee (FTB Form 3536 / Form 568), which is a graduated fee based on total California gross income starting at $250,000.
If a California LLC's gross income (not net profit!) reaches $250,000 to $499,999, an additional $900 fee is owed; $500,000 to $999,999 pays $2,500; $1,000,000 to $4,999,999 pays $6,000; and $5,000,000+ pays $11,790. This fee must be estimated and paid by the 15th day of the 6th month.