FTB Secure Email Updated for Simpler Access

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Published November 23rd, 2024

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is updating its Secure Email system to simplify access for external customers. Beginning November 23, 2024, users will no longer need to register or log in with a password to open encrypted emails, opting instead for direct sign-in to their email account or a one-time passcode. This change aims to provide a faster and more convenient user experience.

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What changed

The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is implementing changes to its Secure Email system, effective November 23, 2024, with platform conversion expected to complete by December 9, 2024. The primary change is the elimination of the requirement for external customers to register with FTB or use a password to open encrypted emails. Users will now be able to view encrypted messages by signing into their existing email account (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) or by using a one-time passcode. Consequently, FTB will no longer offer account or registration assistance for the Secure Email service.

Regulated entities and individuals who communicate with the FTB via encrypted email should be aware of these changes. Existing messages received before November 23, 2024, will only be retrievable until December 8, 2024, after which they will expire. Messages received on or after November 23, 2024, will have a 90-day retention period unless deleted sooner by the user. No specific compliance actions are required from external customers, as the change is intended to simplify their interaction with the FTB's secure communication system.

Source document (simplified)

FTB Secure Email change Public service bulletin

November 19, 2024

Purpose of bulletin

To inform external customers that FTB Secure Email will be updated to offer users a simpler, faster, and more convenient way to receive and open encrypted emails from FTB.

Background

FTB Secure Email is one of the acceptable methods to securely receive and send encrypted messages. Beginning November 23, 2024, FTB’s Secure Email is changing platforms. The conversion of the platform is expected to be completed on December 9, 2024.

Additional information

FTB Secure Email users will no longer be required to register with FTB or login with a password to open an encrypted email. Instead, the user will have two options to view an encrypted message received from FTB:

Sign in to the email account (e.g. Gmail or Yahoo account) to view the message, or
Open the message with a one-time passcode. Please note that any existing email messages received from, and replied to, FTB through FTB Secure Email before the November 23, 2024, update will only be retrievable through December 8, 2024. After December 8, 2024, email messages received and sent to FTB before the update will expire and will not be retrievable.

Any encrypted email messages received from, and replied to, FTB on or after the November 23, 2024, update will be subject to a 90-day retention period unless deleted earlier by the user.

Since this new process will not require registration or a password to open an encrypted email from FTB, account or registration assistance for FTB Secure Email will no longer be offered.