Calling the California Franchise Tax Board offers some benefits, but you're limited in what you can do with this site unless you're willing to provide sensitive personal information. And given the nature of what the California Franchise Tax Board does, it's probably better if this chokepoint is in place.
When I called, the automated system gave me a complete picture about how taxes would work in California. The system told me that if I expected to get a tax refund or at least didn't estimate having to pay in taxes, I would automatically be eligible to submit my taxes in October and not April. However, if I expected to pay a non-zero sum, I would need to submit a form to earn approval to submit my returns late.
If I did need to set up a payment plan to take care of past tax debts, I would be able to do so, but I would have to wait until I had actually gotten my first bill before I could set up a payment plan. After getting through a few more menus, I was finally able to get to the spot where I could get help with my situation, and I selected to try to get information about filing my taxes as a business entity.
At this point, I hit the chokepoint: the system wouldn't allow me to proceed unless I could provide my Social Security number or my tax identification number. There isn't a workaround if you refuse to enter this information; it's simply not possible to proceed any further without giving this information.
Given that the tax board is dealing with the most sensitive information possible, it's absolutely vital that it keeps this information well protected against potential threats. Making sure to set up a chokepoint that keeps people from being able to get anywhere near sensitive information without providing personal data helps ensure that only people who are supposed to be using this number do.
Additionally, such protection is better for the customer because it means that they don't have to waste time waiting behind people who are simply looking for information. Dealing with the tax board in any situation is a stressful situation, and this can be a key feature to limit frustrations. By lowering the amount of time someone actually has to be on the phone, the tax board can help customers stay relaxed so that they can think clearly when talking to a tax professional
Based on this phone call, I think I would use this number if needed to get information. The tax board does a thorough job and provides much of the information that people need before they even get a chance to speak to a representative. If there are further questions, the taxpayer can get real assistance as long as they call during normal business hours. If you have time to make that call, it seems the results are worth it.