Section 19141.6.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 19141.6.
in effect(a)
Each taxpayer determining its income subject to tax pursuant to Section 25101 or electing to file pursuant to Section 25110 shall, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, maintain (in the location, in the manner, and to the extent prescribed in regulations promulgated by the Franchise Tax Board on or before December 31, 1995) and make available upon request all of the following:
(1)
Any records as may be appropriate to determine the correct treatment
of the components that are a part of one or more unitary businesses for purposes of determining the income derived from or attributable to this state pursuant to Section 25101 or 25110.
(2)
Any records as may be appropriate to determine the correct treatment of amounts that are attributable to the classification of an item as business or nonbusiness income for purposes of Article 2 (commencing with Section 25120) of Chapter 17 of Part 11.
(3)
Any records as may be appropriate to determine the correct treatment of the apportionment factors for purposes of Article 2 (commencing with Section 25120) of Chapter 17 of Part 11.
(4)
Documents and information, including any questionnaires completed and submitted to the Internal Revenue Service, that are necessary to audit issues involving attribution of income to the United
States or foreign jurisdictions under Section 882 of, or Subpart F of Part III of Subchapter N of, or similar provisions of, the Internal Revenue Code.
(b)
For purposes of this section:
(1)
Information for any year shall be retained for that period of time in which the taxpayers’ income or franchise tax liability to this state may be subject to adjustment, including all periods in which additional income or franchise taxes may be assessed, not to exceed eight years from the due date or extended due date of the return, or during which a protest is pending before the Franchise Tax Board, or an appeal is pending before the State Board of Equalization, or a lawsuit is pending in the courts of this state or the United States with respect to California franchise or income tax.
(2)
“Related party” means corporations that
are related because one owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of the stock of the other or because more than 50 percent of the voting stock of each is owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the same interests.
(3)
“Records” includes any books, papers, or other data.
(c)
(1)
If a corporation subject to this section fails to maintain or fails to cause another to maintain records as required by subdivision (a), that corporation shall pay a penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each taxable year with respect to which the failure occurs.
(2)
If any failure described in paragraph (1) continues for more than 90 days after the day on which the Franchise Tax Board mails notice of the failure to the corporation, that corporation shall pay a penalty (in addition to
the amount required under paragraph (1)) of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each 30-day period (or fraction thereof) during which the failure continues after the expiration of the 90-day period. The additional penalty imposed by this subdivision shall not exceed a maximum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) if the failure to maintain or the failure to cause another to maintain is not willful. This maximum shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, and before the earlier of the first day of the month following the month in which regulations are adopted pursuant to this section or December 31, 1995.
(3)
For purposes of this section, the time prescribed by regulations to maintain records (and the beginning of the 90-day period after notice by the Franchise Tax Board) shall be treated as not earlier than the last day on which (as shown to the satisfaction of the Franchise Tax Board) reasonable cause existed
for failure to maintain the records.
(d)
(1)
The Franchise Tax Board may apply the rules of paragraph (2) whether or not the board begins a proceeding to enforce a subpoena, or subpoena duces tecum, if subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) apply:
(A)
For purposes of determining the correct treatment under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) of the items described in subdivision (a), the Franchise Tax Board issues a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum to a corporation to produce (either directly or as agent for the related party) any records or testimony.
(B)
The subpoena or subpoena duces tecum is not quashed in a proceeding begun under paragraph (3) and is not determined to be invalid in a proceeding begun under Section 19504 to enforce the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum.
(C)
The corporation does not substantially comply in a timely manner with the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum and the Franchise Tax Board has sent by certified or registered mail a notice to that corporation that it has not substantially complied.
(D)
If the corporation fails to maintain or fails to cause another to maintain records as required by subdivision (a), and by reason of that failure, the subpoena, or subpoena duces tecum, is quashed in a proceeding described in subparagraph (B) or the corporation is not able to provide the records requested in the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, the Franchise Tax Board may apply the rules of paragraph (2) to any of the items described in subdivision (a) to which the records relate.
(2)
(A)
All of the following shall be determined by the Franchise Tax
Board in the Franchise Tax Board’s sole discretion from the Franchise Tax Board’s own knowledge or from information the Franchise Tax Board may obtain through testimony or otherwise:
(i)
The components that are a part of one or more unitary businesses for purposes of determining the income derived from or attributable to this state pursuant to Section 25101 or 25110.
(ii)
Amounts that are attributable to the classification of an item as business or nonbusiness income for purposes of Article 2 (commencing with Section 25120) of Chapter 17 of Part 11.
(iii)
The apportionment factors for purposes of Article 2 (commencing with Section 25120) of Chapter 17 of Part 11.
(iv)
The correct amount of income under Section 882 of, or Subpart F of Part III of
Subchapter N of, or similar provisions of, the Internal Revenue Code.
(B)
This paragraph shall apply to determine the correct treatment of the items described in subdivision (a) unless the corporation is authorized by its related parties (in the manner and at the time as the Franchise Tax Board shall prescribe) to act as the related parties’ limited agent solely for purposes of applying Section 19504 with respect to any request by the Franchise Tax Board to examine records or produce testimony related to any item described in subdivision (a) or with respect to any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum for the records or testimony. The appearance of persons or the production of records by reason of the corporation being an agent shall not subject those persons or records to legal process for any purpose other than determining the correct treatment under Part 11 of the items described in subdivision (a).
(C)
Determinations made in the sole discretion of the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to this paragraph may be appealed to the State Board of Equalization, in the manner and at the time prescribed by Section 19045 or 19324, or may be the subject of an action to recover tax, in the manner and at a time prescribed by Section 19382. The review of determinations by the board or the court shall be limited to whether the determinations were arbitrary or capricious, or are not supported by substantial evidence.
(3)
(A)
Notwithstanding any other law or rule of law, any reporting corporation to which the Franchise Tax Board issues a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum referred to in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) shall have the right to begin a proceeding to quash the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum not later than the 90th day after the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum was
issued. In that proceeding, the Franchise Tax Board may seek to compel compliance with the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum.
(B)
Notwithstanding any other law or rule of law, any reporting corporation that has been notified by the Franchise Tax Board that it has determined that the corporation has not substantially complied with a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum referred to in paragraph (1) shall have the right to begin a proceeding to review the determination not later than the 90th day after the day on which the notice referred to in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) was mailed. If the proceeding is not begun on or before the 90th day, the determination by the Franchise Tax Board shall be binding and shall not be reviewed by any court.
(C)
The superior courts of the State of California for the Counties of Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego, and for the City and County of
San Francisco, shall have jurisdiction to hear any proceeding brought under subparagraphs (A) and (B). Any order or other determination in the proceeding shall be treated as a final order that may be appealed.
(D)
If any corporation takes any action as provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B), the running of any period of limitations under Sections 19057 to 19064, inclusive (relating to the assessment and collection of tax), or under Section 19704 (relating to criminal prosecutions) with respect to that corporation shall be suspended for the period during which the proceedings, and appeals therein, are pending. In no event shall any period expire before the 90th day after the day on which there is a final determination in the proceeding.
References
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 25101.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 25110.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 25120.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 882.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 23001.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 19504.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 19045.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 19382.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 19057.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 19704.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026