ALERT-Potential License Denial or Suspension for Failure to Pay Taxes

Effective July 1, 2012, the Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind is required to deny an application for licensure and to suspend the license/certificate/registration of any applicant or licensee who has outstanding tax obligations due to the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or the State Board of Equalization (BOE) and appears on either the FTB or BOE's certified lists of top 500 tax delinquencies over $100,000. (AB 1424, Perea, Chapter 455, Statutes of 2011)

Once it has been determined that an applicant or a licensee is on a certified list, the applicant or licensee has 90 days from the issuance of a preliminary notice of suspension to either satisfy all outstanding tax obligations or enter into a payment installment program with the FTB or BOE. Any such person who fails to come into compliance will have his/her license denied or suspended until the Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind receives a release from the FTB or BOE. The form for requesting a release will be included with the preliminary notice of suspension.

The law prohibits the Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind from refunding any money paid for the issuance or renewal of a license where the license is denied or suspended as required by AB 1424.

The FTB and BOE are currently expanding the certified lists from 250 to 500, but you can check if you are currently on the FTB's certified list at: www.ftb.ca.gov/aboutFTB/Delinquent_Taxpayers.shtml or the BOE's certified list at: www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/deliq.cgi. If you believe you are on either list in error, please call the FTB at (866) 418-3702 or the BOE at 916-445-5167.

FUNCTION

The Board has exclusive authority in California to issue licenses for the instruction of blind persons in the use of guide dogs and for the training of guide dogs for use by blind persons. The Board also has exclusive authority in California to issue licenses to operate schools for the training of guide dogs for the blind, and the instruction of blind persons in the use of guide dogs (Business and Professions Code Section 7200.5).

COMPLAINTS OUTSIDE JURISDICTION

Complaints regarding service animals that are not guide dogs for the blind.

METHOD OF REGISTERING COMPLAINTS

Call, write, or visit the Board to present your complaint or to obtain more information.

• COMPLAINT FORM
  

  Register comments or complaints about licensees of the State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind.

What is a Service Animal and Why you Need to Know

Guide Dog Instructor Exam - May 22-23, 2012, Sacramento, California. For more information:guidedogboard@dca.ca.gov