FTB Form 743: Online Account View Access Authorization Explained

Form FTB 743, officially titled Online Account View Access Authorization, is a document issued by the California Franchise Tax Board that lets a taxpayer grant someone else limited, view-only access to their FTB online account. This isn’t a power of attorney and it doesn’t let the authorized person make changes, respond to notices, or negotiate on the taxpayer’s behalf. It simply opens a window so a designated third party — often a bookkeeper, tax preparer, or business partner — can see what the FTB sees: balances, notices, payment history, and account status.

The form matters because the FTB’s online portal (MyFTB) is tied tightly to individual or business identity verification. Without explicit authorization on file, even a trusted accountant can’t log in and check your account status. Form 743 solves that by creating a formal, revocable record of who is allowed to view what.

Who Needs to File Form 743

This form is typically used by:

• Individual taxpayers who want their CPA or enrolled agent to monitor their account without giving them full representation authority.
• Small business owners who share bookkeeping duties with a partner, spouse, or office manager and want that person to check on filing status or balances due.
• Tax professionals who manage several clients and need streamlined, read-only visibility into account activity to catch issues early — before a balance grows or a notice deadline passes.

It’s worth noting that this is different from a full representation authorization. If you need someone to actually respond to the FTB, negotiate a payment plan, or represent you in a dispute, you’d need a separate power of attorney form, not Form 743. Similarly, if your situation involves an audit or a formal inquiry — the kind of documentation covered in our explanation of the General Purpose Committee Audit Questionnaire (Form 780) — you’ll want to check whether additional forms are required beyond simple account view access.

When Is This Form Used

Form 743 usually comes into play in a few common scenarios: when a business changes its bookkeeping arrangement and needs to update who has visibility into the FTB account, when a taxpayer hires a new tax preparer mid-year and wants that person to review prior filings and balances, or when a business partner steps into a more active financial role and needs visibility without full signing authority. It’s also useful defensively — granting view access to a second person means someone else can catch a notice or discrepancy even if the primary account holder is unavailable or misses a deadline.

How to Get and Fill Out Form 743

The form is available directly from the Franchise Tax Board as a fillable PDF, meaning you can type your information directly into the document using any standard PDF reader before printing or submitting it. It requires basic identifying information: the taxpayer’s name, taxpayer identification number (SSN or business ID), and the details of the person or firm being granted access. There’s also a section specifying the scope of the authorization, since the FTB wants a clear record of exactly what’s being shared and with whom.

Because this authorization deals with sensitive financial data, accuracy matters. Double-check that the identification numbers match exactly what’s on file with the FTB, since even minor discrepancies can delay processing or cause the authorization to be rejected. If you’re also dealing with confidentiality agreements in a business context — similar to what’s outlined in the FTB Vendor/Contractor Confidentiality Statement (Form 7904) — it’s a good reminder that granting access to financial accounts should always be documented clearly and reviewed periodically.

Once completed, the form should be submitted according to the instructions provided on the FTB’s website, since submission methods can vary depending on whether the request is for an individual or business account. Keep a copy of the signed authorization for your own records, and revisit it periodically — especially if the person you granted access to changes roles, leaves the business, or no longer needs visibility into your account.