(a) Subject to the limitations in subdivisions (b) and (c), the board may, by notice of levy, served personally or by first-class mail, require all persons having in their possession, or under their control, any credits or other personal property belonging to a person as defined in this part who is liable for any amount under this part to withhold from those credits or other personal property the amount of any tax, interest, or penalties due from that person, or the amount of any liability incurred by him or her under this part, and to transmit the amount withheld to the board at those times as it may designate.
(b) The person served shall continue to withhold pursuant to the notice of levy until the amount specified in the notice, including accrued interest, has been paid in full, until the notice is withdrawn, or until one year from the date the notice is received, whichever occurs first.
(c) The amount required to be withheld is the lesser of the following:
(1) The amount due stated on the notice.
(2) The amount of each payment due or becoming due to the person liable during the period of the levy.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “payments” does not include earnings, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 706.001 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or funds in a deposit account, as defined in paragraph (29) of subdivision (a) of Section 9102 of the Commercial Code. “Payments” does include all of the following:
(1) Payments due for services for independent contractors, dividends, rents, royalties, residuals, patent rights, and mineral or other natural rights.
(2) Payments or credits due or becoming due periodically as a result of an enforceable obligation to the person liable for the tax.
(3) Any other payments or credits due or becoming due the person liable as the result of written or oral contracts for services or sales whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, or otherwise.
(e) In the case of a financial institution, to be effective, the notice shall state the amount due from the taxpayer and shall be delivered or mailed to the branch or office of the financial institution where the credits or other property is held, unless another branch or office is designated by the financial institution to receive the notice.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 991, Sec. 60. Effective January 1, 2000. Operative July 1, 2001, by Sec. 75 of Ch. 991.)