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California Franchise Tax Board requires the federal return to be attached to the California return as follows: 

• Form 540: Federal return is required if federal return includes supporting forms or schedules other than Schedule A or Schedule B
• Form 540NR: Federal return is required for all Form 540NR returns

Required attachments are automatically included with any electronically filed Form 540 or 540NR, regardless of whether the federal return is actually being filed electronically with the IRS.

Exception to requirement for federal attachment:

Taxpayers who file a married filing joint return for California purposes where Form 540 or Form 540NR includes the Registered Domestic Partner (RDP) Adjustments Worksheet and who file single returns for federal purposes are not required to attach a copy of the federal return to the joint California return.

For electronic filing, the FTB requirements above are used for attaching the federal return to the California return. Use the Include/suppress federal attachment in electronic record (Force) field on Screen CAELF to force or suppress the federal attachment in the California electronic record.

For paper-filed returns for taxpayers who are not RDP filers, the federal return is printed with the California return when required. For RDP filers, the application always prints the federal return with the California return unless the Suppress printing of federal return attachments for RDP returns checkbox is checked in Setup > 1040 Individual > California tab > Other Return Options.

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