3544: Assignment of Credit (2025)
California · FTB · Used for tax years 2025
California Form FTB 3544 is used by corporations to elect to assign a credit within a combined reporting group or to report assigned credits received or claimed. It records credit amounts assigned, received, claimed, and carried over to future years. The election to assign a cred
Who files this form
Form FTB 3544 is for corporations assigning credit within a combined reporting group, reporting assigned credit received, or claiming assigned credit.
- Assignors: Complete Part A to elect to assign credit.
- Assignees: Complete Part B to report credit received or claimed.
File a separate form for each assignor per credit or each assignee per credit.
What you'll need
Have the following information ready:
- The key corporation’s name, California corporation number, and principal business activity code.
- The credit name and credit code.
- The assignor’s and assignee’s names and California corporation numbers or FEINs.
- Certificate or agreement numbers, if applicable.
- The tax year the credit was generated and the relevant credit amounts.
For Part A: You also need the assignor’s principal business activity code, any applicable credit limitations, and the amounts available for assignment and being assigned.
For Part B: You also need the tax year the credit was received, the initial amount received, amounts received or claimed in 2025, prior-year carryovers, and whether an election was made on Form FTB 3870 to make disallowed credits refundable.
How to file
Attach Form FTB 3544 to Form 100, Form 100S, or Form 100W. Attach additional Forms FTB 3544 if necessary.
- Complete the top portion and check the assignor or assignee box.
- Complete either Part A or Part B, depending on whether the corporation is assigning credit or reporting credit received or claimed.
- Complete the applicable part in full. Use a separate form for each assignor per credit or each assignee per credit.
The supplied form does not give a mailing address or e-file directions.
Common mistakes
- Leaving Part A incomplete: Part A must be completed in full for the election to be valid. Part B must also be completed in full when credit is received or claimed.
- Treating the assignment as reversible: The election to assign credit is irrevocable.
- Completing both parts: The form directs you to complete either Part A or Part B.
- Combining multiple assignors, assignees, or credits on one form: Follow the separate-form requirement for each assignor per credit or each assignee per credit.
- Missing the limitation checkbox: Check Part A, column (e), if the assigned credit is subject to limitations.
- Including credits elected to be refundable in carryover: If you answered “Yes” to the Form FTB 3870 election question, do not include those credits in Part B, column (k).
- Exceeding the credit limitation: If the taxpayer is subject to the limitation, total credits in Part B, column (j), cannot exceed $5,000,000. For taxpayers in a combined report, the limit applies at the group level.
Questions people ask
Which part do I complete if my corporation received assigned credit?
Skip Part A and complete Part B in full. Part B is used when assigned credit is received or claimed.
Can an election to assign credit be reversed?
No. The form states that the election is irrevocable.
How do I calculate the balance available after an assignment?
In Part A, subtract column (g), the credit amount assigned, from column (f), the credit amount available for assignment. Enter the balance in column (h).
How do I calculate assigned credit available for 2025?
In Part B, add column (g), assigned credit received in the 2025 taxable year, to column (h), assigned credit carryover from prior years. Enter the total in column (i).