I just called the FTB in California, and the deal is that the first year, if you don't have a Secretary of State number, you just file BY MAIL using your FEIN number. Turbotax software requires that the number start with a 19 or 20 (as Secretary of State numbers start with a 19 or 20), but your FEIN will not start with a 19 or 20. Thus Turbotax thinks its wrong and will make you mail in your return (instead of e-file). It sucks you have to mail it in but that is the answer!
However, this is the workaround to go ahead and file your taxes without a Secretary of State number. Several phone calls later with the FTB Board and government tax office and that is the answer! Whew!
