First of all the software doesn't tell you that you need to sign this. There is a vague suggestion that you might want to review the printed version when you efile. But how many people do you think carefully review the 50 pages of forms and worksheets after spending money on software that has as its sole purpose to fill them in correctly?
In the printed version you will see you are not done efiling (despite what was suggested by the software) until signing a form. Turbotax instructions say "Sign and date Form 8453-OL within 1 day of acceptance."
The actual instructions from the FTB documented in "2023 Instructions for Form FTB 8453-OL" are "Before you e-file your return, you must: ..... Sign form FTB 8453-OL after you prepare the return, but before you transmit it." which makes sense because the purpose of the form in part is to authorize the transmittal!
Is this error by Intuit going to seriously hurt anyone for a piece of paper you don't even mail in? No. The point is, if Intuit can't get something this simple right - can you imagine they'd be able to do the hard part of your taxes right?
