Government's View On Taxing Mmj.

[greenbuddha]

Toking And Taxes Don't Mix, Says IRSPosted by CN Staff on September 16, 2011 at 11:15:00 PT

By Robert W. Wood, Contributor

Source: Forbes

 

USA -- It’s not every day members of Congress get to write the IRS asking for help with a little drug problem. Marijuana—for medical use—to be exact. Not getting some, mind you, but taxing it more fairly.

 

The IRS has released a passel of letters it sent to members of Congress replying to the their letters about taxing medical marijuana. The pot-tax-worried members included Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Pete Stark (D-CA) and Barney Frank (D-MA). The members of Congress have a point—if their states allow pot dispensaries for medicinal use, how is it remotely fair for dispensaries to be taxed in an arguably confiscatory way?

 

As I noted here, the IRS and Tax Court deny tax deductions for dealing in controlled substances even though the expenses—like rent—are legitimate and would qualify for regular “business expense” tax deductions. The culprit is Internal Revenue Code Section 280E. It precludes deductions for any business trafficking in controlled substances. Even though some state laws allow marijuana for medical use—like California—federal law still classifies it as a controlled substance.

 

Whether or not the feds choose to enforce the criminal law, the IRS says the tax law is clear that Section 280E kicks in. The IRS didn’t make the Internal Revenue Code, Congress did! If the tax code says there’s no deduction, that’s that.

 

Besides, even the U.S. Supreme Court has said there is no exception in the Controlled Substances Act for medically necessary marijuana. See U.S. v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Co-Op. Of course, denying a deduction to medical marijuana businesses effectively means they are paying tax on their gross, not their net income. Fortunately, some medical marijuana dispensaries squeak by the tax issues by having two lines of business and segregating their activities.

 

In fact, one U.S. Tax Court ruling says marijuana dispensaries can legally deduct expenses associated with all activities except dispensing marijuana. See Californians Helping to Alleviate Medical Problems Inc. v. Commissioner. Although this case disallowed the expenses of selling marijuana, it ruled that the dispensary was also engaged in the business of care-giving. All those expenses were OK. It turned out only about 10% of the premises were used to dispense marijuana, and that made most of the rent deductible.

 

Source: Forbes Magazine (US)

Author: Robert W. Wood, Contributor

Published: September 16, 2011

Copyright: 2011 Forbes Inc.

Contact: readers@forbes.com

Website: http://www.forbes.com/

URL: http://drugsense.org/url/boIkBA4l

 

CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives

http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml

<BR clear=all>

Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help