BREAKING BUDZ...I Mean NEWS! The IRS Adds Marijuana Industry Page To Website

The Internal Revenue Service has added a page to its website aimed at the marijuana industry to inform cannabis business owners about their tax compliance responsibilities.

More states in recent years have been allowing marijuana for medical and in some places recreational use.

Today, forty-two states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana for either medical or recreational use. As of this summer, states that allow marijuana for medical use include:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia – as well as the District of Columbia

Some states allow CBD oil use only, including Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Texas, and Virginia.

According to CNN, Eleven states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, including Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

In addition, five states have marijuana legalization on the ballot in the November election.

However, as far as the federal government is concerned, marijuana is still classified as a controlled substance, and banks can face penalties for dealing with cannabis businesses, making it difficult for business owners to pay their taxes and do other transactions, including paying their taxes. The Democratic-controlled House has scheduled a vote for later this month on legislation to legalize marijuana, but even if it’s passed there, it’s unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The IRS marijuana industry web page notes that many marijuana-industry businesses conduct transactions in cash, which need to be reported, like any other form of payment. It provides information about cash payment options for unbanked taxpayers. Other information is available about estimated payments and the importance of good recordkeeping, along with links to other relevant pages on IRS.gov.

“The IRS understands this is a new and growing industry and provided frequently asked questions about record keeping, cash payment options, large cash amounts, and other related topics to help promote voluntary compliance in the industry,” said the IRS. “In addition to this page, the IRS also offers a wealth of general small business guidance and resources on IRS.gov.”

Ultimately, legality doesn’t even matter from a tax perspective. Income from any source is taxable: that includes income from the sale of marijuana (whether legal or not). On the new webpage, the IRS points out that federal courts have consistently upheld its determinations that state compliant marijuana dispensaries have taxable income. E.g., Olive v. Commissioner, 792 F.3d 1146 (9th Cir. 2015); Feinberg v. Commissioner, 916 F.3d 1330 (10th Cir. 2019); Beck v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2015-149.

At Litherland Tax & Accounting Services we provide support, objectivity and expertise to operating businesses and those planning to enter and succeed within this emerging industry. We offer a broad spectrum of accounting, financial, and consulting services that give investors, owners, and ancillary businesses the insight they need to grow and succeed.