The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently ruled on its second tax case regarding IRC §280E. Decisions from the Ninth Circuit are significant as they apply to the cannabis-friendly states of Alaska, California, Nevada, Oregon; and Washington. In Canna Care vs. the Commissioner, the Court of Appeals upheld the United States Tax Court’s ruling denying a California dispensary’s operating expense deductions under IRC §280E.
Background
Canna Care Inc. was a medical marijuana dispensary prohibited under California law from earning a profit on the sale of cannabis. On audit, the IRS applied IRC §280E to deny the deduction of all operating expenses, including substantial officer’s salaries and automobile expenses. Canna Care appealed the tax assessment to the U.S. Tax Court. Canna Care made the following three arguments before the U.S. Tax Court:
- That medical marijuana is not a Schedule I controlled substance;
- That Canna Care was not “trafficking” for purposes of IRC §280E because its activities were not illegal under the California Compassionate Use Act of 1996;
- That the Tax Court decision in CHAMP was incorrect.
The Tax Court denied all three arguments and upheld the tax assessment against Canna Care. First the Tax Court reiterated that medical marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance. Second, the Tax Court held that the sale of medical marijuana is always considered trafficking under IRC §280E, even when permitted by state law. Thus, operating expenses associated with the sale, manufacturing or production of cannabis are always disallowed under IRC §280E.
Third, the Tax Court held that the CHAMP had been correctly decided. Canna Care’s argument that its sole business was providing charitable work like the taxpayer in CHAMP was without merit. The Tax Court held that because Canna Care’s only business was selling cannabis, none of its operating expenses could be deducted under IRC §280E. The Tax Court noted that Canna Care arguably had a second trade or business selling clothing and could have argued these expenses should be deducted. As that fact was not stipulated in its petition, the Tax Court could not consider that issue on the merits.
Appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Canna Care appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. None of the arguments before the Tax Court were made on appeal. Instead, Canna Care raised three new arguments, two of which were unique to Canna Care’s facts and likely not applicable to most other cannabis businesses.
Canna Care’s primary argument was that IRC §280E violates the Excessive Fine Clause of the 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution. In oral argumentbefore the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Canna Care argued that IRC §280E was enacted by Congress to punish drug dealers, and as such, it imposes a fine on cannabis dispensaries. Canna Care noted that its income tax liability was 1000% of its net income and a 1000% tax rate for engaging in an activity allowed under California law constituted a grossly disproportionate fine on such activity. The tax rate impact under IRC §280E is especially disproportionate when compared to the tax rate of other business – both legal and illegal. Accordingly, Canna Care’s income tax liability imposed under IRC §280E constitutes an excessive fine in violation of the 8th Amendment.
In oral argument, the three-judge panel offered several observations:
- A tax deduction is granted by the legislative grace of Congress. Congress has clear constitutional authority to deny a tax deduction. Why is IRC §280E outside Congress’ legislative authority?
- IRC §280E was enacted in 1982, well before enactment of the California Compassionate Use Act of 1996. This means that anyone getting into the cannabis industry was and is on notice of its the burdensome tax liabilities cannabis companies face. Given such notice, why does application of IRC §280E constitute an excessive fine under the 8th Amendment?
- Why isn’t Congress the appropriate branch of government to address IRC §280E?
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Canna Care’s appeal and upheld the Tax Court’s holding. Because the arguments presented were not raised in the lower court, The Court did not address the merits of each argument.
Assess Risk & Preserve Refund Claims
When filing their tax return, a cannabis businesses must understand the impact IRC §280E has on its tax liability. Equally important, cannabis businesses must understand the risk of not applying IRC §280E when filing their tax return. The immediate tax savings must be weighed against the risks and the costs of later having to defend the position in court.
Though it is difficult to challenge federal statutes on constitutional grounds, the constitutional arguments do have some merit. A cannabis business that challenges an IRS assessment under IRC §280E should raise all arguments early in the process to prevent a court from later dismissing arguments on procedural grounds.
Because the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals did not rule on the merits of the 8thAmendment claim. it is possible a federal court could some day rule that IRC §280E is unconstitutional. To preserve a potential refund claim, all cannabis businesses should consider filing protective refund claims. A protective refund claim keeps the refund statute of limitation open beyond the standard three-year period. After October 15, 2017, a cannabis business cannot recover tax paid for tax year 2013. However, if a court were to hold after October 15, 2017 that IRC §280E is unconstitutional, a cannabis business that filed a 2013 protective refund claim can recover its taxes paid for that year.
It is likely more cases will be filed challenging IRC §280E. A cannabis business should take stock of its current tax return filings applying IRC §280E and craft a strategy to defend its position.
Link – Canna Law Blog
