The Colorado Department of Revenue publishes lists of licensed cannabis facilities on their state website. The listings reported approximately 2200 licensed Colorado facilities for retail stores, retail manufacturing, retail cultivation, and medical cultivation for December 2018. These lists contained only company names, city, zip, and license number.
Tax Planning Strategies
When interviewing a Certified Public Accountant to provide accounting and tax services, there are several characteristics or qualifications that a CRB should consider. The primary consideration for hiring a Certified Public Accountant should be the accountant’s knowledge of the cannabis industry. The Certified Public Accountant needs to have more than just a cursory knowledge of the industry, but rather have an in-depth understanding. For example, the Certified Public Accountant should have a thorough working knowledge of Tax Code Section 280E and internal control issues unique to the industry.
Comprehensive Guide to Medical Marijuana Accounting: Best Accounting Practices
Why it MattersIf accounting is lackadaisical, it may lead to costly ramifications. In the following example, we will look at the difference in properly allocating inventory purchases to Cost of Goods Sold vs OpEx. Any cost which (but for this subsection) could not be taken into account in computing taxable income for any taxable year shall not be treated as a cost described in this paragraph.
- And there’s a big issue going on with social equity, and we can talk about that a bit.
- In following accounting best practices, conducting a clear reporting system to record finances is critical.
- Because so many new cannabis business owners have lots of questions I’ve pulled together the common ones I hear so you can help prospective clients understand the ways accounting professionals can support their businesses.
- The convenience sample drawn could have introduced some level of selection bias into the study.
- Creating a practical and manageable COA requires a balance between detail and simplicity.
GROWING YOUR PRACTICE
- With the lack of resources and the complex rules and regulations, accountants don’t know where to start or how to help their current clients maintain compliance, support them through banking challenges, meet their ongoing licensing requirements, etc.
- So that’s an interesting piece of federal legislation that is, more and more people are saying, you know, maybe once we get past the November election, there might be some movement on that.
- The medical marijuana industry operates in a complex regulatory and legal landscape.
- Internal controls are the activities that an organization takes to provide reasonable assurance that the company can meet its goals (Frazer 2016; Khairul et al. 2016).
- However, in keeping with good record keeping, these companies need to invest the time (or money, if you would like to outsource it) to write good job descriptions.
- So many times, people create a business plan to achieve licensure but don’t know how to work the plan when it finally comes time to open their doors.
And I just say that over here because I think things are changing because of the pandemic that are going to implicate how cannabis transactions are done and vice versa. So if that SAFE Banking bill gets to the floor of the Senate, it will pass and most likely be signed into law by the White House, would allow federal banking. And you would see Wells Fargo and Chase and Citibank medical marijuana accounting being able to get into cannabis banking. And I think, as do many of my colleagues that work in this space, that that itself would push the federal government to resolve the rest. If we’re going to let Wells Fargo bank cannabis, let’s fix the Controlled Substances Act and figure out whether it’s legal federally or not, as opposed to it’s kind of a chess game right now.
Top 5 Cannabis Accounting Services To Start Offering Clients
Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code denies tax deductions for expenses incurred in trafficking controlled substances, including cannabis. However, it allows for the deduction of the Cost of Goods Sold (CoGS), making it essential for cannabis businesses to classify their expenses correctly. The chart of accounts can organize all your financial records to ensure you don’t miss anything.
However, the 280e internal revenue code may be subject to change due to the potential rescheduling of cannabis. A chart of accounts categorizes financial transactions occurring in the business and labels each group of transactions to maintain an organized record. There’s a lot to consider in accounting since it requires you to calculate large inventory costs and sales, depending on the volume the business is accruing. Cannabis businesses are met with several regulatory challenges due to the strict standards the laws set forth. Frameworks such as PPA requiring shrewd judgments are dependent on the formulation of a clear, legally compliant methodology. Maximizing the performance of cannabis-oriented businesses hinges on accurate legal and financial information, a topic you can learn more about at the AICPA & CIMA Cannabis Industry Conference in August.
One of the biggest questions potential clients ask me is, “What do your cannabis accounting services cost? ” It’s a good question, and the answer depends entirely on their business, its complexity, and their needs — usually some combination of one-time fees like file reviews or set ups, and ongoing bookkeeping or advisory services. Cannabis business owners will probably not be aware that their accounting line item will be 1-2% of topline revenue or that the actual number may vary based on their services, levels, and add-ons.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Regardless of state laws, cannabis is a Schedule I drug according to the federal government, and those found trafficking in cannabis could face criminal prosecution (Uniform Controlled Substances Act 1970). Cannabis-related businesses (CRBs), in states where cannabis is legal, may be unable to obtain professional financial services including banking, insurance, and accounting because of federal laws and regulations. The page explains how court rulings have clarified that businesses must pay US federal income taxes, even if they are selling products considered illegal under state or federal law. It also explains that marijuana companies are eligible for payment plans if they are unable to pay their taxes in full. Further, it states that cannabis operations are subject to the same penalties as any other business during an income tax examination by the IRS. The page notes that although many cannabis industry businesses conduct operations with cash, these transactions must be reported like any other form of payment.
Bloom Financial Group
We have an amazing team of accounting professionals who provide Virtual CFO Services for companies all over the United States. We fully understand the accounting, bookkeeping, cash flow management, and business tax nuances that come with being distributed, and we love helping our clients overcome these challenges through our own experience and expertise. Consequently, cannabis businesses, including those that sell medical marijuana, have to pay more taxes than other companies, which often leads to many issues. Part of its services included providing medical marijuana to its patients.