Two California-based marijuana companies had their petition thrown out of appeals court after it was delivered to court a day late by an unapproved delivery service. Organic Cannabis Foundation and Northern California Small Business Assistants (“NCSB”) were challenging a nearly $2 million combined tax bill at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals based in San Francisco. However, in a ruling, the judge said this should be a lesson to lawyers representing cannabis companies; the petition was thrown out for arriving at court a day late.
For years, the two firms had been trying to appeal a ruling by the IRS stating that they are subject to Section 280E which doesn’t allow tax deductions related to marijuana because it is still federally prohibited. According to appellate-court documents, Organic Cannabis Foundation owed $1.1 million in taxes and $225,855 in penalties and NCSB owed $531,707 in taxes and &106,341 in penalties.
Their appeal to the IRS decision was due to the U.S. Tax Court in Washington DC on April 22, 2015. According to court records, it was delivered via FedEx “First Overnight” at 7:35 on the morning of April 23, 2015. At the time, the Tax Court said the petition for a review of the IRS decision lacked jurisdiction because it came after the deadline, and the firms’ were hoping to have this verdict appealed at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. However, the Appeals court upheld the Tax Court’s initial verdict.
“This unhappy case presents a cautionary tale about the need for lawyers to ensure that they have done exactly what is statutorily required to invoke a court’s jurisdiction,” Circuit Judge Daniel Collins wrote, framing it as a lesson for attorneys of cannabis companies. Ironically, if the attorneys had used a delivery service the IRS had designated in its public notices, the court would have considered their petition.
The IRS mailbox rule states that: “If any return, claim, statement, or other document required to be filed…on or before a prescribed date under authority of any provision of the internal revenue laws is, after…such date, delivered by United States mail to the agency, officer, or office with which such return, claim, statement, or other document is required to be filed,…the date of the United States postmark stamped on the cover in which such return, claim, statement, or other document…is mailed shall be deemed to be the date of delivery…”
This mailbox rule confirms that a tax document is timely filed with the IRS even though it is not physically delivered to the IRS in time, as long as it is delivered by an approved delivery service.
Although FedEx Priority Overnight and FedEx Standard Overnight were approved by the IRS at that time, court documents state that it wouldn’t be until May 5, 2015, two weeks after the late delivery, that FedEx First Overnight was designated as an approved service.
This unfortunate turn of events is likely to give other industry players, such as SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING), vital lessons should they ever have to go to court on issues that affect them.
About CNW420
CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.
To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
Do you have questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor
CannabisNewsWire420
Denver, Colorado
http://www.CNW420.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com
CNW420 is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.
