text:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the State Board of Equalization, its staff, and the Attorney General pursue settlements as authorized under this section with respect to civil tax matters in dispute that are the subject of protests, appeals, or refund claims, consistent with a reasonable evaluation of the costs and risks associated with litigation of these matters.

(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3) and subject to paragraph (2), the executive director or chief counsel, if authorized by the executive director, of the board may recommend to the State Board of Equalization, itself, a settlement of any civil tax matter in dispute.

(2) No recommendation of settlement shall be submitted to the board, itself, unless and until that recommendation has been submitted by the executive director or chief counsel to the Attorney General. Within 30 days of receiving that recommendation, the Attorney General shall review the recommendation and advise, in writing, the executive director or chief counsel of the board of his or her conclusions as to whether the recommendation is reasonable from an overall perspective. The executive director or chief counsel shall, with each recommendation of settlement submitted to the board, itself, also submit the Attorney General’s written conclusions obtained pursuant to this paragraph.

(3) A settlement of any civil tax matter in dispute involving a reduction of tax or penalties in settlement, the total of which reduction of tax and penalties in settlement does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), may be approved by the executive director and chief counsel, jointly. The executive director shall notify the board, itself, of any settlement approved pursuant to this paragraph.

(c) Whenever a reduction of tax, or penalties, or total tax and penalties in settlement in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) is approved pursuant to this section, there shall be placed on file, for at least one year, in the office of the executive director of the board a public record with respect to that settlement. The public record shall include all of the following information:

(1) The name or names of the taxpayers who are parties to the settlement.

(2) The total amount in dispute.

(3) The amount agreed to pursuant to the settlement.

(4) A summary of the reasons why the settlement is in the best interests of the State of California.

(5) For any settlement approved by the board, itself, the Attorney General’s conclusion as to whether the recommendation of settlement was reasonable from an overall perspective.

The public record shall not include any information that relates to any trade secret, patent, process, style of work, apparatus, business secret, or organizational structure that, if disclosed, would adversely affect the taxpayer or the national defense.

(d) The members of the State Board of Equalization shall not participate in the settlement of tax matters pursuant to this section, except as provided in subdivision (e).

(e) (1) Any recommendation for settlement shall be approved or disapproved by the board, itself, within 45 days of the submission of that recommendation to the board. Any recommendation for settlement that is not either approved or disapproved by the board, itself, within 45 days of the submission of that recommendation shall be deemed approved. Upon approval of a recommendation for settlement, the matter shall be referred back to the executive director or chief counsel in accordance with the decision of the board.

(2) Disapproval of a recommendation for settlement shall be made only by a majority vote of the board. Where the board disapproves a recommendation for settlement, the matter shall be remanded to board staff for further negotiation, and may be resubmitted to the board, in the same manner and subject to the same requirements as the initial submission, at the discretion of the executive director or chief counsel.

(f) All settlements entered into pursuant to this section shall be final and nonappealable, except upon a showing of fraud or misrepresentation with respect to a material fact.

(g) Any proceedings undertaken by the board itself pursuant to a settlement as described in this section shall be conducted in a closed session or sessions. Except as provided in subdivision (c), any settlement considered or entered into pursuant to this section shall constitute confidential tax information for purposes of Section 32455.

(h) This section shall apply only to civil tax matters in dispute on or after the effective date of the act adding this subdivision.

(i) The Legislature finds that it is essential for fiscal purposes that the settlement program authorized by this section be expeditiously implemented. Accordingly, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to any determination, rule, notice, or guideline established or issued by the board in implementing and administering the settlement program authorized by this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 364, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2007.)


kind: section

code: RTC

text:
(a) The executive director and chief counsel of the board, or their delegates, may compromise any final tax liability pursuant to this section.

(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Board” means the State Board of Equalization or its delegates.

(2) “Delegates” includes the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

(3) “A final tax liability” means any final tax liability arising under Part 14 (commencing with Section 32001), or related interest, additions to tax, penalties, or other amounts assessed under this part.

(c) (1) Offers in compromise shall be considered only for liabilities that were generated by a business that has been discontinued or transferred, where the taxpayer making the offer no longer has a controlling interest or association with the transferred business or has a controlling interest or association with a similar type of business as the transferred or discontinued business.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a qualified final tax liability may be compromised regardless of whether the business has been discontinued or transferred or whether the taxpayer has a controlling interest or association with a similar type of business as the transferred or discontinued business. All other provisions of this section that apply to a final tax liability shall also apply to a qualified final tax liability, and a compromise shall not be made under this subdivision unless all other requirements of this section are met. For purposes of this subdivision, a “qualified final tax liability” means that part of a final tax liability, including related interest, additions to tax, penalties, or other amounts assessed under this part, arising from a transaction or transactions in which the board finds no evidence that the taxpayer collected reimbursement or tax reimbursement from the purchaser or other person and which was determined against the taxpayer under Article 2 (commencing with Section 32271), Article 3 (commencing with Section 32291), or Article 4 (commencing with Section 32301) of Chapter 6.

(3) A qualified final tax liability may not be compromised with any of the following:

(A) A taxpayer who previously received a compromise under paragraph (2) for a liability, or a part thereof, arising from a transaction or transactions that are substantially similar to the transaction or transactions attributable to the liability for which the taxpayer is making the offer.

(B) A business that was transferred by a taxpayer who previously received a compromise under paragraph (2) and who has a controlling interest or association with the transferred business, when the liability for which the offer is made is attributable to a transaction or transactions substantially similar to the transaction or transactions for which the taxpayer’s liability was previously compromised.

(C) A business in which a taxpayer who previously received a compromise under paragraph (2) has a controlling interest or association with a similar type of business for which the taxpayer received the compromise, when the liability of the business making the offer arose from a transaction or transactions substantially similar to the transaction or transactions for which the taxpayer’s liability was previously compromised.

(d) The board may, in its discretion, enter into a written agreement which permits the taxpayer to pay the compromise in installments for a period not exceeding one year. The agreement may provide that such installments shall be paid by electronic funds transfers or any other means to facilitate the payment of each installment.

(e) The members of the State Board of Equalization shall not participate in any offer in compromise matters pursuant to this section.

(f) A taxpayer that has received a compromise under paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) may be required to enter into any collateral agreement that is deemed necessary for the protection of the interests of the state. A collateral agreement may include a provision that allows the board to reestablish the liability, or any portion thereof, if the taxpayer has sufficient annual income during the succeeding five-year period. The board shall establish criteria for determining “sufficient annual income” for purposes of this subdivision.

(g) A taxpayer that has received a compromise under paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) shall file and pay by the due date all subsequently required tax returns and reports for a five-year period from the date the liability is compromised, or until the taxpayer is no longer required to file tax returns and reports, whichever period is earlier.

(h) Offers in compromise shall not be considered where the taxpayer has been convicted of felony tax evasion under this part during the liability period.

(i) For amounts to be compromised under this section, the following conditions shall exist:

(1) The taxpayer shall establish that:

(A) The amount offered in payment is the most that can be expected to be paid or collected from the taxpayer’s present assets or income.

(B) The taxpayer does not have reasonable prospects of acquiring increased income or assets that would enable the taxpayer to satisfy a greater amount of the liability than the amount offered, within a reasonable period of time.

(2) The board shall have determined that acceptance of the compromise is in the best interest of the state.

(j) A determination by the board that it would not be in the best interest of the state to accept an offer in compromise in satisfaction of a final tax liability shall not be subject to administrative appeal or judicial review.

(k) (1) Offers for liabilities with a fraud or evasion penalty shall require a minimum offer of the unpaid tax and fraud or evasion penalty.

(2) The minimum offer may be waived if it can be shown that the taxpayer making the offer was not the person responsible for perpetrating the fraud or evasion. This authorization to waive only applies to partnership accounts where the intent to commit fraud or evasion can be clearly attributed to a partner of the taxpayer.

(l) When an offer in compromise is either accepted or rejected, or the terms and conditions of a compromise agreement are fulfilled, the board shall notify the taxpayer in writing. In the event an offer is rejected, the amount posted will either be applied to the liability or refunded, at the discretion of the taxpayer.

(m) When more than one taxpayer is liable for the debt, such as with spouses or partnerships or other business combinations, including, but not limited to, taxpayers who are liable through dual determination or successor’s liability, the acceptance of an offer in compromise from one liable taxpayer shall reduce the amount of the liability of the other taxpayers by the amount of the accepted offer.

(n) Whenever a compromise of tax or penalties or total tax and penalties in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) is approved, there shall be placed on file for at least one year in the office of the board a public record with respect to that compromise. The public record shall include all of the following information:

(1) The name of the taxpayer.

(2) The amount of unpaid tax and related penalties, additions to tax, interest, or other amounts involved.

(3) The amount offered.

(4) A summary of the reason why the compromise is in the best interest of the state.

The public record shall not include any information that relates to any trade secrets, patent, process, style of work, apparatus, business secret, or organizational structure, that if disclosed, would adversely affect the taxpayer or violate the confidentiality provisions of Section 32455. A list shall not be prepared and releases shall not be distributed by the board in connection with these statements.

(o) A compromise made under this section may be rescinded, all compromised liabilities may be reestablished, without regard to any statute of limitations that otherwise may be applicable, and no portion of the amount offered in compromise refunded, if either of the following occurs:

(1) The board determines that a person did any of the following acts regarding the making of the offer:

(A) Concealed from the board property belonging to the estate of a taxpayer or other person liable for the tax.

(B) Received, withheld, destroyed, mutilated, or falsified a book, document, or record or made a false statement, relating to the estate or financial condition of the taxpayer or other person liable for the tax.

(2) The taxpayer fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions relative to the offer.

(p) A person who, in connection with an offer or compromise under this section, or offer of that compromise to enter into that agreement, willfully does either of the following shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or imprisoned pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or both, together with the costs of investigation and prosecution:

(1) Conceals from an officer or employee of this state property belonging to the estate of a taxpayer or other person liable in respect of the tax.

(2) Receives, withholds, destroys, mutilates, or falsifies a book, document, or record, or makes a false statement, relating to the estate or financial condition of the taxpayer or other person liable in respect of the tax.

(q) For purposes of this section, “person” means the taxpayer, a member of the taxpayer’s family, a corporation, agent, fiduciary, or representative of, or another individual or entity acting on behalf of, the taxpayer, or another corporation or entity owned or controlled by the taxpayer, directly or indirectly, or that owns or controls the taxpayer, directly or indirectly.

(r) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 272, Sec. 7) by Stats. 2022, Ch. 474, Sec. 38. (SB 1496) Effective January 1, 2023. Repealed as of January 1, 2028, by its own provisions. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 39 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 474.)

division: 2. OTHER TAXES

part: 14. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TAX

chapter: 9. Administration

path: 2. OTHER TAXES > 14. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TAX > 9. Administration > 2. The California Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights


text:
(a) The executive director and chief counsel of the board, or their delegates, may compromise any final tax liability pursuant to this section.

(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Board” means the State Board of Equalization or its delegates.

(2) “Delegates” includes the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

(3) “A final tax liability” means any final tax liability arising under Part 14 (commencing with Section 32001), or related interest, additions to tax, penalties, or other amounts assessed under this part.

(c) Offers in compromise shall be considered only for liabilities that were generated by a business that has been discontinued or transferred, where the taxpayer making the offer no longer has a controlling interest or association with the transferred business or has a controlling interest or association with a similar type of business as the transferred or discontinued business.

(d) Offers in compromise shall not be considered where the taxpayer has been convicted of felony tax evasion under this part during the liability period.

(e) For amounts to be compromised under this section, the following conditions shall exist:

(1) The taxpayer shall establish that:

(A) The amount offered in payment is the most that can be expected to be paid or collected from the taxpayer’s present assets or income.

(B) The taxpayer does not have reasonable prospects of acquiring increased income or assets that would enable the taxpayer to satisfy a greater amount of the liability than the amount offered, within a reasonable period of time.

(2) The board shall have determined that acceptance of the compromise is in the best interest of the state.

(f) A determination by the board that it would not be in the best interest of the state to accept an offer in compromise in satisfaction of a final tax liability shall not be subject to administrative appeal or judicial review.

(g) (1) Offers for liabilities with a fraud or evasion penalty shall require a minimum offer of the unpaid tax and fraud or evasion penalty.

(2) The minimum offer may be waived if it can be shown that the taxpayer making the offer was not the person responsible for perpetrating the fraud or evasion. This authorization to waive only applies to partnership accounts where the intent to commit fraud or evasion can be clearly attributed to a partner of the taxpayer.

(h) When an offer in compromise is either accepted or rejected, or the terms and conditions of a compromise agreement are fulfilled, the board shall notify the taxpayer in writing. In the event an offer is rejected, the amount posted will either be applied to the liability or refunded, at the discretion of the taxpayer.

(i) When more than one taxpayer is liable for the debt, such as with spouses or partnerships or other business combinations, including, but not limited to, taxpayers who are liable through dual determination or successor’s liability, the acceptance of an offer in compromise from one liable taxpayer shall reduce the amount of the liability of the other taxpayers by the amount of the accepted offer.

(j) Whenever a compromise of tax or penalties or total tax and penalties in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) is approved, there shall be placed on file for at least one year in the office of the board a public record with respect to that compromise. The public record shall include all of the following information:

(1) The name of the taxpayer.

(2) The amount of unpaid tax and related penalties, additions to tax, interest, or other amounts involved.

(3) The amount offered.

(4) A summary of the reason why the compromise is in the best interest of the state.

The public record shall not include any information that relates to any trade secrets, patent, process, style of work, apparatus, business secret, or organizational structure, that if disclosed, would adversely affect the taxpayer or violate the confidentiality provisions of Section 32455. A list shall not be prepared and releases shall not be distributed by the board in connection with these statements.

(k) A compromise made under this section may be rescinded, all compromised liabilities may be reestablished, without regard to any statute of limitations that otherwise may be applicable, and no portion of the amount offered in compromise refunded, if either of the following occurs:

(1) The board determines that a person did any of the following acts regarding the making of the offer:

(A) Concealed from the board property belonging to the estate of a taxpayer or other person liable for the tax.

(B) Received, withheld, destroyed, mutilated, or falsified a book, document, or record, or made a false statement, relating to the estate or financial condition of the taxpayer or other person liable for the tax.

(2) The taxpayer fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions relative to the offer.

(l) A person who, in connection with an offer or compromise under this section, or offer of that compromise to enter into that agreement, willfully does either of the following shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or imprisoned pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or both, together with the costs of investigation and prosecution:

(1) Conceals from an officer or employee of this state property belonging to the estate of a taxpayer or other person liable in respect of the tax.

(2) Receives, withholds, destroys, mutilates, or falsifies a book, document, or record, or makes a false statement, relating to the estate or financial condition of the taxpayer or other person liable in respect of the tax.

(m) For purposes of this section, “person” means the taxpayer, a member of the taxpayer’s family, a corporation, agent, fiduciary, or representative of, or another individual or entity acting on behalf of, the taxpayer, or another corporation or entity owned or controlled by the taxpayer, directly or indirectly, or that owns or controls the taxpayer, directly or indirectly.

(n) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2028.

history: (History: Amended (as amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 272, Sec. 8) by Stats. 2022, Ch. 474, Sec. 39. (SB 1496) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2028, by its own provisions.)

article: 2. The California Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights


text:
(a) The State Board of Equalization shall release any levy or notice to withhold issued pursuant to this part on any property in the event that the expense of the sale process exceeds the liability for which the levy is made.

(b) (1) (A) The Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate may order the release of any levy or notice to withhold issued pursuant to this part or, within 90 days from the receipt of funds pursuant to a levy or notice to withhold, order the return of any amount up to two thousand three hundred dollars ($2,300) of moneys received, upon his or her finding that the levy or notice to withhold threatens the health or welfare of the taxpayer or his or her spouse and dependents or family.

(B) The amount the Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate may return to each taxpayer subject to a levy or notice to withhold, is limited to two thousand three hundred dollars ($2,300), or the adjusted amount as specified in paragraph (2), in any monthly period.

(C) The Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate may order amounts returned in the case of a seizure of property as a result of a jeopardy determination, subject to the amounts set or adjusted pursuant to this section and if the ultimate collection of the amount due is no longer in jeopardy.

(2) (A) The State Board of Equalization shall adjust the two-thousand-three-hundred-dollar ($2,300) amount specified in paragraph (1) as follows:

(i) On or before March 1, 2016, and on or before March 1 each year thereafter, the State Board of Equalization shall multiply the amount applicable for the current fiscal year by the inflation factor adjustment calculated based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, as recorded by the California Department of Industrial Relations for the most recent year available, and the formula set forth in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 17041. The resulting amount will be the applicable amount for the succeeding fiscal year only when the applicable amount computed is equal to or exceeds a new operative threshold, as defined in subparagraph (B).

(ii) When the applicable amount equals or exceeds an operative threshold specified in subparagraph (B), the resulting applicable amount, rounded to the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars ($100), shall be operative for purposes of paragraph (1) beginning July 1 of the succeeding fiscal year.

(B) For purposes of this paragraph, “operative threshold” means an amount that exceeds by at least one hundred dollars ($100) the greater of either the amount specified in paragraph (1) or the amount computed pursuant to subparagraph (A) as the operative adjustment to the amount specified in paragraph (1).

(c) The State Board of Equalization shall not sell any seized property until it has first notified the taxpayer in writing of the exemptions from levy under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 703.010) of Division 2 of Title 9 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(d) Except as provided in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), this section shall not apply to the seizure of any property as a result of a jeopardy determination.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 181, Sec. 4. (SB 1507) Effective January 1, 2019.)


text:
(a) Except in any case where the board finds collection of the tax to be in jeopardy, if any property has been levied upon, the property or the proceeds from the sale of the property shall be returned to the taxpayer if the board determines any one of the following:

(1) The levy on the property was not in accordance with the law.

(2) The taxpayer has entered into and is in compliance with an installment payment agreement pursuant to Section 32389 to satisfy the tax liability for which the levy was imposed, unless that or another agreement allows for the levy.

(3) The return of the property will facilitate the collection of the tax liability or will be in the best interest of the state and the taxpayer.

(b) Property returned under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a) is subject to the provisions of Section 32474.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 929, Sec. 27. Effective January 1, 2000.)


text: Exemptions from levy under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 703.010) of Division 2 of Title 9 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be adjusted for purposes of enforcing the collection of debts under this part to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index whenever the change is more than 5 percent higher than any previous adjustment.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 589, Sec. 162. Effective January 1, 1994.)


text:
(a) A taxpayer may file a claim with the board for reimbursement of bank charges and any other reasonable third-party check charge fees incurred by the taxpayer as the direct result of an erroneous levy or notice to withhold, erroneous processing action, or erroneous collection action by the board. Bank and third-party charges include a financial institution’s or third party’s customary charge for complying with the levy or notice to withhold instructions and reasonable charges for overdrafts that are a direct consequence of the erroneous levy or notice to withhold, erroneous processing action, or erroneous collection action. The charges are those paid by the taxpayer and not waived or reimbursed by the financial institution or third party. Each claimant applying for reimbursement shall file a claim with the board that shall be in a form as may be prescribed by the board. In order for the board to grant a claim, the board shall determine that both of the following conditions have been satisfied:

(1) The erroneous levy or notice to withhold, erroneous processing action, or erroneous collection action was caused by board error.

(2) Prior to the erroneous levy or notice to withhold, erroneous processing action, or erroneous collection action, the taxpayer responded to all contacts by the board and provided the board with any requested information or documentation sufficient to establish the taxpayer’s position. This provision may be waived by the board for reasonable cause.

(b) Claims pursuant to this section shall be filed within 90 days from the date the bank and third-party charges were incurred by the taxpayer. Within 30 days from the date the claim is received, the board shall respond to the claim. If the board denies the claim, the taxpayer shall be notified in writing of the reason or reasons for the denial of the claim.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 253, Sec. 4. (SB 442) Effective January 1, 2014.)


text:
(a) At least 30 days prior to the filing or recording of liens under Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 7150) or Chapter 14.5 (commencing with Section 7220) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the board shall mail to the taxpayer a preliminary notice. The notice shall specify the statutory authority of the board for filing or recording the lien, indicate the earliest date on which the lien may be filed or recorded, and state the remedies available to the taxpayer to prevent the filing or recording of the lien. In the event tax liens are filed for the same liability in multiple counties, only one preliminary notice shall be sent.

(b) The preliminary notice required by this section shall not apply to jeopardy determinations issued under Article 5 (commencing with Section 32311) of Chapter 6.

(c) If the board determines that filing a lien was in error, it shall mail a release to the taxpayer and the entity recording the lien as soon as possible, but no later than seven days, after this determination and receipt of lien recording information. The release shall contain a statement that the lien was filed in error. In the event the erroneous lien is obstructing a lawful transaction, the board shall immediately issue a release of lien to the taxpayer and the entity recording the lien.

(d) When the board releases a lien erroneously filed, notice of that fact shall be mailed to the taxpayer and, upon the request of the taxpayer, a copy of the release shall be mailed to the major credit reporting companies in the county where the lien was filed.

(e) The board may release or subordinate a lien if the board determines that the release or subordination will facilitate the collection of the tax liability or will be in the best interest of the state and the taxpayer.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 629. Effective January 1, 2007.)


text:
(a) If any officer or employee of the board recklessly disregards board-published procedures, a taxpayer aggrieved by that action or omission may bring an action for damages against the State of California in superior court.

(b) In any action brought under subdivision (a), upon finding of liability on the part of the State of California, the state shall be liable to the plaintiff in an amount equal to the sum of all of the following:

(1) Actual and direct monetary damages sustained by the plaintiff as a result of the actions or omissions.

(2) Reasonable litigation costs including any of the following:

(A) Reasonable court costs.

(B) Prevailing market rates for the kind or quality of services furnished in connection with any of the following:

(i) The reasonable expenses of expert witnesses in connection with the civil proceeding, except that no expert witness shall be compensated at a rate in excess of the highest rate of compensation for expert witnesses paid by the State of California.

(ii) The reasonable cost of any study, analysis, engineering report, test, or project that is found by the court to be necessary for the preparation of the party’s case.

(iii) Reasonable fees paid or incurred for the services of attorneys in connection with the civil proceeding, except that those fees shall not be in excess of seventy-five dollars ($75) per hour unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceeding, justifies a higher rate.

(c) In the awarding of damages under subdivision (b), the court shall take into consideration the negligence or omissions, if any, on the part of the plaintiff which contributed to the damages.

(d) Whenever it appears to the court that the taxpayer’s position in the proceeding brought under subdivision (a) is frivolous, the court may impose a penalty against the plaintiff in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). A penalty so imposed shall be paid upon notice and demand from the board and shall be collected as a tax imposed under this part.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 438, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 1993.)


text: All taxes, interest, and penalties imposed and all amounts of tax required to be paid to the State under this part shall be paid to the board in the form of remittances payable to the State Board of Equalization of the State of California. The board shall transmit the payments to the State Treasurer to be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Alcohol Beverage Control Fund.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1955, Ch. 1842.)

chapter: 10. Disposition of Proceeds

path: 2. OTHER TAXES > 14. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TAX > 10. Disposition of Proceeds


text: The money in the fund shall, upon order of the Controller, be drawn therefrom for refunds under this part or be transferred to the General Fund of the State.


text: Any person who knowingly or wilfully files a false tax return with the board, and any person who refuses to permit the board or any of its representatives to make any inspection or examination for which provision is made in this part, or who fails to keep books of account as prescribed by the board, or who fails to preserve such books for the inspection of the board for such time as the board deems necessary, or who alters, cancels, or obliterates entries in such books of account for the purpose of falsifying the records of sales of alcoholic beverages made under this part, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than one month nor more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

chapter: 11. Violations

path: 2. OTHER TAXES > 14. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE TAX > 11. Violations


text: Any person who wilfully evades or attempts in any manner to evade or defeat the payment of the excise tax imposed by this part is guilty of a felony.


text: Any person who diverts or conspires with others to divert for beverage use any alcohol or other distilled spirits or wine sold tax free for use in the trades, professions, or industries is guilty of a felony.


text: Every person convicted for a violation of any of the provisions of this part for which another penalty or punishment is not specifically provided for in this part is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 374. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)


text: Every person convicted of a felony for a violation of any of the provisions of this part for which another punishment is not specifically provided for in this part shall be punished by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 578. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)


text: Any prosecution for violation of any of the penal provisions of this part shall be instituted within three years after the commission of the offense, or within two years after the violation is discovered, whichever is later.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 1361, Sec. 36.)


text: Any person who knowingly possesses, keeps, stores, or retains for the purpose of sale, or sells or offers to sell, any container or containers of alcoholic beverage with a tax value greater than five hundred dollars ($500) where the taxes imposed under this part have not been paid is guilty of a misdemeanor.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1087, Sec. 47.5. Effective January 1, 1997.)


text:
(a) This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the “Cannabis Tax Law.”

(b) For purposes of this part:

(1) “2020–21 fiscal year baseline” means the total amount of funds disbursed in the sub-trust accounts in fiscal year 2021–22 for the third allocation of the fiscal year 2020–21 revenue, pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 34019, as determined by the Department of Finance.

(2) “Arm’s length transaction” shall mean a sale entered into in good faith and for valuable consideration that reflects the fair market value in the open market between two informed and willing parties, neither under any compulsion to participate in the transaction.

(3) “Average market price” shall mean both of the following:

(A) (i) In an arm’s length transaction, the average retail price determined by the wholesale cost of the cannabis or cannabis products sold or transferred to a cannabis retailer, plus a mark-up, as determined by the department on a biannual basis in six-month intervals on or before July 1, 2022.

(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), the department shall not increase the mark-up amount during the period beginning on and after the operative date of the act amending this section by adding this clause and before July 1, 2021.

(B) In a nonarm’s length transaction, the cannabis retailer’s gross receipts from the retail sale of the cannabis or cannabis products.

(4) “Cannabis” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 11018 of the Health and Safety Code and shall also mean medicinal cannabis.

(5) “Cannabis products” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 11018.1 of the Health and Safety Code and shall also mean medicinal concentrates and medicinal cannabis products.

(6) “Cannabis flowers” means the dried flowers of the cannabis plant as defined by the department.

(7) “Cannabis leaves” means all parts of the cannabis plant other than cannabis flowers that are sold or consumed.

(8) “Cannabis retailer” means a person required to be licensed pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code as a retailer, non-storefront retailer, microbusiness, or nonprofit, or any other person otherwise authorized under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code to engage in retail sales.

(9) “CBD isolate” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 26001 of the Business and Professions Code.

(10) “Cultivator” means all persons required to be licensed to cultivate cannabis pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code.

(11) “Department” means the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration or its successor agency.

(12) “Designated for donation” means medicinal cannabis donated by a cultivator to a cannabis retailer for subsequent donation to a medicinal cannabis patient pursuant to Section 26071 of the Business and Professions Code.

(13) “Distributor” means a person required to be licensed as a distributor pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code.

(14) “Enters the commercial market” means cannabis or cannabis products, except for immature cannabis plants and seeds, that complete and comply with a quality assurance review and testing, as described in Section 26110 of the Business and Professions Code.

(15) “Gross receipts” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 6012.

(16) “Manufacturer” means a person required to be licensed as a manufacturer pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code.

(17) “Medicinal cannabis patient” means a qualified patient, as defined in Section 11362.7 of the Health and Safety Code, who possesses a physician’s recommendation that complies with Article 25 (commencing with Section 2525) of Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, or a qualified patient or primary caregiver for a qualified patient issued a valid identification card pursuant to Section 11362.71 of the Health and Safety Code.

(18) “Microbusiness” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 26001 of the Business and Professions Code.

(19) “Nonprofit” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 26070.5 of the Business and Professions Code.

(20) “Person” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 6005.

(21) “Retail sale” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 6007.

(22) “Sale” and “purchase” mean any change of title or possession, exchange, or barter, conditional or otherwise, in any manner or by any means whatsoever, for consideration.

(23) “Sub-trust accounts” means the sub-trust accounts created under subdivision (f) of Section 34019.

(24) “Synthetic cannabinoid” has the same meaning as set forth in Section 26001 of the Business and Professions Code.

(25) “Tax fund” means the California Cannabis Tax Fund created by Section 34018.

(26) “Transfer” means to grant, convey, hand over, assign, sell, exchange, or barter, in any manner or by any means, with or without consideration.

(27) “Unprocessed cannabis” includes cannabis flowers, cannabis leaves, or other categories of harvested cannabis, categories for unprocessed or frozen cannabis or immature plants, or cannabis that is shipped directly to manufacturers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 248, Sec. 48. (AB 8) Effective January 1, 2026. Note: This section was added on Nov. 8, 2016, by initiative Prop. 64.)

part: 14.5. Cannabis Tax

chapter: 1. General Provisions and Definitions

path: 2. OTHER TAXES > 14.5. Cannabis Tax > 1. General Provisions and Definitions


text:
(a) (1) Effective on and after January 1, 2018, and before January 1, 2023, a cannabis excise tax shall be imposed upon purchasers of cannabis or cannabis products sold in this state at the rate of 15 percent of the average market price of any retail sale by a cannabis retailer. A purchaser’s liability for the cannabis excise tax is not extinguished until the cannabis excise tax has been paid to this state except that an invoice, receipt, or other document from a cannabis retailer given to the purchaser pursuant to this subdivision is sufficient to relieve the purchaser from further liability for the tax to which the invoice, receipt, or other document refers.

(2) Each cannabis retailer shall provide a purchaser with an invoice, receipt, or other document that includes a statement that reads: “The cannabis excise taxes are included in the total amount of this invoice.”

(3) The department may prescribe other means to display the cannabis excise tax on an invoice, receipt, or other document from a cannabis retailer given to the purchaser.

(b) (1) A distributor in an arm’s length transaction shall collect the cannabis excise tax imposed by this section from the cannabis retailer on or before 90 days after the sale or transfer of cannabis or cannabis product to the cannabis retailer. A distributor in a nonarm’s length transaction shall collect the cannabis excise tax from the cannabis retailer on or before 90 days after the sale or transfer of cannabis or cannabis product to the cannabis retailer, or at the time of retail sale by the cannabis retailer, whichever is earlier. A distributor shall report and remit the cannabis excise tax to the department pursuant to Section 34015. A cannabis retailer shall be responsible for collecting the cannabis excise tax from the purchaser and remitting the cannabis excise tax to the distributor in accordance with rules and procedures established under law and any regulations adopted by the department.

(2) A distributor shall provide an invoice, receipt, or other similar document to the cannabis retailer that identifies the licensee receiving the product, the distributor from which the product originates, including the associated unique identifier, the amount of cannabis excise tax, and any other information deemed necessary by the department. The department may authorize other forms of documentation under this paragraph.

(c) The cannabis excise tax imposed by this section shall be in addition to the sales and use tax imposed by the state and local governments.

(d) Gross receipts from the sale of cannabis or cannabis products for purposes of assessing the sales and use taxes under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) shall include the tax levied pursuant to this section.

(e) Cannabis or cannabis products shall not be sold to a purchaser unless the cannabis excise tax imposed by this section has been paid by the purchaser at the time of sale.

(f) This section shall not be construed to impose a cannabis excise tax upon medicinal cannabis, or medicinal cannabis product, donated for no consideration to a medicinal cannabis patient pursuant to Section 26071 of the Business and Professions Code.

(g) (1) This section shall not be construed to impose a cannabis excise tax upon cannabis or cannabis products designated as a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code.

(2) A person licensed under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code that sells cannabis or cannabis products designated as a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code shall be liable for the cannabis excise tax imposed by this section as if the person were a cannabis retailer at the time of sale.

(h) This section shall be inoperative on April 1, 2023.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 19. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022. Inoperative April 1, 2023, by its own provisions. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41. \n\n Repealed conditionally as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41. See later operative version as amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 70. Note: This section was added on Nov. 8, 2016, by initiative Prop. 64.)

chapter: 2. Cannabis Taxes

path: 2. OTHER TAXES > 14.5. Cannabis Tax > 2. Cannabis Taxes


text:
(a) (1) Effective January 1, 2018, a cannabis excise tax shall be imposed upon purchasers of cannabis or cannabis products sold in this state at the rate of 15 percent of the average market price of any retail sale by a cannabis retailer. A purchaser’s liability for the cannabis excise tax is not extinguished until the cannabis excise tax has been paid to this state except that an invoice, receipt, or other document from a cannabis retailer given to the purchaser pursuant to this subdivision is sufficient to relieve the purchaser from further liability for the tax to which the invoice, receipt, or other document refers.

(2) Each cannabis retailer shall provide a purchaser with an invoice, receipt, or other document that includes a statement that reads: “The cannabis excise taxes are included in the total amount of this invoice.”

(3) The department may prescribe other means to display the cannabis excise tax on an invoice, receipt, or other document from a cannabis retailer given to the purchaser.

(b) (1) A distributor in an arm’s length transaction shall collect the cannabis excise tax from the cannabis retailer on or before 90 days after the sale or transfer of cannabis or cannabis product to the cannabis retailer. A distributor in a nonarm’s length transaction shall collect the cannabis excise tax from the cannabis retailer on or before 90 days after the sale or transfer of cannabis or cannabis product to the cannabis retailer, or at the time of retail sale by the cannabis retailer, whichever is earlier. A distributor shall report and remit the cannabis excise tax to the department pursuant to Section 34015. A cannabis retailer shall be responsible for collecting the cannabis excise tax from the purchaser and remitting the cannabis excise tax to the distributor in accordance with rules and procedures established under law and any regulations adopted by the department.

(2) A distributor shall provide an invoice, receipt, or other similar document to the cannabis retailer that identifies the licensee receiving the product, the distributor from which the product originates, including the associated unique identifier, the amount of cannabis excise tax, and any other information deemed necessary by the department. The department may authorize other forms of documentation under this paragraph.

(c) The excise tax imposed by this section shall be in addition to the sales and use tax imposed by the state and local governments.

(d) Gross receipts from the sale of cannabis or cannabis products for purposes of assessing the sales and use taxes under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) shall include the tax levied pursuant to this section.

(e) Cannabis or cannabis products shall not be sold to a purchaser unless the excise tax required by law has been paid by the purchaser at the time of sale.

(f) The sales and use taxes imposed by Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) shall not apply to retail sales of medicinal cannabis, medicinal cannabis concentrate, edible medicinal cannabis products, or topical cannabis as those terms are defined in Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code when a qualified patient or primary caregiver for a qualified patient provides their card issued under Section 11362.71 of the Health and Safety Code and a valid government-issued identification card.

(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose an excise tax upon medicinal cannabis, or medicinal cannabis product, donated for no consideration to a medicinal cannabis patient pursuant to Section 26071 of the Business and Professions Code.

(h) (1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose an excise tax upon cannabis or cannabis products designated as a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code.

(2) A person licensed under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code that sells cannabis or cannabis products designated as a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code shall be liable for the excise tax imposed by this section as if the person were a cannabis retailer at the time of sale.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 70, Sec. 112. (AB 141) Effective July 12, 2021. Note: Pursuant to conditions prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41, this version would resume operation, by reversion, on the inoperative date of the amendment by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56. This section was added on Nov. 8, 2016, by initiative Prop. 64.)


text:
(a) Any amount owed by a cannabis retailer to a distributor in connection with the collection of cannabis excise tax owed prior to January 1, 2023, shall be paid by the retailer to the distributor on or before April 1, 2023. This section shall not be construed to require the department to enforce this obligation.

(b) A cannabis retailer may claim a credit on the cannabis excise tax return for cannabis excise tax amounts paid to a distributor, pursuant to Section 34011, before January 1, 2023, on cannabis or cannabis products sold to a purchaser on or after January 1, 2023, for which the cannabis retailer is responsible for remitting to the department.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 20. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022.)


text:
(a) (1) Until December 31, 2025, a licensed cannabis retailer that has received approval from the Department of Cannabis Control for a fee waiver under Section 26249 of the Business and Professions Code may retain vender compensation in an amount equal to 20 percent of the cannabis excise tax. For purposes of this paragraph, approval for a fee waiver under Section 26249 includes approval for a fee waiver that is contingent upon the availability of funds.

(2) To apply to retain vendor compensation pursuant to this section, a cannabis retailer shall complete a one-page application in a form and manner prescribed by the department that sets forth the name under which they transact or intend to transact business, the location of their place or places of business, and any other information the department may require. The cannabis retailer shall also include with the application their seller’s permit number and cannabis tax permit number and a copy of their cannabis license and Department of Cannabis Control approved fee waiver. An application for a permit shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the department.

(3) Upon verification that a licensed cannabis retailer meets the requirements of this subdivision, the department shall issue the cannabis retailer a notice approving vendor compensation under this section.

(4) To maintain eligibility for vendor compensation under this section, a licensed cannabis retailer shall maintain eligibility for a fee waiver under Section 26249 of the Business and Professions Code and any relevant implementing regulations. An approval for vendor compensation under this section shall expire on the last day of the calendar quarter following notification to the department pursuant to paragraph (5) that a cannabis retailer is no longer eligible for a fee waiver. If a cannabis retailer maintains eligibility for a fee waiver, an approval for vendor compensation under this subdivision shall remain valid for one year commencing on the first day of the calendar quarter following the date the department issues the notice, and may be renewed pursuant to paragraph (2) or other procedures as may be prescribed by the department.

(5) To notify the department of a cannabis retailer’s eligibility for vendor compensation under this section, the Department of Cannabis Control shall do either of the following:

(A) Maintain a database accessible to the department reflecting whether a cannabis retailer is eligible or has become ineligible for a fee waiver under Section 26249 of the Business and Professions Code and implementing regulations.

(B) Otherwise provide information upon request of the department for purposes of verifying a cannabis retailer’s eligibility under this section.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2023.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 21. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41. \n Repealed conditionally as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41.)


text:
(a) (1) Effective on and after January 1, 2023, a cannabis excise tax shall be imposed upon purchasers of cannabis or cannabis products sold in this state at 15 percent of the gross receipts of any retail sale by a cannabis retailer.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), on and after July 1, 2025, and before October 1, 2025, the cannabis excise tax rate imposed in paragraph (1) shall be 19 percent of the gross receipts of any retail sale by a cannabis retailer as determined by the department, in consultation with the Department of Finance, pursuant to this section, as added by Section 22 of Chapter 56 of the Statutes of 2022.

(3) For the 2028–29 fiscal year and every two years thereafter, the department, in consultation with the Department of Finance, shall, on or before May 1 of the fiscal year immediately preceding the applicable fiscal year, adjust the cannabis excise tax rate upon purchasers of cannabis or cannabis products imposed in paragraph (1) by the additional percentage of the gross receipts of any retail sale by a cannabis retailer that the department estimates will generate an amount of revenue equivalent to the amount that would have been collected in the previous fiscal year pursuant to the weight-based cultivation tax imposed under Section 34012 as it read on June 29, 2022. In no case shall the cannabis excise tax exceed 19 percent of the gross receipts of retail sale. The department shall round the rate calculated under this subdivision to the nearest one-quarter of 1 percent. The adjusted rate shall become operative the following July 1.

(4) On or before May 1, 2028, and each May 1 every two years thereafter, the department, in consultation with the Department of Finance, shall estimate the amount of revenue that would have been collected in the previous fiscal year pursuant to the weight-based cultivation tax imposed under Section 34012 as it read on June 29, 2022. The department shall estimate this amount by projecting the revenue from weight-based cultivation taxes that would have been collected in the previous calendar year based on information available to the department, including, but not limited to, information in the track and trace system required pursuant to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 26067) of Division 10 of the Business and Professions Code, or any implementing regulations, as a percentage of gross receipts from the retail sale of cannabis and cannabis products by cannabis retailers in the previous calendar year.

(b) A purchaser’s liability for the cannabis excise tax is not extinguished until the cannabis excise tax has been paid to this state, except that an invoice, receipt, or other document from a cannabis retailer given to the purchaser pursuant to this section is sufficient to relieve the purchaser from further liability for the tax to which the invoice, receipt, or other document refers.

(c) A cannabis retailer shall be responsible for collecting the cannabis excise tax from the purchaser and remitting that tax to the department in accordance with this division.

(d) The cannabis retailer shall provide each purchaser with an invoice, receipt, or other document that separately states the cannabis excise tax.

(e) The cannabis excise tax imposed by this section shall be in addition to the sales and use tax imposed by the state and local governments.

(f) Gross receipts from the sale of cannabis or cannabis products for purposes of assessing the sales and use taxes under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) shall include the tax levied pursuant to this section.

(g) Cannabis or cannabis products shall not be sold to a purchaser unless the cannabis excise tax imposed by this section has been paid by the purchaser at the time of sale.

(h) This section shall not be construed to impose a cannabis excise tax upon medicinal cannabis, or medicinal cannabis product, donated for no consideration to a medicinal cannabis patient pursuant to Section 26071 of the Business and Professions Code.

(i) (1) This section shall not be construed to impose a cannabis excise tax upon cannabis or cannabis products designated as a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code.

(2) A person licensed under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code that sells cannabis or cannabis products designated as a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code shall be liable for the cannabis excise tax imposed by this section as if the person were a cannabis retailer at the time of sale.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 127, Sec. 1. (AB 564) Effective September 22, 2025. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41. Repealed conditionally as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41.)


text:
(a) (1) Effective January 1, 2018, and before July 1, 2022, there is hereby imposed a cultivation tax on all harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market upon all cultivators. The tax shall be due after the cannabis is harvested and enters the commercial market.

(A) The tax for cannabis flowers shall be nine dollars and twenty-five cents ($9.25) per dry-weight ounce.

(B) The tax for cannabis leaves shall be set at two dollars and seventy-five cents ($2.75) per dry-weight ounce.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the cultivation tax imposed by this subdivision shall not apply to harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market and no tax collection is required pursuant to subdivision (h) if any of the following apply:

(A) The harvested cannabis was first sold or transferred by a cultivator to a manufacturer on or after July 1, 2022.

(B) The harvested cannabis was first sold or transferred by a cultivator to a distributor on or after July 1, 2022.

(C) The harvested cannabis, or cannabis products containing that harvested cannabis, was first sold or transferred by a microbusiness to a distributor or manufacturer that arranges for laboratory testing pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 26110 of the Business and Professions Code on or after July 1, 2022.

(3) It is the intent of the Legislature that the suspension of the cultivation tax imposed by paragraph (2) apply only to cannabis that is ultimately subject, at retail sale as either cannabis or as cannabis products containing the harvested cannabis, to the cannabis excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 34011.2.

(b) The department may adjust the tax rate for cannabis leaves annually to reflect fluctuations in the relative price of cannabis flowers to cannabis leaves.

(c) The department may from time to time establish other categories of harvested cannabis, categories for unprocessed or frozen cannabis or immature plants, or cannabis that is shipped directly to manufacturers. These categories shall be taxed at their relative value compared with cannabis flowers.

(d) The department may prescribe by regulation a method and manner for payment of the cultivation tax that utilizes tax stamps or state-issued product bags that indicate that all required tax has been paid on the product to which the tax stamp is affixed or in which the cannabis is packaged.

(e) The tax stamps and product bags shall be of the designs, specifications, and denominations as may be prescribed by the department and may be purchased by any licensee under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code.

(f) Subsequent to the establishment of a tax stamp program, the department may by regulation provide that cannabis shall not be removed from a licensed cultivation facility or transported on a public highway unless in a state-issued product bag bearing a tax stamp in the proper denomination.

(g) The tax stamps and product bags shall be capable of being read by a scanning or similar device and must be traceable utilizing the track and trace system pursuant to Section 26068 of the Business and Professions Code.

(h) Cultivators shall be responsible for payment of the tax pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. A cultivator’s liability for the tax is not extinguished until the tax has been paid to this state except that an invoice, receipt, or other document from a distributor or manufacturer given to the cultivator pursuant to paragraph (3) is sufficient to relieve the cultivator from further liability for the tax to which the invoice, receipt, or other document refers. Cannabis shall not be sold unless the tax has been paid as provided in this part.

(1) A distributor shall collect the cultivation tax from a cultivator on all harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market. This paragraph shall not apply where a cultivator is not required to send, and does not send, the harvested cannabis to a distributor.

(2) (A) A manufacturer shall collect the cultivation tax from a cultivator on the first sale or transfer of unprocessed cannabis by a cultivator to a manufacturer. The manufacturer shall remit the cultivation tax collected on the cannabis product sold or transferred to a distributor for quality assurance, inspection, and testing, as described in Section 26110 of the Business and Professions Code. This paragraph shall not apply where a distributor collects the cultivation tax from a cultivator pursuant to paragraph (1).

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the department may prescribe a substitute method and manner for collection and remittance of the cultivation tax under this paragraph, including a method and manner for collection of the cultivation tax by a distributor.

(3) A distributor or manufacturer shall provide to the cultivator, and a distributor that collects the cultivation tax from a manufacturer pursuant to paragraph (2) shall provide to the manufacturer, an invoice, receipt, or other similar document that identifies the licensee receiving the product, the cultivator from which the product originates, including the associated unique identifier, the amount of cultivation tax, and any other information deemed necessary by the department. The department may authorize other forms of documentation under this paragraph.

(4) The department may adopt regulations prescribing procedures for the refund of cultivation tax collected on cannabis or cannabis product that fails quality assurance, inspection, and testing as described in Section 26110 of the Business and Professions Code.

(i) All cannabis removed from a cultivator’s premises, except for plant waste or medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products designated for donation, shall be presumed to be sold and thereby taxable under this section, except as otherwise exempt pursuant to Section 34012.2.

(j) The tax imposed by this section shall be imposed on all cannabis cultivated in the state pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the department, but shall not apply to cannabis cultivated for personal use under Section 11362.1 of the Health and Safety Code or cultivated by a qualified patient or primary caregiver in accordance with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), found in Section 11362.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(k) (1) For the 2020 calendar year, the rates set forth in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall be adjusted by the department for inflation.

(2) For the 2021 calendar year, the rates shall be those imposed for the 2020 calendar year in paragraph (1) and shall not be adjusted for inflation unless the adjustment is for an inflation rate that is less than zero.

(3) For the 2022 calendar year, until July 1, 2022, the rates shall be those imposed for the 2021 calendar year in paragraph (2) and shall be adjusted by the department for inflation.

(l) The Department of Cannabis Control is not responsible for enforcing any provisions of the cultivation tax.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 23. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41. \n\n Repealed conditionally as prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41. See later operative version as amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 70. Note: This section was added on Nov. 8, 2016, by initiative Prop. 64.)


text:
(a) Effective January 1, 2018, there is hereby imposed a cultivation tax on all harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market upon all cultivators. The tax shall be due after the cannabis is harvested and enters the commercial market.

(1) The tax for cannabis flowers shall be nine dollars and twenty-five cents ($9.25) per dry-weight ounce.

(2) The tax for cannabis leaves shall be set at two dollars and seventy-five cents ($2.75) per dry-weight ounce.

(b) The department may adjust the tax rate for cannabis leaves annually to reflect fluctuations in the relative price of cannabis flowers to cannabis leaves.

(c) The department may from time to time establish other categories of harvested cannabis, categories for unprocessed or frozen cannabis or immature plants, or cannabis that is shipped directly to manufacturers. These categories shall be taxed at their relative value compared with cannabis flowers.

(d) The department may prescribe by regulation a method and manner for payment of the cultivation tax that utilizes tax stamps or state-issued product bags that indicate that all required tax has been paid on the product to which the tax stamp is affixed or in which the cannabis is packaged.

(e) The tax stamps and product bags shall be of the designs, specifications, and denominations as may be prescribed by the department and may be purchased by any licensee under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code.

(f) Subsequent to the establishment of a tax stamp program, the department may by regulation provide that cannabis shall not be removed from a licensed cultivation facility or transported on a public highway unless in a state-issued product bag bearing a tax stamp in the proper denomination.

(g) The tax stamps and product bags shall be capable of being read by a scanning or similar device and must be traceable utilizing the track and trace system pursuant to Section 26068 of the Business and Professions Code.

(h) Cultivators shall be responsible for payment of the tax pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. A cultivator’s liability for the tax is not extinguished until the tax has been paid to this state except that an invoice, receipt, or other document from a distributor or manufacturer given to the cultivator pursuant to paragraph (3) is sufficient to relieve the cultivator from further liability for the tax to which the invoice, receipt, or other document refers. Cannabis shall not be sold unless the tax has been paid as provided in this part.

(1) A distributor shall collect the cultivation tax from a cultivator on all harvested cannabis that enters the commercial market. This paragraph shall not apply where a cultivator is not required to send, and does not send, the harvested cannabis to a distributor.

(2) (A) A manufacturer shall collect the cultivation tax from a cultivator on the first sale or transfer of unprocessed cannabis by a cultivator to a manufacturer. The manufacturer shall remit the cultivation tax collected on the cannabis product sold or transferred to a distributor for quality assurance, inspection, and testing, as described in Section 26110 of the Business and Professions Code. This paragraph shall not apply where a distributor collects the cultivation tax from a cultivator pursuant to paragraph (1).

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the department may prescribe a substitute method and manner for collection and remittance of the cultivation tax under this paragraph, including a method and manner for collection of the cultivation tax by a distributor.

(3) A distributor or manufacturer shall provide to the cultivator, and a distributor that collects the cultivation tax from a manufacturer pursuant to paragraph (2) shall provide to the manufacturer, an invoice, receipt, or other similar document that identifies the licensee receiving the product, the cultivator from which the product originates, including the associated unique identifier, the amount of cultivation tax, and any other information deemed necessary by the department. The department may authorize other forms of documentation under this paragraph.

(4) The department may adopt regulations prescribing procedures for the refund of cultivation tax collected on cannabis or cannabis product that fails quality assurance, inspection, and testing as described in Section 26110 of the Business and Professions Code.

(i) All cannabis removed from a cultivator’s premises, except for plant waste or medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products designated for donation, shall be presumed to be sold and thereby taxable under this section, except as otherwise exempt pursuant to Section 34012.2.

(j) The tax imposed by this section shall be imposed on all cannabis cultivated in the state pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the department, but shall not apply to cannabis cultivated for personal use under Section 11362.1 of the Health and Safety Code or cultivated by a qualified patient or primary caregiver in accordance with the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), found in Section 11362.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(k) (1) For the 2020 calendar year, the rates set forth in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) shall be adjusted by the department for inflation.

(2) For the 2021 calendar year, the rates shall be those imposed for the 2020 calendar year in paragraph (1) and shall not be adjusted for inflation unless the adjustment is for an inflation rate that is less than zero.

(3) For the 2022 calendar year, the rates shall be those imposed for the 2021 calendar year in paragraph (2) and shall be adjusted by the department for inflation.

(4) Beginning January 1, 2023, the rates imposed for the previous calendar year shall be adjusted by the department annually for inflation.

(l) The Department of Cannabis Control is not responsible for enforcing any provisions of the cultivation tax.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 70, Sec. 113. (AB 141) Effective July 12, 2021. Note: Pursuant to conditions prescribed by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 41, this version would resume operation, by reversion, on the inoperative date of the amendment by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56. This section was added on Nov. 8, 2016, by initiative Prop. 64.)


text:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 34012, on and after the operative date of the act adding this section, the cultivation tax shall not be imposed on medicinal cannabis designated for donation by a cultivator in the track and trace system.

(b) A person licensed under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code that certifies in writing that medicinal cannabis or a medicinal cannabis product will be donated to a medicinal cannabis patient and sells or uses the medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis product in some manner or for some purpose other than donation, shall be liable for the taxes under this part. The certification in writing shall relieve the cultivator that donates the medicinal cannabis from liability for the taxes imposed and shall relieve the distributor from liability for the taxes required to be collected under this part, only if the certification is taken in good faith.

(c) A distributor or manufacturer shall not collect or remit the cultivation tax for medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products designated for donation by a cultivator.

(d) A cultivator shall keep records of any medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products designated for donation.

(e) Nothing in this part shall be construed to impose a cultivation tax upon medicinal cannabis or medicinal cannabis products designated for donation.

(f) For purposes of this section, “medicinal cannabis” and “medicinal cannabis product” shall mean cannabis and cannabis product, as defined in Section 26001 of the Business and Professions Code, intended for use pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Proposition 215), found in Section 11362.5 of the Health and Safety Code, by a medicinal cannabis patient.

(g) (1) This section shall become operative upon completion of the necessary changes to the track and trace program in order to implement the act adding this section, as determined by the Department of Food and Agriculture, or on March 1, 2020, whichever occurs first.

(2) This section shall remain in effect only until five years after it becomes operative, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 837, Sec. 12. (SB 34) Effective January 1, 2020. Operative on or before March 1, 2020, as prescribed by its own conditions. Repealed on the date prescribed by its own conditions.)


text:
(a) On and after January 1, 2022, there is exempt from the cultivation tax imposed pursuant to Section 34012 the cultivation of all harvested cannabis that will be, or has been, designated a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code and all harvested cannabis that is used to manufacture a cannabis product that is designated a trade sample pursuant to Section 26153.1 of the Business and Professions Code.

(b) The department shall adopt regulations prescribing the procedures for how the exemption provided in subdivision (a) shall be implemented.

(c) A person licensed under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code that sells cannabis exempt from the cultivation tax pursuant to subdivision (a) or sells any cannabis product that is manufactured with cannabis exempt from the cultivation tax pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be liable for the cultivation tax imposed by Section 34012 as if the person were a cultivator of the cannabis at the time of sale.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may adopt and readopt emergency regulations to implement this section. The provisions of this section shall be applicable to emergency regulations adopted or readopted pursuant to this section. The emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety or general welfare.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 70, Sec. 114. (AB 141) Effective July 12, 2021.)


text:
(a) The cannabis excise tax required to be collected by a cannabis retailer, and any amount not returned to the purchaser that is not tax but was collected from the purchaser under the representation by the cannabis retailer that it was tax, constitutes debt owed by the cannabis retailer to this state.

(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2023.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 24. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, by its own provisions.)


text:
(a) The cultivation tax and cannabis excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 34011 required to be collected by the distributor, or required to be collected by the manufacturer pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 34012, and any amount unreturned to the cultivator or cannabis retailer that is not tax but was collected from the cultivator or cannabis retailer under the representation by the distributor or the manufacturer that it was tax constitute debts owed by the distributor or the manufacturer to this state.

(b) A distributor or manufacturer that has collected any amount of tax in excess of the amount of tax imposed by this part and actually due from a cultivator or cannabis retailer, may refund such amount to the cultivator or cannabis retailer, even though such tax amount has already been paid over to the department and no corresponding credit or refund has yet been secured. The distributor or manufacturer may claim credit for that overpayment against the amount of tax imposed by this part that is due upon any other quarterly return, providing that credit is claimed in a return dated no later than three years from the date of overpayment.

(c) Any tax collected from a cultivator, cannabis retailer, or purchaser that has not been remitted to the department shall be deemed a debt owed to the State of California by the person required to collect and remit the tax.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 25. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022.)


text:
(a) The department shall administer and collect the taxes imposed by this part pursuant to the Fee Collection Procedures Law (Part 30 (commencing with Section 55001)). For purposes of this part, the references in the Fee Collection Procedures Law to “fee” shall include the taxes imposed by this part, and references to “feepayer” shall include a person required to pay or collect the taxes imposed by this part.

(b) (1) A person licensed to engage in commercial cannabis activity under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code that failed to remit amounts due by means of electronic funds transfer on and after January 1, 2022, and before January 1, 2023, is not subject to or is relieved of any of the penalties imposed by Section 55050 for that failure.

(2) On or after January 1, 2022, subdivision (a) of Section 55050 shall not apply to a person required to pay or collect the taxes imposed by this part on a person licensed to engage in commercial cannabis activity under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code if the department deems it necessary to facilitate the collection of amounts due.

(c) The department may prescribe, adopt, and enforce regulations relating to the administration and enforcement of this part, including, but not limited to, collections, reporting, refunds, and appeals.

(d) The department shall adopt necessary rules and regulations to administer the taxes in this part. Such rules and regulations may include methods or procedures to tag cannabis or cannabis products, or the packages thereof, to designate prior tax payment.

(e) (1) Until January 1, 2024, the department may prescribe, adopt, and enforce any emergency regulations as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce its duties under this division. Any emergency regulation prescribed, adopted, or enforced pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and, for purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of the regulation is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding any other law, the emergency regulations adopted by the department may remain in effect for two years from adoption, and may be readopted in accordance with subdivision (h) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.

(2) Until January 1, 2030, the department may prescribe, adopt, and enforce any emergency regulations as necessary to implement, administer, and enforce its duties added to this division by the act adding this subdivision. Any emergency regulation prescribed, adopted, or enforced pursuant to this section shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and, for purposes of that chapter, including Section 11349.6 of the Government Code, the adoption of the regulation is an emergency and shall be considered by the Office of Administrative Law as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. Notwithstanding any other law, the emergency regulations adopted by the department may remain in effect for two years from adoption, and may be readopted in accordance with subdivision (h) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.

(f) Any person required to be licensed pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code who fails to pay the taxes imposed under this part shall, in addition to owing the taxes not paid, be subject to a penalty of at least one-half the amount of the taxes not paid, and shall be subject to having its license revoked pursuant to Section 26031 of the Business and Professions Code.

(g) The department may bring such legal actions as are necessary to collect any deficiency in the tax required to be paid, and, upon the department’s request, the Attorney General shall bring the actions.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 248, Sec. 49. (AB 8) Effective January 1, 2026. Note: This section was added on Nov. 8, 2016, by initiative Prop. 64.)

chapter: 3. Administration

path: 2. OTHER TAXES > 14.5. Cannabis Tax > 3. Administration


text:
Notwithstanding Sections 7056 and 55381:

(a) The department may disclose the name, business name, business city location, account number, and account status of a person registered with the department for purposes of collecting and remitting the cannabis excise tax.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department shall, upon written request, provide to a state and local law enforcement agency any and all information collected by the department under this part regarding a person required by this part to collect and remit the cannabis excise tax and information collected under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001). The state and local law enforcement agencies authorized by this subdivision shall only access and use this information to the extent necessary to carry out the functions and duties of that agency and the agency shall adhere to all state laws, policies, and regulations pertaining to the protection of personal information and individual privacy.

(2) For purposes of this section, “law enforcement agency” means the Department of the California Highway Patrol, a sheriff department, a police department, or a California state, city, county, or city and county agency or department designated by the governing body of that agency to enforce state cannabis laws or local cannabis ordinances and regulations.

(c) The department is authorized to share information obtained under this part and under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001), with a licensing authority, pursuant to a memorandum of understanding, as deemed necessary by the department.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 474, Sec. 41. (SB 1496) Effective January 1, 2023.)


text:
(a) (1) Until January 1, 2023, all distributors must obtain a separate permit from the department pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. No fee shall be charged to any person for issuance of the permit. Any person required to obtain a permit who engages in business as a distributor without a permit or after a permit has been canceled, suspended, or revoked, and each officer of any corporation that so engages in business, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(2) On and after January 1, 2023, all cannabis retailers shall obtain a separate cannabis tax permit from the department pursuant to regulations adopted by the department. A fee shall not be charged to any person for issuance of the permit. Any person required to obtain a permit who engages in business as a cannabis retailer without a permit or after a permit has been canceled, suspended, or revoked, and each officer of any corporation that so engages in business, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) The department may require every licensed distributor, retailer, cultivator, microbusiness, nonprofit, or other person required to be licensed, to provide security to cover the liability for taxes imposed by state law on cannabis produced or received by the distributor, retailer, cultivator, microbusiness, nonprofit, or other person required to be licensed in accordance with procedures to be established by the department. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the department may waive any security requirement it imposes for good cause, as determined by the department. “Good cause” includes, but is not limited to, the inability of a distributor, retailer, cultivator, microbusiness, nonprofit, or other person required to be licensed to obtain security due to a lack of service providers or the policies of service providers that prohibit service to a cannabis business.

(c) In fixing the amount of any security required by the department, the department shall give consideration to the financial hardship that may be imposed on licensees as a result of any shortage of available surety providers.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 248, Sec. 50. (AB 8) Effective January 1, 2026. Note: This section was added on Nov. 8, 2016, by initiative Prop. 64.)


text:
(a) Whenever any person fails to comply with any provision of this part relating to the cannabis excise tax or any rule or regulation of the department relating to the cannabis excise tax prescribed and adopted under this part, or when a person’s seller’s permit has been suspended or revoked under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001), or when a person’s license has been suspended or revoked under Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code, the department upon conducting a hearing, after giving the person 10 days’ notice in writing specifying the time and place of hearing and requiring the person to show cause why the person’s permit or permits should not be revoked, may revoke or suspend any one or more of the permits held by the person. The department shall give to the person written notice of the suspension or revocation of any of the person’s permits. The notices herein required may be served personally or by mail in the manner prescribed for service of notice of a deficiency determination under subdivision (d) of Section 55061 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. The department shall not issue a new permit after the revocation of a permit unless it is satisfied that the former holder of the permit will comply with the provisions of this part relating to the cannabis excise tax and the regulations of the department.

(b) A person whose permit has been previously suspended or revoked shall pay the department a new issuance fee of one hundred dollars ($100) for the reissuance of a permit.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 28. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022.)


text:
(a) Unless otherwise prescribed by the department, the cannabis excise tax imposed by Section 34011.2 is due and payable to the department quarterly on or before the last day of the month following each quarterly period of three months. On or before the last day of the month following each quarterly period, each cannabis retailer shall file a return for the preceding quarterly period with the department using electronic media prescribed by the department. Returns shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the department.

(b) The department may require every person engaged in the cultivation, distribution, manufacturing, or retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products, or any other person required to be licensed pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code to file, on or before the 25th day of each month, a report using electronic media prescribed by the department with respect to the person’s inventory, purchases, and sales during the preceding month and any other information as the department may require to carry out the purposes of this part. Reports shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the department.

(c) The department may examine the books and records of any person licensed, or required to be licensed, pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code, as it may deem necessary in carrying out this part.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2023.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 29) and added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 30. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, by its own provisions.)


text:
(a) (1) Any unlicensed person who is required to be licensed pursuant to Division 10 (commencing with Section 26000) of the Business and Professions Code and who possesses, keeps, stores, or retains for the purpose of sale, or sells or offers to sell any cannabis or cannabis products, shall be liable for the cultivation tax imposed pursuant to Section 34012 as if the person were the cultivator of the harvested cannabis and that cannabis entered the commercial market, the cannabis excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 34011 or 34011.2 as if the person were the purchaser of the cannabis or cannabis product in a retail sale from a cannabis retailer, and for applicable penalties and interest, if any, which shall become immediately due and payable.

(2) (A) The department shall ascertain as best it may the category and amount of the harvested cannabis deemed as having entered the commercial market, and the average market price or gross receipts, based on any information within the department’s possession or that may come into its possession, of the retail sale of the cannabis or cannabis product deemed as purchased from a cannabis retailer, and shall determine immediately the tax on that amount, adding to the tax a penalty of 25 percent of the amount of tax or five hundred dollars ($500), whichever is greater, and shall give the unlicensed person notice of that determination in the same manner as prescribed for service of notice by Section 55061. However, if the department determines that the failure to secure a license was due to reasonable cause, the department may waive the penalty. Sections 55101 and 55102 shall be applicable with respect to the finality of the determination and the right of the person to petition for a redetermination.

(B) Any person seeking to be relieved of the penalty imposed pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall file with the department a signed statement setting forth the facts upon which they base the claim for relief. Any person who signs a statement pursuant to this section that asserts the truth of any material matter that they know to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to one year in the county jail, or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both the imprisonment and the fine.

(3) If the department believes that the collection of any amount of tax required to be paid by any person under this part will be jeopardized by delay, it may make a jeopardy determination pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 55101) of Chapter 3 of Part 30.

(4) The department may collect the tax, penalty, and interest due from the person by seizure and sale of property in the manner prescribed for the collection pursuant to Section 55181.

(5) In the suit, a copy of the jeopardy determination certified by the department shall be prima facie evidence that the person is indebted to the state in the amount of the tax, penalties, and interest at the modified adjusted rate per month, or fraction thereof, established pursuant to Section 6591.5, from the date the amount, or any portion thereof, should have been reported until the date of payment.

(6) The foregoing remedies of the state are cumulative.

(7) No action taken pursuant to this section relieves the person in any way from the penal provisions of this part or the Fee Collection Procedures Law (Part 30 (commencing with Section 55001)).

(b) Any licensed person, on or after January 1, 2023, who sells or transfers to any person cannabis or cannabis products and who knowingly does not report or falsely reports that sale or transfer in the track and trace system required pursuant to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 26067) of Division 10 of the Business and Professions Code or any regulations promulgated for purposes of that chapter, shall be, with respect to the cannabis or cannabis products knowingly not reported or falsely reported in the track and trace system, liable for the cannabis excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 34011 or 34011.2 as if the person were the purchaser of the cannabis or cannabis product in a retail sale from a cannabis retailer, and for applicable penalties and interest, if any, which shall become immediately due and payable.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 31. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022.)


text:
(a) Upon the termination, dissolution, or abandonment of the business of a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, any officer, member, manager, partner, or other person having control or supervision of, or who is charged with the responsibility for the filing of returns or the payment of tax for, or who is under a duty to act for the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company in complying with any requirement of this part, shall, notwithstanding any provision in the Corporations Code to the contrary, be personally liable for any unpaid taxes and interest and penalties on those taxes, if the officer, member, manager, partner, or other person willfully fails to pay or to cause to be paid any taxes due from the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company pursuant to this part.

(b) The officer, member, manager, partner, or other person shall be liable only for taxes that became due during the period they had the control, supervision, responsibility, or duty to act for the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company described in subdivision (a), plus interest and penalties on those taxes.

(c) Personal liability may be imposed pursuant to this section only if the department can establish that the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company is required to collect the cannabis excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 34011 or 34011.2 or cultivation tax imposed pursuant to Section 34012 and that it failed to report and pay the tax.

(d) Except as provided in subdivision (e), the sum due for the liability under this section may be collected by determination and collection in the manner provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 55040) and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 55121) of Part 30.

(e) A notice of deficiency determination under this section shall be mailed within three years after the last day of the calendar month following the quarterly period in which the department obtains actual knowledge, through its audit or compliance activities, or by written communication by the business or its representative, of the termination, dissolution, or abandonment of the business of the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, or, within eight years after the last day of the calendar month following the quarterly period in which the corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company business was terminated, dissolved, or abandoned, whichever period expires earlier. If a business or its representative files a notice of termination, dissolution, or abandonment of its business with a state or local agency other than the department, this filing shall not constitute actual knowledge by the department under this section.

(f) For purposes of this section, “willfully fails to pay or to cause to be paid” means that the failure was the result of an intentional, conscious, and voluntary course of action.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 56, Sec. 32. (AB 195) Effective June 30, 2022.)