12/31/2021
Last night and this morning I've came across a couple of post about ppl that has income from illegal activity need to report. 😩 ok so YES its true but many most definitely not hearing none of that. 😅
Let me give some background on what this means....
Let's say hypothetically you came into possession of some illegal drugs. What’s your next move? According to some states, you should immediately pay the state’s tax on controlled substances. And yes, there is a way to do that.
💎You go to the state’s Department of Revenue to purchase illegal drug tax stamps that become your proof of tax payment—for your illegal ma*****na, co***ne, moonshine, etc. Without getting locked up 😲 HOW you ask?
💎State revenue agencies assure residents that the identities of buyers of the drug tax stamps are not shared with law enforcement. This makes tax payments possible, and also reflects historical precedent: states only began adopting drug stamp taxes more than a decade after the original federal stamp tax on “marihuana” was declared unconstitutional in 1969 because it violated Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination. Ok theres your back history.
💎Now back to what i was saying....
On paper, these taxes are imposed at specific rates such as $3.50 per gram of ma*****na in North Carolina (using NC as an example because thats where i reside) and other variable rates based on weight or dosage units for other controlled substances. The criminal justice implications are key to understanding how the illegal drug stamp taxes work in practice.
💎Paying the state’s drug tax does not make possession of the drug any less illegal, but failure to pay the tax is typically classified as a felony punishable by prison time, a fine, or both. (So when you get caught these are the charges brought on you and the money you owe from your case)
💎Even if someone is not convicted of criminal charges for drug possession or tax evasion, they may still face civil (monetary) penalties that vary by state: these can require payments of up to double the original amount of tax owed, as well as interest on the tax owed. Revenue agencies can use all their standard tools to collect this tax, including issuing tax liens, seizing assets, or garnishing wages.
💎Now, actual, upfront sales of tax stamps are rare, indicating that most revenues are collected as penalties after the fact. Because ppl are scared to purchase a tax stamp.
💎As states have moved to legalize and tax recreational ma*****na, taxes on other controlled substances may face an uncertain future. Similarly, convictions for drug tax charges may be relevant in future debates around expunging past ma*****na convictions from individuals’ records.
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