Three state taxes apply to marijuana, but medical and retail marijuana are taxed differently. Both medical and retail marijuana are subject to the 2.9 percent state sales tax, which is applied to most purchases in the state. Tax revenue collected from the sale of marijuana is deposited in two different funds: the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Fund and the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund (MCTF)
This memorandum provides a checklist of items to consider when evaluating legislation that creates or alters a tax expenditure. The items provided are listed under the following headings: incentives matter; distribution of income; ease of taxpayer compliance; transparency; Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) and the General Fund budget; local government impacts; and ease of administraton.
Three state taxes apply to marijuana, but medical and retail marijuana are taxed differently. Both medical and retail marijuana are subject to the 2.9 percent state sales tax, which is applied to most purchases in the state. Tax revenue collected from the sale of marijuana is deposited in two different funds: the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) Fund and the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund (MCTF)
This memorandum provides an overview of the transfers and economic triggers created in Senate Bill 09-228. Senate Bill 09-228 altered the limit on General Fund appropriations, created future transfers from the General Fund to transportation and capital construction, and increased the General Fund statutory reserve in future fiscal years.
Colorado's Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) requires voter approval of any new taxes. Prior to voter approval, it also requires that voters receive estimates of state spending without new taxes and the new tax revenue. This issue brief provides background information on one of the consequences of actual collections differing from what was provided to voters.
This issue brief provides information on mechanisms used to refund revenue in excess of the state's constitutional spending limit. The legislature determines how the excess revenue is refunded. Over the course of TABOR's history, there have been 21 different refund mechanisms.