Chapter 6.07 Tax on Recreational Marijuana Sales

(Amended by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); effective November 8, 2016.)  For the purposes of PCC 6.07, every person who sells recreational marijuana, or recreational marijuana-infused products, to consumers within the City is exercising a taxable privilege. The purpose of PCC 6.07 is to impose a tax upon recreational marijuana and recreational marijuana-infused product sales to consumers within the City.

(Amended by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); effective November 8, 2016.)  When not clearly otherwise indicated by the context, the following words and phrases as used in PCC 6.07 have the following meanings:

A.  “Director” means the director of the Revenue Division of the Bureau of Revenue and Financial Services or his/her designee, and includes any Person or entity with whom the City contracts to administer and enforce the Marijuana Tax program or a portion thereof.

B.  “Consumer” means a person who purchases, acquires, owns, holds or uses marijuana other than for the purpose of resale.

C. “Marijuana” means the plant of the Cannabis family Cannabaceae, any part of the plant Cannabis family Cannabaceae and the seeds of the plant Cannabis family Cannabaceae.  “Marijuana” includes cannabinoid products, cannabinoid concentrates and cannabinoid extracts as those terms are defined in ORS 475B.015.  Marijuana does not include industrial hemp, as defined in ORS 571.300.

D.  “Oregon Medical Marijuana Program” means the office within the Oregon Health Authority that administers the provisions of ORS 475B.400 to 475B.525, the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act, and all policies and procedures pertaining thereto.

E.  “Person” means a natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust, organization, or any group or combination acting as a unit, including the United States of America, the state and any political subdivision thereof, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them.

F.  “Retail sales price” means the price paid for marijuana, excluding tax, to a Seller by or on behalf of a Consumer of marijuana.

G.  “Retail Sale” means any transfer, exchange, gift or barter of marijuana by a seller to a consumer.

H.  “Seller” means any person who is required to be licensed or has been licensed under ORS 475B.110 to sell marijuana to a consumer within the City of Portland.

 I. “Tax” means either the tax payable by the Seller or the aggregate amount of taxes due from a Seller during the period for which the Seller is required to report collections under PCC 6.07.

J.  “Taxpayer” means any person obligated to account to the Director for taxes collected or to be collected, or from whom a tax is due, under the terms of PCC 6.07.

(Amended by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); effective November 8, 2016.) 

A. Every Seller exercising the taxable privilege of retail sales of marijuana within the City of Portland is subject to and must pay a tax for exercising that privilege.

B. The amount of tax levied is as follows:  Three percent of the retail sales price paid to the Seller in a retail sale of marijuana to any Consumer.

(Added by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); effective November 8, 2016.)

A.  As used in this Section, “designated primary caregiver,” “registry identification card” and “registry identification cardholder” have the meanings given those terms in ORS 475B.410.

B.  Notwithstanding Section 6.07.030:

1.  A tax is not imposed upon the retail sale of marijuana in the City of Portland by a Seller to a registry identification cardholder or to a designated primary caregiver who is purchasing marijuana for a registry identification cardholder; and

2.  A Seller may not collect the tax imposed under Section 6.07.030 from a Consumer if, at the time at which the retail sale of the marijuana occurs, the Consumer provides proof to the Seller that the Consumer:

a.  Holds a valid registry identification card under ORS 475B.415; or

b.  Holds a valid identification card under ORS 475B.415 (5)(b) and is purchasing the marijuana for a registry identification cardholder.

(Amended by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); effective November 8, 2016.)  The following deductions are allowed against sales received by the Seller providing marijuana:

A.  Refunds of sales actually returned to any Consumer;

B.  Any adjustments in sales that amount to a refund to a Consumer, providing such adjustment pertains to the actual sale of marijuana and does not include any adjustments for other services furnished by a Seller.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 188215, effective March 3, 2017.)

A.  Every Seller must, on or before the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter (in the months of April, July, October and January) make a return to the Director, on forms provided by the Revenue Division or designee, specifying the total sales subject to PCC 6.07 and the amount of tax collected under PCC 6.07. The Seller may request, or the Director may establish, shorter reporting periods for any Seller if the Seller or Director deems it necessary in order to ensure collection of the tax. The Director may require further information in the return relevant to the payment of the tax. A return is not considered filed until it is actually received by the director.

B.  The Seller must remit to the Director the full amount of the tax collected for each month by the last day of the subsequent month. Payments must be remitted with forms provided by the Revenue Division or designee, specifying the total sales subject to PCC 6.07 and the amount of tax collected under PCC 6.07. Payments received by the Director for application against existing liabilities will be credited toward the period designated by the Taxpayer under conditions that are not prejudicial to the interest of the City. A condition considered prejudicial is the imminent expiration of the statute of limitations for a period or periods.

C.  The City will apply non-designated payments in the order of the oldest liability first, with the payment credited first toward any accrued penalty, then to interest, then to the underlying tax until the payment is exhausted. Crediting of a payment toward a specific reporting period will be first applied against any accrued penalty, then to interest, then to the underlying tax.

D.  If the Director, in his or her sole discretion, determines that an alternative order of payment application would be in the best interest of the City in a particular tax or factual situation, the Director may order such a change. The Director also may require additional information in the return relevant to payment of the liability. When a shorter return period is required, penalties and interest will be computed according to the shorter return period. Returns and payments are due immediately upon cessation of business for any reason. Sellers must hold in trust all taxes collected pursuant to PCC 6.07 on the City’s behalf until the Seller makes payment to the Director. A separate trust bank account is not required in order to comply with this provision, unless the Director determines one necessary to ensure collection of the tax.

E.  Every Seller must keep and preserve in an accounting format established by the Director records of all sales made by the Seller and such other books or accounts as the Director may require. Every Seller must keep and preserve for a period of three years after the tax was due or paid, whichever is later, all such books, invoices and other records. The Director has the right to inspect all such records at all reasonable times.

(Amended by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election) and Ordinance Nos. 188215 and 189004, effective July 1, 2018.) 

A.  Any Seller who fails to remit any portion of any tax imposed by PCC 6.07 within the time required must pay a penalty of 5 percent of the unpaid tax, in addition to the amount of the tax.

B.  If any Seller fails to file any return for a period in excess of one month after the return due date, there shall be added to the amount of tax required to be shown on the return a failure to file penalty of 20 percent of the amount of the tax. Thereafter the Director or designee may send a notice and demand to the person to file a report or return within 30 days of the mailing of the notice. If after the notice and demand no report or return is filed within the 30 days, the Director or designee may determine the tax according to the best of its information and belief, assess the tax with appropriate penalty and interest plus an additional penalty of 25 percent of the tax deficiency determined by the department and give written notice of the determination and assessment to the person required to make the filing.

C.  In addition to the penalties stated in PCC 6.07.060 A. and PCC 6.07.060 B., if tax returns are not filed by the due date for three consecutive years, a penalty of 100 percent of the unpaid tax will be assessed for each year.

D.  If the Director determines that the nonpayment of any remittance due under PCC 6.07 is due to fraud, a penalty of 25 percent of the entire amount of the tax will be added thereto in addition to the penalties stated in PCC 6.07.060 A., PCC 6.07.060 B. and PCC 6.07.060 C.

E.  In addition to the penalties imposed, any Seller who fails to remit any tax imposed by PCC 6.07 must pay interest at the annual rate of 5 percent on the amount of unpaid tax from the date on which the remittance first became delinquent until paid.  The interest rate will remain at 5 percent unless this rate is adjusted under the administrative authority of the Director or designee to reflect then current national market conditions for interest rates.

F.  All sums collected, including penalty and interest, will be distributed to the City’s Recreational Cannabis Tax Fund.

G.  Penalties for certain late tax payments may be waived or reduced pursuant to policies and processes adopted by the Director.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 188215, effective March 3, 2017.)

A.  If any Seller fails to make any report of the tax required by PCC 6.07 within the time provided in PCC 6.07, the Director may proceed to obtain facts and information on which to base the estimate of tax due. As soon as the Director procures such facts and information upon which to base the assessment of any tax imposed by PCC 6.07 and payable by any Seller, the Director may determine and assess against such Seller the tax, interest and penalties provided for by PCC 6.07.

B.  If the Director makes a determination as outlined in PCC 6.07.070 A., the Director must give notice to the Seller of the amount assessed. The notice must be personally served on the Seller or deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the Seller at the last known place of address.

C.  The Seller may appeal the determination as provided in PCC 6.07.080. If no appeal is timely filed, the Director's determination is final and the amount assessed is immediately due and payable.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 188215, effective March 3, 2017.)

A.  Any Seller aggrieved by any decision of the Director with respect to the amount of the tax owed along with interest and penalties, if any, may appeal the decision to the Director or designee.

B.  The Seller must follow the administrative appeal process that is set forth by the Director or designee.

(Amended by Ordinance No. 188215, effective March 3, 2017.)

A.  The Director may credit to the Seller any tax, interest or penalty amount under any of the following circumstances:

1.  The Seller has overpaid the correct amount of tax, interest or penalty; or

2.  The Seller has paid more than once for the correct amount owed; or

3.  The City has erroneously collected or received any tax, interest or penalties.

B.  If the Director determines the claim is valid, the claimant may take as credit against taxes collected and remitted the amount that was overpaid, paid more than once, or erroneously received or collected by the City.

C.  In cases where a there is no future filing to claim the credit or other circumstances where a credit amount should be refunded, the claimant may petition the director to have the credit amount refunded to the claimant.

Any tax required to be paid by any Seller under the provisions of PCC 6.07 is a debt owed by the Seller to the city. Any tax collected by a Seller that has not been paid to the City is a debt owed by the Seller to the City. Any person owing money to the City under the provisions of PCC 6.07 is liable to an action brought in the name of the City of Portland for the recovery of the amount owing. In lieu of filing an action for the recovery, the City, when taxes due are more than 30 days delinquent, may submit any outstanding tax to a collection agency. So long as the City has complied with the provisions set forth in ORS 697.105, if the City turns over a delinquent tax account to a collection agency, it may add to the amount owing an amount equal to the collection agency fees.

A.  All violations of PCC 6.07 are also subject to civil penalties of up to $2,000 per occurrence. It is a violation of PCC 6.07 for any Seller or other person to:

1.  Fail or refuse to comply as required herein;

2.  Fail or refuse to furnish any return required to be made;

3.  Fail or refuse to permit inspection of records;

4.  Fail or refuse to furnish a supplemental return or other data required by the director;

5.  Render a false or fraudulent return or claim; or

6.  Fail, refuse or neglect to remit the tax to the City by the due date.

B.  The remedies provided by PCC 6.07 are not exclusive and do not prevent the City from exercising any other remedy available under the law.

C.  The remedies provided by this section do not prohibit or restrict the City or other appropriate prosecutor from pursuing criminal charges under state law or city ordinance.

(Amended by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); effective November 8, 2016.)  Except as otherwise required by law, it is unlawful for the City, any officer, employee or agent to divulge, release or make known in any manner any financial information submitted or disclosed to the City under the terms of PCC 6.07. Nothing in PCC 6.07.120 prohibits any of the following:

A.  The disclosure of the names and addresses of any person who is operating a licensed establishment from which marijuana is sold or provided; or

B.  The disclosure of general statistics in a form which would not reveal an individual Seller’s financial information; or

C.  Presentation of evidence to the court, or other tribunal having jurisdiction in the prosecution of any criminal or civil claim by the Director or an appeal from the Director for amounts due the city under PCC 6.07; or

D.  The disclosure of information to a collection agency in order to collect any delinquent tax amount; or

E.  The disclosure of records related to a business' failure to report and remit the tax when the report or tax is in arrears for over six months or when the tax exceeds $5,000. The Council expressly finds that the public interest in disclosure of such records clearly outweighs the interest in confidentiality under ORS 192.501(5). 

F.  The Revenue Division may also disclose and give access to information described in PCC 6.07.120 to:

1.  The City Attorney, his or her assistants and employees, or other legal representatives of the City, to the extent the Revenue Division deems disclosure or access necessary for the performance of the duties of advising or representing the Revenue Division, including but not limited to instituting legal actions on unpaid accounts.

2.  Other employees, agents and officials of the City, to the extent the Revenue Division deems disclosure or access necessary for such employees, agents or officials to:

a.  Aid in any legal collection effort on unpaid accounts,

b.  Perform their duties under contracts or agreements between the Revenue Division and any other department, bureau, agency or subdivision of the City or state relating to the administration of PCC 6.07, or

c.  Aid in determining whether a Revenue Division account is in compliance with all city, state and federal laws or policies.

The City may examine or may cause to be examined by an agent or representative designated by the City for that purpose, any books, papers, records, or memoranda, including copies of Seller's state and federal income tax return, bearing upon the matter of the Seller's tax return for the purpose of determining the correctness of any tax return, or for the purpose of an estimate of taxes due. All books, invoices, accounts and other records must be made available within the city limits and be open at any time during regular business hours for examination by the director or an authorized agent of the director. If any Taxpayer refuses to voluntarily furnish any of the foregoing information when requested, the Director may immediately seek a subpoena from the court to require that the Taxpayer or a representative of the Taxpayer attend a hearing or produce any such books, accounts and records for examination.

(Amended by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election) and Ordinance No. 188215; effective March 3, 2017.) 

A.  The Director is authorized to enter into contracts or agreements relating to the administration of PCC 6.07, including intergovernmental agreements with the State of Oregon as provided in ORS 305.620, and to prescribe forms and promulgate rules, policies and regulations to aid in the making of returns, the ascertainment, assessment and collection of the marijuana tax and to provide for:

1.  A form of report on sales and purchases to be supplied to all Sellers;

2.  The records that Sellers providing, mixing, serving, or handling marijuana and marijuana-infused products must keep concerning the tax imposed by PCC 6.07.

B.  Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Chapter, the State of Oregon, if appointed as the designee, may apply the provisions of ORS 475B.700 to ORS 475B.755 in the administration of the Portland tax.

(Added by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); amended by Ordinance No. 189004, effective July 1, 2018.)  Net revenues remaining after collection, refunds, credits, and costs related to administration of the tax will be distributed by the City as follows:

A.  In the course of developing the City’s budget, the Bureau of Revenue and Financial Services shall report the projected balance in the Recreational Cannabis Tax Fund at the beginning of the next fiscal year.

B.  Allocation of revenue from the Recreational Cannabis Tax Fund shall occur annually as part of the public budget adoption process followed by Council, with funding allocations made annually by City Council.

C.  These funds shall be allocated in the Adopted Budget for the following purposes:

1.  Drug and alcohol education and treatment programs, including but not limited to services that facilitate or increase access to drug and alcohol education and treatment, and programs that support rehabilitation and employment readiness.

2.  Public safety, including police, fire, and transportation safety purposes that protect community members from unsafe drivers.  Examples include but are not limited to police DUII training and enforcement, support for firefighter paramedics, street infrastructure projects that improve safety, and other initiatives to reduce impacts of drug/alcohol abuse.

3.  Support for neighborhood small businesses, especially women-owned and minority-owned businesses, including but not limited to business incubator programs, management training, and job training opportunities; and providing economic opportunity and education to communities disproportionately-impacted by cannabis prohibition.

If any section, clause, phrase, sentence or part of this Chapter shall for any reason be adjudged unconstitutional, invalid or unenforceable, it shall only void that part, clause, phrase or section so declared and the remainder shall remain in full force and effect.

(Added by Resolution No. 37217 (approved at November 8, 2016 election); effective November 8, 2016.)  This Chapter will be in full force and effect upon approval by the voters in the November 8, 2016 election. The tax levied in PCC 6.07.030 shall be imposed beginning on and after January 1, 2017. The Director is authorized to collect amounts receivable under this Chapter for taxes, interest and penalties.