Excise Taxes
National
Study recommends 'progressive tax reform' for Southern states
A study called Doing Better: Progressive Tax Reform
for the American South states that lawmakers in the
South need to reevaluate and update tax structures, including
an increase in cigarette taxes to the national average of
92 cents per pack, to reduce smoking an improve public health.
Click here to learn more.
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States
Alabama
Alabama Supreme Court rules on Jefferson County
tobacco taxes
The Alabama Supreme Court has reversed its previous
decision and struck down 10 cent per pack cigarette taxes
that would have been enacted in several Jefferson County
cities. Click here
to learn more.
Arkansas
ACS report says higher cigarette taxes needed in
Arkansas
The American Cancer Society has released a report emphasizing
that while Arkansas lawmakers have made progress in fighting
cancer and funding tobacco use prevention prorarms, an increase
in the state's cigarette tax is still needed. The state's
cigarette tax, currently at 59 cents a pack, is well below
the national average of 94 cents, according to the report.
Click here
for more information.
California
Ballot measure proposes large increase in California
cigarette tax
A ballot measure in California will call for a 300%
increase in the state tobacco tax. A recent poll
shows that 63% of Californians support the measure. If
passed, the tax would be the highest in the nation. Click
here
to learn more about the measure. Opponents of a tax increase
claim that it could increase cigarette smuggle from across
the border and possibly be a source of terrorist fundraising.
Click here
to learn more about the opponents' claims.
California smokers to be charged taxes for internet
purchases
As part of an effort to crack down on internet purchases
of cigarettes, the California Board of Equalization has
obtained 450,000 invoices from out-of-state Internet tobacco
sellers showing untaxed sales to residents over the past
three years. Click here
to learn more.
Colorado
Colorado tax revenue to decrease as a result
of new statewide ordinance
Colorado's new statewide smoking ordinance is expected
to decrease the state's tobacco tax revenue by up to 6.8%
next year. Click here
for additional information.
Hawaii
Hawaii cigarette tax increase becomes law
A bill to increase the cigarette tax in Hawaii to $2.60
per pack in $0.20 increments over the next six years has
become law without the governor's signature. The first
increase will take effect on September 30th.
Click here for more
information on the tax legislation.
Indiana
Indiana governor considering cigarette tax
increase
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is considering an increase
in the tax on cigarettes in order to help residents quit
smoking. Survey data show that the smoking rate has been
increasing among adults in the state. Click here
for more information.
Maryland
Montgomery County, MD passes symbolic
measure to double state's cigarette tax
The Montgomery County Council has called on the Maryland
General Assembly to double the state's cigarette tax, from
$1 to $2 per pack, to expand health coverage for the uninsured.
Click here
to learn more.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Dept. of Revenue defends minimum
cigarette prices
The Massachusetts Revenue Department is fighting a challenge
to the state cigarette pricing system by the Appellate Tax
Board. In the interim, the department will penalize any
stores ignoring minimum prices. Click here
to learn more.
Missouri
Missouri group plans to appeal to get tobacco
increase on ballot
The Missouri Secretary of State recently ruled that
the Committee for a Healthy Future was shy 274 signatures
in one district in order to get a proposed tobacco tax increase
on the November ballot. The amendment would have increased
the tax on cigarettes by 80 cents and would have tripled
the tax on other tobacco products. The group believes that
they will be able to overturn the ruling. Click here
for additional information.
New Jersey
NJ enacts small cigarette tax increase
New Jersey has increased its cigarette tax by 17.5 cents,
bringing the total state tax to $2.575 per pack, the highest
in the country. Advocates from the American Cancer
Society had been seeking a $0.60 increase. Click here
to learn more.
New York
NY gubernatorial candidate says will collect tax
on tobacco sold on reservations
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a New York gubernatorial
candidate, has stated that he would collect taxes on tobacco
sold on Indian reservations in the state, as required by
law. Spitzer states that the current governor, George Pataki,
has not been collecting the tax. Seneca Nation President
Barry Snyder would like Spitzer to rethink the issue. Click
here
to learn more.
North Carolina
NC cigarette tax increases to 35 cents
The cigarette tax in North Carolina has increased by
another nickel per pack, to a total of 35 cents. The increase
means that the state now has the second highest tobacco
tax among tobacco-growing states, up from one of the nation's
lowest at 5 cents last year. Click here
to learn more.
Ohio
Proposed tax increase in OH to benefit arts
A proposed tobacco tax increase to benefit the arts
in Cuyahoga County is being supported by community leaders.
Click here
for additional information.
South Dakota
Campaign in SD to increase tobacco tax
The Surgeon General's Report on secondhand smoke has
spurred activists in South Dakota to seek an increase in
the state tobacco tax. An increase of $1 per pack of cigarettes
is being sought in addition to an increase in the tax on
other tobacco products from 10% to 35%. Click here
to view a press release and here
to go directly to the campaign website. Meanwhile, Americans
for Prosperity have launched a campaign
to defeat the ballot measure. The group plans to spend
$60,000 to $80,000 and has said that it would accept campaign
donations from tobacco companies.
Vermont
Higher cigarette tax in VT not discouraging smokers
Vermont's cigarette tax increased by 60 cents on July
1st, but the number of calls to the state Quitline
and number of smokers signing up for cessation programs
haven't increased as expected. Click here to
learn more.
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