New York state Governor, George Pataki recently sent his 2006-2007 budget plan to the state legislature which included a proposal to raise the state’s current cigarette excise tax to $2.50 per pack. This proposal represents an increase of $1.00 over the current tax of $1.50 per pack and, if enacted, would make New York state’s cigarette excise tax the highest in the nation.
You know as well as I do that it's the American Way To Shop Cheap. And when the states raise cigarettes taxes to such a ridiculous level, of course smokers are going to go elsewhere. Or roll their own!
Maine doubled the cigarette taxes to $2.00 a pack! Doral's now cost $44-$45 a carton! DORAL'S! Can you believe it!
Illinois has a new cigarette use tax form in their income tax package this year. The use tax is .49 a pack and sales tax of 6.25% of the purchase price if not bought in Illinois.