Posted on 02/19/2007 7:47:23 PM PST by ShadowDancer
State Cracks Down On Those Avoiding Cigarette Tax
POSTED: 4:52 pm EST February 19, 2007
Buying cigarettes out of state?
If Michigan officials find out about it, they said they'll try to collect state taxes on the tobacco anyway.
More than 9,000 Michigan residents have been ordered to pay back taxes after buying cigarettes without paying the state's $2 tobacco tax and 6 percent use tax.
"I wouldn't have done it if I had known," Janet Jones, 64, of Shiawassee County's Owosso Township, who purchased cigarettes through mail orders from a New York-based company, told The Argus-Press for a story published Saturday.
People who violate the state's Tobacco Products Tax Act can face fines, imprisonment, or both. Individuals found guilty are liable for taxes with interest, plus a penalty of 500 percent of the amount of the tax due.
Jones was ordered to pay about $5,000 for 40 cartons she purchased in 2005 and 2006.
"The Department of Treasury has tried very hard over the past few years to make it very clear that there are no such thing as a tax-free cigarettes -- not legally anyway," spokesman Terry Stanton said.
Unstamped tobacco products are considered contraband, he said.
"If it's on the books as a tax it's our duty to ensure its collected and collect it appropriately," Stanton said.
More than 80 percent of the revenues brought in from the state tobacco tax are split between the School Aid Fund and Medicaid trust fund.
Tax Nazis on the march again.
Michigan is circling the drain.
What if someone drives over state lines, buys a trunk full of cigarettes, and then returns home to Michigan?
This has been happening in WA state, as well. I guess the various states have been able to get customer information from online cigarette sellers.
If you buy a trunk full of cigarettes,transfer them to another car before returning across state lines.
"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, their flag to April's breeze unfurled....."
Collecting money at gun point to 'pay for' failing educations and welfare sucking individuals. Yep, I love Michigan.
I would say they better pay cash, and not use their credit card for such a transaction. I have heard of cars going into NY from PA being searched.
I live in Texas Taxes, and our cigarettes went up ten bucks a carton on January 1st. I stocked my deep freeze, and I will drive six hours to another state when these run out.
Just on the principle of the thing, I am not going to pay the extra sin taxes that the greedy legislators in Austin enacted.
I guess it was my line in the sand on taxes.
"If it's on the books as a tax it's our duty to ensure its collected and collect it appropriately,"
Obviously they won't do that because tobacco sales is a cash cow for the states/feds.
What a bunch of two-faced hypocrites.
Dolts. They should've driven to WI and bought their heaters on the Indian reservations. Once a month, a rotating designated driver could do the run and buy enough smokes for an entire cancer ward.
Of course, I only make this suggestion in jest. We all know that it is very, very important to always do just as the government says in all matters of life and spirit and to diligently and excessively pay every cent of tax any legislator ever dreams of leveling.
The solution to all this is to learn to speak Spanish, wear a Dodgers baseball cap and never carry any form of identification on your person.
I would guess without whatever 'stamp' they put on MI cig packs, they would be considered contraband.
I think there's a new cottage industry about to explode: tax stamp makers.
This is interesting. Theses states are going to be able to stop and search cars coming back into their states on the presumption people may be smuggling cigarettes back in.
More big brother, another 'excuse' to search your car.
This is interesting. Theses states are going to be able to stop and search cars coming back into their states on the presumption people may be smuggling cigarettes back in.
More big brother, another 'excuse' to search your car.
I read somewhere that Ohio has been very effective in getting smokers to quit, due to high tobacco taxes. They're now expecting a series shortfall, due to falling tobacco sales. So, they want to raise taxes (again) on cigarettes.
Mark
ping
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