[GeronL]

He should have driven to another state and loaded down his trunk and then sold them to his neighbors.

[hinckley buzzard]

If the heavy tax burden is not enough incentive to quit smoking then I have no sympathy. Pay the freight, knock yourselves out.

[Jack Hydrazine]

[hiho hiho]

“State Board of Equalization”

At least they are honest about their purpose.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Meathead wants his tribute.

[CGalen]

The state taxes are determined by the citizens of that state. If the people of California do not like paying high taxes for cigarettes, then why don’t they just lower those taxes?

[optiguy]

In fiscal year 2010-11, the Board of Equalization issued 1,723 bills under the "Cigarette Internet Program," collecting about $1.6 million in revenue. Of that amount, $1.4 million was excise tax and $234,193 was use tax.

Sounds like the state can't afford for people to not smoke.

[TheConservativeParty]

“The State Board of Equalization”...has a Nazi ring to it, eh? Also has an ObamaNation ring to it. Go figure!!!

[Drango]

I don’t think you can buy cancer sticks online anymore can you? The Post Office won’t ship them and FedEx/UPS won’t either.

Is online still an option?

[Arrowhead1952]

said Anita Gore, spokeswoman for the State Board of Equalization.

Hmmmm. Gore? I wonder how close her relationship to climate freak algore is. State Board of Equalization = redistribution of wealth.

[Jacquerie]

From personal experience and in all honesty, the CA “State Board of Equalization” is complete truth in advertising. They are the meanest tax collection bastards imaginable. I escaped from fascist CA and will never set foot there again.

Oh, and the math as stated in the article does not add up. The total was a heck of a lot more than stated for 100 cartons.

[umgud]

Here is my real concern:

Under federal law, online cigarette retailers must report purchase information to state tax collectors, Gore said. Some sellers submit monthly invoices, she said, while it sometimes takes a little legal arm-twisting from state attorneys general to get the data from reluctant retailers.

[dsc]

The Beatles – Taxman — 1966

Let me tell you how it will be;
There’s one for you, nineteen for me.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don’t take it all.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

(If you drive a car) — I’ll tax the street;
(If you try to sit) — I’ll tax your seat;
(If you get too cold) — I’ll tax the heat;
(If you take a walk) — I’ll tax your feet.

Taxman!

‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Don’t ask me what I want it for, (ah-ah, mister Wilson)
If you don’t want to pay some more. (ah-ah, mister heath)
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

And you’re working for no one but me.

Taxman!

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

His mistake was in not using a proxy buyer. When asked, companies will invariably kick down your information to government. So the only way out, if you live under an oppressive government, is to not use the direct route.

In this case, he and several other smokers could have made a deal to buy their smokes in bulk, on one of the four Indian reservation on the California border area in Arizona.

They give him their money, then on a weekend, one of them drives across the border and picks up a lot of cigarettes, for delivery back to the group.

At about $3+ a pack in federal and State taxes in California, for $5 a pack total, this can add up to a lot of savings in a hurry.

I’m sure lots of Californians do this on a regular basis already.

[beandog]

I got one from the lovely state of Maryland for over $800 just a couple of weeks ago. My husband is a lawyer and is fighting it.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Ah, for all you anti-smoking ZEALOTS (and I was under the impression this was a CONSERVATIVE site which abhored taxes?) unless I am mistaken, whenever ANYTHING is purchases online, in ANY State, the buyer is responsible for reporting (AND PAYING) the sales tax for said item.

So, now, who is going to try and admit they never bought anything online and if so, dutifully paid every penny of taxes due your State?

Remember, today they are going after those who purchased cigs; tomorrow some of you may be getting one of those "notices" in the mail!

And yes I smoke and yes I used to buy cigs online until thanks to that Fascist Moonbat Elliot (Client No. 9) Spitzer who browbeat Credit Card Co.'s into not processing orders, it became more difficult but not impossible.

Not satisfied with that, he "cajoled" and threatened Fed Ex and all other carriers to stop accepting shipments.

Well for some reason the USPS escaped scrutiny, until last year, when our Dear Leader signed a Bill (introduced by NY Legistlators who lose the most as they have several Indian Reservations) stopping that.

So now as far as I know, one can no longer buy tobacco products online.

[Gena Bukin]

Brodman and his wife quit smoking a few years ago when the price of a pack of cigarettes reached $5.

Wondering if the state will sue him for loss of future tax revenue?

[patriot08]

You can still order them online here:
https://www.senecasmokeshop.com/oasiscrm/shopping.asp?directive=CheckZip

Don’t know how they get around the law.
We don’t use them.
The smoker in the family, grand-pere, rolls his own.

[njslim]

Gestapo Tactics?

Couple of years ago tax agents from NY were staking out
jewelry stores in Jersey City (where tax was 3% vs NY 8.25)
were taking license plates and sending threatening letters
to everyone with NY plate saying “PAY UP YOU CHEATS!”
(would owe NY state sales tax on the purchase)

Local TV station (WABC) ran report on it forcing state
to stop......

[ApplegateRanch]

...and another “Conservative” is made, not born.