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Web Cigarette Sales Burn Tax Income
New York Times ^ | 08/12/02 | The Associated Press

Posted on 08/13/2002 7:45:28 AM PDT by MEGoody

Web Cigarette Sales Burn Tax Income By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 9:05 p.m. ET BOSTON (AP) -- States are losing millions in tax dollars as more people buy cigarettes from online vendors who routinely ignore a federal law requiring them to report sales to local regulators, a new report says.

The trend could undercut efforts by cash-strapped states to raise revenues by hiking cigarette taxes. In Massachusetts lawmakers recently approved a 75-cent hike on a pack of cigarettes, a move officials hope will bring in an extra $190 million annually. In Illinois, the state boosted cigarette taxes by 40 cents to a total of 98 cents a pack.

New Jersey and New York state both have a $1.50 per pack tax, the nation's highest. Washington state is third, at $1.425.

Federal law requires Internet cigarette sellers to provide state revenue officials with names and addresses of their customers. The officials can then pursue the buyers to make sure they pay local sales taxes.

But Internet cigarette vendors openly flout the law, known as the Jenkins Act, according to a report by the U.S. General Accounting Office to be released Tuesday.

``Our Internet search efforts identified 147 Web site addresses for Internet cigarette vendors based in the United States. None of the Web sites posted information that indicated the vendors complied with the Jenkins Act,'' the report said.

In fact, according to the report, 78 percent of the sites indicated that the vendors do not comply with the law.

The report recommends shifting primary enforcement of the law from the Federal Bureau of Investigations to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in part because of the FBI's heightened focus on terrorism.

Calls to several Internet cigarette vendors advertising ``tax free cigarettes'' were not returned to The Associated Press on Monday. One Web site told buyers ``We do not report to tax authorities in ANY state. 100% confidential.''

The cost to states can run into the millions, according to the report.

Officials in California estimated a tax loss of approximately $13 million from May, 1999 through September, 2001 because of the failure of Internet cigarette vendors to comply with the federal law.

By 2005, Internet tobacco sales in the United States could exceed $5 billion and states could lose about $1.4 billion in revenues, according to the report.

U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., requested the report, which he said reveals a burgeoning market of online cigarette sales.

The lack of oversight lets children illegally purchase cigarettes online, said Meehan, who plans to file a bill requiring Internet cigarette shops to verify the age, address and identity of purchasers before shipping tobacco products.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cigarettes; taxes
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I could be wrong, but I didn't think sales taxes were charged on any products sold over the internet. Why are they singling out cigarettes?
1 posted on 08/13/2002 7:45:28 AM PDT by MEGoody
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To: MEGoody; Just another Joe; Gabz; Great Dane; Max McGarrity; Tumbleweed_Connection; red-dawg; ...
I could be wrong, but I didn't think sales taxes were charged on any products sold over the internet. Why are they singling out cigarettes?

SCARE TACTICS! They can't. They are hoping they can, but they would have to go after EVERYBODY who sells ANYTHING over the Net. This could take 10 years!!

2 posted on 08/13/2002 7:49:25 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: MEGoody
The lack of oversight lets children illegally purchase cigarettes online, said Meehan, who plans to file a bill requiring Internet cigarette shops to verify the age, address and identity of purchasers before shipping tobacco products.

This is a bold faced-lie! What parent is going to give a "kid" their credit card to buy cigarettes over the net!

Just more BS trying to say "Oh but it's for the KIDS!" My Arse!

3 posted on 08/13/2002 7:51:33 AM PDT by SheLion
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To: MEGoody
I read a couple weeks ago that someone got a bill from the state, (in Calif. I think it was) for internet cig purchases. Not sure what grounds they used to send it. They are going to have to try something, places like yesmoke are doing a great business. That reminds me, time to re-order.
4 posted on 08/13/2002 7:59:33 AM PDT by steve50
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To: MEGoody
The Jenkins Act requires that distributors file the names of any customers to whom they ship cigarettes. It's a 50 year old law, it doesn't have anything to do with the internet.
5 posted on 08/13/2002 7:59:50 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: MEGoody
The lack of oversight lets children illegally purchase cigarettes online, said Meehan, who plans to file a bill requiring Internet cigarette shops to verify the age, address and identity of purchasers before shipping tobacco products.

Note that "for the children" he wants websites to collect info that would incidently aid states in collecting taxes.
6 posted on 08/13/2002 8:01:34 AM PDT by cryptical
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To: Wolfie
I'm confused about the Jenkins Act.

Does it cover sales tax or just excise tax? Do you or anyone else know?

7 posted on 08/13/2002 8:07:39 AM PDT by Gabz
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To: MEGoody
I could be wrong, but I didn't think sales taxes were charged on any products sold over the internet. Why are they singling out cigarettes?

Ohio has a so called honor system when you file your state income taxes, to collect taxes for any purchases over the net not just ciggs

8 posted on 08/13/2002 8:08:41 AM PDT by boxerblues
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To: MEGoody
immigrants flagrantly ignore the ins resulting in thousands of deaths in nyc, virginia and pennsylvania
9 posted on 08/13/2002 8:10:30 AM PDT by Bill Davis FR
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To: steve50
Geez, I currently pay 4.60 to 5.25 a pack,(I know, time to quit!), but recently, my corner market will no longer sell cigerettes since it defeats its goal to sell healthy foods. Please advise, where the hell can I order online?
Eternally grateful,
Terridan!
10 posted on 08/13/2002 8:10:45 AM PDT by Terridan
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To: Gabz; SheLion
JENKINS ACT

The Jenkins Act, which can be found at title 15, United States Code, section 375, applies to certain persons who sell cigarettes or advertise the sale of cigarettes in interstate commerce, including mail order sales and advertisements for such sales. Any person who advertises cigarettes for sale or who ships cigarettes into a State to any person other than a cigarette distributor licensed by the State must file a statement with the tobacco tax administrator of that State. The statement must list the seller’s name, trade name (if any), and address of all business locations.

The Jenkins Act also requires a person who ships cigarettes into a State to any person (other than a person licensed by that State as a wholesale or retail distributor) to report these sales to the tobacco tax administrator. This report must be filed no later than the 10th calendar day of the month and must contain the following information for shipments made into that State during the previous month:

The name and address of the person to whom the shipments were made

The brand of cigarettes shipped

The quantity of cigarettes shipped

Copies of commercial records can be utilized for this report, so long as the commercial record contains all of the necessary information. This report is not required if the shipment is made to a person who is a licensed wholesale or retail distributor in the State into which the cigarettes are shipped.

A violation of the Jenkins Act can result in a Federal prison term, a monetary fine, or both.

11 posted on 08/13/2002 8:16:21 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: MEGoody
Sales tax isn't charged on any interstate Internet or mail order purchases; however, you are required to pay "use tax" on any interstate Internet or mail order purchases.

For example, lots of people buy furniture from North Carolina. You have that furniture shipped to CA, you don't have to pay sales tax at the time of purchase, but you are required to pay a use tax when you file your tax returns the following year. It's really not a big deal for individuals; they mostly hit corporations with it, since they do a ton of out-of-state purchasing.
12 posted on 08/13/2002 8:16:55 AM PDT by Viva Le Dissention
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To: boxerblues
Ohio has a so called honor system

And do the good citizens of Ohio feel a compelling need to inform against themselves?

13 posted on 08/13/2002 8:19:03 AM PDT by TomSmedley
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To: Wolfie
I appreciate the information.
14 posted on 08/13/2002 8:24:59 AM PDT by Gabz
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To: MEGoody
Shame on you silly serfs ! !

Trying to avoid the confiscatory taxes imposed by your masters ! !

You will be punished ! !

You will ALL be punished ! !
15 posted on 08/13/2002 8:28:00 AM PDT by apillar
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To: Gabz
Don't thank me, thank the Treasury Dept. ( or not ;^) )
16 posted on 08/13/2002 8:28:11 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: MEGoody
Some vendors do charge sales tax. Egg head did. It varies and is not consistent. Some vendors advise that customers in certain states will be charged state rates.
17 posted on 08/13/2002 8:29:09 AM PDT by RWG
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To: SheLion
There is a moritorium on sales taxes on the net; however - cigg taxes aren't considered sales taxes. They are considered budget balancing taxes, since they always come to us to balance their budgets after they ban us from smoking on planes, in air ports, or in bars and resturants.

You have to remember; we aren't really citizens if we smoke; just like we aren't citizens if we are overseas and in the military.

MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/

18 posted on 08/13/2002 8:33:36 AM PDT by logic101.net
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To: Terridan
Take your pick.
19 posted on 08/13/2002 8:34:23 AM PDT by facedown
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To: TomSmedley
I'm considering buying my online smokes from one of the overseas companies that sells duty-free cigarettes in the event that the company that I'm currently buying from is eventually compelled to "roll-over" on their customers.

Bob Taft can hug my root. He won't be collecting a penny of his tax increase on cigarettes from me.
20 posted on 08/13/2002 8:35:43 AM PDT by Orangedog
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