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July 22 — An Islamic militant group is denying any involvement in a scheme that the FBI says raised money for terrorism activities worldwide through cigarette trafficking in the United States.
Posted on 08/29/2002 12:00:22 PM PDT by SheLion
HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of Pa. Gov. Mark Schweiker, Secretary of Revenue Larry P. Williams today announced that the department is cracking down on illegal Internet sales of cigarettes.
"Our main goal in increasing Pennsylvania's tax on cigarettes was to discourage our children from smoking," Secretary Williams said. "If children have access to purchasing tobacco products over the Internet, it defeats the purpose.
"The number of Internet sites selling cigarettes has increased dramatically, and many of those websites are falsely advertising that cigarettes may be purchased tax-free.
In Pennsylvania, smokers who possess more than one carton of cigarettes purchased from outside the state are committing a criminal offense.
"The Internet is a great resource, but some individuals are using it to thwart Pennsylvania tax law. We owe it to our Pennsylvania retailers to stop this illegal practice."
Since the increase in the cigarette tax went into effect on July 15, the department has been working with the Pennsylvania State Police and federal law enforcement officials to curb illegal sales, Secretary Williams said.
Joint investigations by the Department's Office of Criminal Tax Investigations and other law enforcement officials have already netted a number of contraband cigarettes, he added.
If a Pennsylvania resident is found in possession of more than one carton of cigarettes which are not marked with Pennsylvania tax stamps, they are subject to up to 90 days imprisonment and a fine of $300.
Willful evasion of the state's cigarette tax can lead to five years in prison and $15,000 in fines. Transportation of unstamped or out-of-state cigarettes by anyone not properly licensed by the Commonwealth can lead to seizure of the vehicle used to transport the cigarettes.
Secretary Williams also warned consumers that the cigarettes they order on the Internet may not be what they receive. Many of the nationally known brands of cigarettes sold online from foreign sources are actually counterfeit products. In addition, cigarettes purchased online may have been sitting in a warehouse for years.
In contrast, licensed cigarette dealers regularly replace stale products, ensuring the quality of the product sold.
Internet dealers selling cigarettes manufactured solely for export are violating federal laws as well. These cigarettes are stamped "for export only" and are illegal to possess in any quantity in the United States.
Pennsylvania consumers who have purchased cigarettes from an out-of-state source must remit the Cigarette Tax and Use Tax by submitting a Form REV-791 -- Consumer Cigarette Excise Tax Return -- which will be available on the Department's website at www.revenue.state.pa.us within the next two weeks.
Consumers who purchase out-of-state cigarettes are required to pay the $1 per pack cigarette tax, as well as the 6 percent use tax (7 percent in Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties) by the end of the month after they received the cigarettes.
Individuals can report suspected Pennsylvania cigarette tax violations by calling the Cigarette Tax Enforcement Unit at (717) 783-4649.
CONTACT: Kent Wissinger, Deputy Press Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, +1-717-787-6960.
Now smokers are criminals for wanting to buy cheap.
If a Pennsylvania resident is found in possession of more than one carton of cigarettes which are not marked with Pennsylvania tax stamps, they are subject to up to 90 days imprisonment and a fine of $300.
What are they going to do........go house-to-house??!!!
Pennsylvania consumers who have purchased cigarettes from an out-of-state source must remit the Cigarette Tax and Use Tax by submitting a Form REV-791 -- Consumer Cigarette Excise Tax Return -- which will be available on the Department's website at www.revenue.state.pa.us within the next two weeks.
Individuals can report suspected Pennsylvania cigarette tax violations by calling the Cigarette Tax Enforcement Unit at (717) 783-4649.
Wow, it never occurred to me that children swiping their parents credit card to purchase cigarettes would be deterred only by a tax increase. I guess that's why I don't work for the government, I just can't get myself to think like that.
Isn't this a crock? How dumb do they think we are. Any by-the-way, IF a parent gives a CC card to their teen to buy over the Net, who's business IS it?
Now they have made Americans CRIMINALS for wanting to buy CHEAP! I thought that was the American WAY?
TEA PARTY or CIVIL WAR!
Click pic for article (not video)
July 22 — An Islamic militant group is denying any involvement in a scheme that the FBI says raised money for terrorism activities worldwide through cigarette trafficking in the United States.
I'm with YOU. They have gone over-the-top!
Yea, sure.
S C A R Y... From the Still posted TIPS website.. Makes one wonder doesn't it:
The Operation TIPS hotline would also offer some unique improvements upon current systems by:
Providing a centralized telephone hotline and web-based reporting system that automatically and immediately routes tips to appropriate federal, state, and local law enforcement nationwide;
Providing specific industry groups with a means of reporting non-emergency, potentially terrorist-related activity; and
Enabling law enforcement officials to "connect the dots" and take appropriate action on potentially terrorist-related activities that may be occurring simultaneously.
That's what I am afraid of. PA does it, the cookie cutter states will want to do the same thing.
What about ONLINE AUCTIONS FOLKS. How about those??? No one pays state taxes on online auctions.
Yes, right! If it weren't for the lawmakers taxing cigarettes through the roof, the retailers wouldn't be where they are now!
The lawmakers just don't get it!
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