Florida wants to tax your personal stash

[Shelby07]

From cigarcyclopedia article yesterday

http://www.cigarcyclopedia.com/webapp/cont...ew/1421/27/1/1/

Florida smokers: are you ready to pay taxes on the cigars you already own?

A largely unnoticed, but especially insidious aspect of the Florida Senate Bill 1840, which would impose substantial new taxes on cigars as well as cigarettes, is a “floor tax” which would be imposed not only on wholesalers and retailers, but also on consumers! Section 7(3) of the bill states:

A surcharge is imposed upon the use or storage by consumers of tobacco products in this state and upon such consumers at the rate of $1 for each ounce, with a proportionate surcharge at the same rate on all fractions of an ounce thereof. The surcharge imposed by this subsection does not apply if the surcharge imposed by subsection (2) on such tobacco products has been paid. This surcharge does not apply to the use or storage of tobacco products in quantities of less than 1 pound in the possession of any one consumer.

The proposed tax rate – designed to raise up to $86 million and which would be effective on July 1 – is $1 an ounce. A standard Churchill-sized cigar weighs about 0.55 ounces, so it would be taxed at 55 cents each ($13.75 per box of 25); a trendy 60-ring by 6-inch Toro would bring an additional tax of 60-65 cents per cigar or perhaps $16.25 per box of 25! So for a smoker who owns 10 boxes of cigars, the personal tax on his existing home stock could be $150 to $200 depending on the total weight!

Of course, this tax – on top of the new Federal cigar tax rate of 40.26 cents each – would have to be paid by retailers and distributors. The bill was approved by the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee by a 16-1 vote on April 7.

Florida smokers are asked to contact their state senators and protest this unthinkable tax on cigars and on consumers. Ask for all cigar taxes to be removed from Senate Bill 1840; the contact list for the Florida Senate is here. (We incorrectly reported the proposed tax rate as $1 per pound yesterday; yesterday’s story has been updated to reflect the correct rate and fiscal impact. Our apologies for the error.)

[bigwhiteash]

The surcharge imposed by this subsection does not apply if the surcharge imposed by subsection (2) on such tobacco products has been paid.

If I read that correctly, the tax will not effect cigars purchased under the S-CHIP tax, but anything bought before will be subject.

That is regoddamndiculous!

Maybe I'm interpreting this wrong?

[badwhale]

Not that I live in Florida, but....

How the hell are they going to weigh my stash? They'd come in to find an empty humidor except a couple philly blunts.

Re-Goddamn-diculous is right.

WIll

[Shelby07]

If I read that correctly, the tax will not effect cigars purchased under the S-CHIP tax, but anything bought before will be subject.

That is regoddamndiculous!

Maybe I'm interpreting this wrong?

The way I read the bill it looks like the Florida retailer will pay it, then pass the tax along. But if you have tobacco and the retailer hasn't collected it, then they're going to tax you. Sounds like they're trying to hit internet sales or any cigars bought outside the state. Either way, it's yet another tax increase on tobacco sales in Florida.

Edit: There's a link to a pdf of the bill at the bottom of this page if anyone wants it.

[NullSmurf]

Just one more click in the Socialism ratchet. Its a "sin" tax that affects a minority, but the noose gets tighter. They'll be hitting the Big Mac within the year.

[badwhale]

Just one more click in the Socialism ratchet. Its a "sin" tax that affects a minority, but the noose gets tighter. They'll be hitting the Big Mac within the year.

You must have heard about the proposed tax on sugar soda?

I agree. I hate soda, but an attack on personal freedom is total BS in my book. Where does it stop?

Will

[craig]

Just one more click in the Socialism ratchet. Its a "sin" tax that affects a minority, but the noose gets tighter. They'll be hitting the Big Mac within the year.

You're making progress with getting-in-touch with your liberal side, Bruce .

[Eville]

I don't like that analogy. When a ratchet is clicking, it is actually doing nothing. It's when the ratchet doesn't click that you start screwing stuff.

[Kenyth]

Tobacco is hereby villified. They finished with cigarrettes for the time being, now they're starting on cigars. Prepare for ridiculous laws and taxes. Once they're done with cigars, booze and fast/junk food will be next.

[golfermd]

Tobacco is hereby villified. They finished with cigarrettes for the time being, now they're starting on cigars. Prepare for ridiculous laws and taxes. Once they're done with cigars, booze and fast/junk food will be next.

Amen BOTL! The thing I love about the Nanny state. Big brother knows what's best for us (even though it's usually some kid with a newly minted PhD hanging on his/her wall who came up with the idea that they know what is better for me than I do), no matter that we have lived far longer than some of the pinheads who decide they need to regulate our freedoms and lives. Hmmm. I wonder how many of THEM actually stop at red lights/stop signs or drive the posted speeds.