Smoker Gets $8,000 Tax Bill For Buying Cigarettes Online

[matcom]

<snip>

OLYMPIA -- Scott Adams figured he was saving about $20 per carton the past few years by ordering his cigarettes online and by phone from out-of-state tobacco dealers.

Those savings are proving mighty costly now.

The state claims Adams owes nearly $8,000 in unpaid cigarette taxes and penalties. After hounding him for more than a year, the state last week began garnisheeing 25 percent of Adams' wages.

Adams says he blew off the numerous warnings and tax statements he received in the mail, figuring the state was just trying to intimidate him and didn't really have the authority to force him to pay.

"I'm both angry and maybe a little ashamed that I didn't talk to them," said Adams, 41, a pack-a-day-plus smoker who lives in Seattle. "But I didn't think they were going to push it this far for something as trivial as cigarette taxes. ... It's going to take me years to pay this off."

The state, however, says there's nothing trivial about unpaid cigarette taxes. As many as a quarter of all cigarettes smoked in Washington state are smuggled in from out of state or purchased tax-free online, by phone or by mail from vendors.

Contraband cigarettes cost the state an estimated $200 million a year in lost revenue.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003574768_tobaccotax16m.html

[johnnie]

1. Contraband cigarettes cost the state an estimated $200 million a year in lost revenue.

LOL, everyone wants the smokers to quit smoking, but they sure love the money it brings in. I wonder if that whole $200 million goes toward health care?

[keithjx]

3. Just an FYI

I'm an atty at the Dept of Rev in Montana, and we do the same thing as Washington re: cigarette taxes. Our tobacco tax $ goes to the state veterans’ nursing homes; the children’s health insurance program; the need-based prescription drug program for children, seniors, chronically ill, and disabled persons; and increased Medicaid services across Montana. I'm the first person to say that I'm all about letting Montana's citizens smoke if they want, and I'm glad that the $ goes to good causes.

KJ

[johnnie]

4. Ours here in Cuyahoga County Ohio went to build stadiums

Both of them are well past being paid for, but we still pay the "sin tax". I don't know where they are diverting that money to now, they don't tell us.

[liberal hypnotist]

2. There so much money who cares

200 million is a drop in the bucket. Let's find the 8 billion lost in Iraq. Plus, why should the government get money from cigarettes-they kill 440,000 people a year. Fight on! Quit smoking, really screw em!

[radfringe]

5. RYO - roll your own

Can (8-9oz) or 1-lb bag of tobacco $8-$10 depending on the brand

box of tubes - $1.50 - $3.00 (200 tubes per box)

Injector machines - $5.00 or upgrade to larger easier to use models $35
http://www.ryomagazine.com/injectors.htm





cost per carton - $9.50 - $13.00 depending on the brand/grade of tobacco and tubes (tubes come with filters)

1 can of tobacco will approximately make 1 carton of cigs

you can get menthol or regular tobacco, menthol/regular tubes, light, ultra-lite tubes, king or 100's.

we get the menthol tobacco with regular tubes (mix and match to suit your taste)

I roll cigs in the evening while watching TV - takes me about an hour to do 4 packs worth, I put them in a big plastic container and pop it in the fridge

the only time I actually buy "normal" cigs is when I go on vacation and rolling my own is not feasible.

[matcom]

6. we have been rolling our own for years

http://www.smokerswarehouse.com

[johnnie]

7. That's what I do

I have saved a hell of a lot of money and the smokes are better. Yeah, I'm still a wart on society's ass, but I choose to smoke and rolling my own is a lot cheaper. Plus all the tax increases don't really affect RYO......yet.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. And if you roll American Spirit

you don't get the 400-something chemicals that Big Terbacky puts in its cigs.

They don't make a loose menthol, but you can buy menthol tubes.

I'm spending a bit more than half what I used to, and I ain't dyin' as fast. And, yeah, I can actually feel the difference.

I'm also smoking less.