Family feels blindsided by state's tax bill for online cigarette purchases

[yasmina27]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07114/780435-85.stm

I heard this guy interviewed on the local radio. He was close to tears.

If my parents hadn't quit smoking a year before my dad passed in Dec. 06, chances are they would have received one of these bills. They used to buy their smokes online, and my dh & I looked into it, but never did.

Legal or not, it's a slippery slope.

Who hasn't bought something online & not paid tax on it? My favorite is at christmas time, when all the merchants are offering free delivery, then not only don't you have to leave your house, but it's cheaper too. Yeah, technically, you're supposed to report and pay, but - in all honesty - who does?? No one I know! Who hasn't bought an item in another state with a tax benefit, then not "declared" it when they got home? For example, in Ohio, you pay tax on clothing, not in PA. So if you live close to the border, or are passing through on vacation, and you buy a shirt, you don't pay tax on it.

You would think the repukes - party of less govt and big-brother - lol - would be all over this. To give credit where credit is due, the drive-home repuke radio host (a moderate Rush Limpdick wannabe) is totally against this & is trying to help this couple. But what about God knows how many other folks who got bills and aren't being made into news items? Who's coming to their rescue?

[SoCalDem]

1. I had to come up with about $200 :(

It's the credit card companies who blew the whistle on people who order online..

what's next?

ALL internet purchases where you use a credit card..count on it:grr:

[yasmina27]

3. Whoa

never heard of that. Wonder when big brother will be coming after us in PA. My sense right now is that the cigarette nazis are going after the smoke sinners first. Like I said, slippery slope....

[SoCalDem]

6. Yep we are first because "everyone hates us", so people don;t mind when we get slammed, BUT

once they are done with us, they WILL come after ALL internet purchases.. all that transaction has to prove is that you bought something in another state. They have access to the whole shebang, so it's easy to see if you "paid tax"..

States can recoup a LOT of money by sneaking a peek at the credit card purchases of its citizens..

[central scrutinizer]

2. on the other hand

Here is Oregon, there is no sales tax but we have to pay it whenever we travel and never get a dime back.

[RB TexLa]

4. How much stuff do you buy at Christmas that has an excise tax on it?

That is what they collect.

[yasmina27]

5. forgive my ignorance :)

What exactly do you mean by excise tax?

[RB TexLa]

7. Looking it up the do want the sales tax too. But the main thing is the excise tax

The extra tax on tobacco, alcohol and other things I'm sure.

[yasmina27]

9. OK I see what you're saying

and you're right, there's not much I buy at christmas that would have an excise tax on it.

But like I said, slippery slope....

[Uben]

8. I buy smokes on a Indian reservation

They don't charge sales tax either. I guess I better start using cash or the credit card companies will rat that out too! Texas just added a $1/pack tax in Jauary, so it saves money to drive the ten miles over to Okla. to buy smokes.

[tech3149]

10. I solved that problem years ago

I don't need or plan to live as long as possible. I'll continue to smoke, but I just couldn't see supporting the medical industry with the taxes paid on tobacco products. I'm well past 50 and my only need for medical services has been for physical injuries. I started buying unprocessed tobacco products to bypass the tax issue. I bought on-line for a while but saw that being shut down. I didn't hear the broadcast, but I'd bet it was on KDKA. I hope this guy has some informed friends or does some hard thinking about his commitment to his family. You don't have many choices, if smoking is harming your health and people depend on you, you have to decide which is more important, you or your family. If money is the big issue, suck it up and roll your own. You can cut the cost by 300% by "rolling your own".

As far as taxes for on-line purchases, don't expect that you'll get that free ride no matter what you buy for much longer. It might be problematic to institute, but it will happen. The states are scrambling for income and they'll grasp at anything that has some potential.

[dysfunctional press]

11. how can you cut the cost by 300%?

that would mean that you're getting 200% back as a refund somehow? they're actually paying you to smoke?

[tech3149]

12. If I bought my regular Marlboro Reds I'd spend more than $40 a week

Buying loose tobacco and papers $15 covers me for a month. If I had to smoke filter, I might double that cost. $3.75 a week compared to $40 shows my 300% to be extremely conservative.

[Toots]

15. You do understand the meaning of 100% don't you?

:shrug:

[dysfunctional press]

17. obviously not...

apparently smoking (tobacco) rots your brain.

[One Sweet World]

13. That's terrible.

I read in Wired magazine that you can get in trouble for not paying sales tax for online purchases but I agree, who does??. I went to college near WashPA. Too sad.

[jmowreader]

14. 100 cartons in 27 months? Let's do the math...

The state of Pennsylvania claims that anyone who bought more than 100 cartons of cigarettes in 27 months is buying for resale. Really?

At 200 cigarettes in a carton...

and 850 days between January 1, 2005, and the end of April 2007...

that works out to an average of 23 cigarettes per day. How many pack-a-day smokers do YOU know?

[earth mom]

16. All these taxes on everything is bullsh*t.

That the public has put up with all these taxes for so long is just mind boggling. We are taxed up the wazoo yet most people in this country go without health care. Like :wtf: