BHUBANESWAR: The decision of the State Government to raise value added tax on cigarettes, bidis and every other form of tobacco products has got the thumbs up from the anti-tobacco campaigners and the medical fraternity. �The move would go a long way in not only saving a large number of lives but also effect reduction in Government spending on treating tobacco-related diseases, they have asserted. �The State Government has increased VAT on c ... Jump to full article >>

The lawmakers reduced the tax on loose-leaf tobacco from $1.13 per ounce to 80 cents. AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas House approved a 33-cent decrease to the state’s loose-leaf tobacco tax, the American-Statesman reports. The bill would drop the loose-leaf tobacco tax from $1.13 to 80 cents. “We just created an incentive for people to use cancer-causing products,” said Rep. Jason Isaac, who was the lone member to speak up against the bill on ... Jump to full article >>

Nearly half the cigarettes sold in Hong Kong are illegal because of high prices, a tobacco concern group claims. The finding was based on an informal “survey” carried out by the Vote Against Tax Hikes Alliance, which rummaged through dozens of trash bins in Lok Fu and Lam Tin public housing estates last month, picking up empty cigarette packages. Of the 200 boxes retrieved, 92 were either from the mainland, or on which duty was not p ... Jump to full article >>

The cost of cutting cigarette taxes by a dime, as the House of Representative would like, will undoubtedly cost New Hampshire much more than the loss of $9 million in revenue. Encouraging smoking by reducing the cost will pose a significant and long-term health-care cost to the state, especially as it relates to pregnant women and children. Consider that the first-year medical costs alone of a premature birth are about 10 times greater ($32,325) ... Jump to full article >>

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri House member Chris Kelly (D-Columbia) wants voters to raise the state’s cigarette tax by 81 cents per pack. Currently, Missouri’s 17-cent cigarette tax is the lowest in the country; Kelly’s proposal would increase it to 98 cents per pack. Kelly outlined his plan to a House committee last Thursday, according to the report. Kelly proposed a future statewide vote in which state residents would ... Jump to full article >>

On April 15th, the very day many Vermonters’ are trying to pay their end of year tax obligations, the Vermont Senate Finance Committee voted to increase the cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack, making Vermont more than $20.00 carton higher than New Hampshire. Here’s why we oppose this tax increase: The Importance of Buying Local Stemming the Loss of Retail Business Across Vermont’s Borders There has been significant focus across Vermont in rec ... Jump to full article >>

Call it a duel between tobacco tax studies. During a floor debate in the Legislature last month on lowering the New Hampshire tobacco tax, Rep. Patrick Abrami, R-Stratham, said the move was necessary to help small businesses rebound and strengthen a competitive advantage in lower cigarette taxes with neighbor states. “We have reached the tipping point,” Abrami said about the sizeable increase in tobacco taxes that had taken place sin ... Jump to full article >>

The Assembly Taxation Committee held a hearing Tuesday on AB 333, which calls for an increase on all alcohol and tobacco products. Democratic Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce said proposed increase in sin taxes really isn’t that dramatic. “We’re talking about six cents on a bottle of wine,” said Pierce. No one would even notice that or even a 45 cent hike on high end liquor.” The state hasn’t raised taxes on tobacc ... Jump to full article >>

Democrats held an informational meeting on raising the cigarette tax in Idaho by $1.25 per pack, a move forced by the Republican Party’s refusal to schedule a hearing. About 60 people attended Monday’s session. Democrats want a tax hike from 57 cents per pack now to help reduce smoking – and raise money to fund programs being cut, including public schools and Medicaid. Republicans, even those who also favor a cigarette tax hike ... Jump to full article >>

Democrats in Boise are trying to light a fire under state revenue. They say raising the tobacco tax in the state from 57 cents to a $1.25 is something the state drastically needs. “It would help on the $50 million in cuts to state education for the third year in a row,” Rep. Elaine Smith, D-Pocatello, said. Democrats are hosting a public information session at 4:30 p.m. Monday, and Smith said republican resistance to having a hearing ... Jump to full article >>