Purpose: This Special Notice describes the changes made to the tobacco products tax during the 2006 session of the Connecticut General Assembly.

Effective Date: July 1, 2006.

Statutory Authority: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§12-285(a)(5), 12-286(d) and (e), 12-287, 12-330a, 12-330b, 12-330c, and 12-330d(b)(1), 587, as amended by 2006 Conn. Pub. Acts 194, §§10 to 16, inclusive.

Definitions : For purposes of this Special Notice:

• DRS means the Department of Revenue Services.
• Tobacco products mean cigars; cheroots; stogies; periques; granulated, plug cut, crimp cut, ready rubbed, and other smoking tobacco; snuff tobacco products; cavendish, plug, and twist tobacco; fine cut and other chewing tobaccos; shorts, refuse scraps, clippings, cuttings, and sweepings of tobacco; and all other kinds and forms of tobacco, prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing or smoking in a pipe or otherwise or for both chewing and smoking. Tobacco products do not include any cigarette as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. §12-285.
• Untaxed tobacco products mean tobacco products purchased from persons not licensed by DRS as tobacco products distributors. These are tobacco products on which the Connecticut tobacco products tax has not been paid.
• Taxed tobacco products mean tobacco products purchased from persons licensed by DRS as a tobacco products distributor. These are tobacco products on which the Connecticut tobacco products tax has been paid.
• Unclassified importer means an individual who is licensed by DRS as an unclassified importer and who imports, receives, or acquires untaxed tobacco products from outside Connecticut for his or her personal use or consumption in Connecticut.

Retailers of Tobacco Products Generally No Longer Required to Be Licensed by DRS as Tobacco Products Distributors: Effective July 1, 2006, retailers of tobacco products are no longer required to be licensed by DRS as tobacco products distributors as long as the tobacco products they purchase for resale are solely and exclusively taxed tobacco products (and those retailers do not purchase for resale any untaxed tobacco products). Retailers of taxed tobacco products are required to be licensed by DRS as cigarette dealers. The issuance of a cigarette dealer’s license to a retailer of taxed tobacco products authorizes the person to sell both cigarettes and taxed tobacco products at retail.

Every retailer of taxed tobacco products who is licensed by DRS as a cigarette dealer is required to maintain records that detail the persons from whom, the quantities in which, and the dates on which tobacco products were acquired by the retailer, and any other information deemed necessary by DRS.

Those retailers of taxed tobacco products currently licensed by DRS as cigarette dealers need not do anything further at this time. Any retailers of taxed tobacco products not currently licensed by DRS as cigarette dealers must file Form REG-1, Business Taxes Registration Application, and Form REG-1 Addendum A, Cigarette and Tobacco Products Taxes, with DRS on or before July 1, 2006.

However, retailers of tobacco products who wish to purchase any untaxed tobacco products for resale must be licensed by DRS as tobacco products distributors. In addition, if the same tobacco products distributor wishes to sell cigarettes at retail, the tobacco products distributor must be licensed with DRS as a cigarette dealer. Both licenses can be obtained by filing Form REG-1 and Form REG-1 Addendum A with DRS.

Persons engaged in the business of wholesaling (but not retailing) tobacco products are required to be licensed by DRS as tobacco products distributors.

List of Persons Licensed by DRS as Tobacco Products Distributors to Be Posted on DRS Internet Web Site: Effective July 1, 2006, each retailer of tobacco products who is licensed, with respect to retail sales of tobacco products, by DRS as a cigarette dealer must purchase tobacco products for resale exclusively from persons licensed by DRS as tobacco products distributors. It is illegal for a retailer of tobacco products who is licensed, with respect to retail sales of tobacco products, by DRS as a cigarette dealer to purchase tobacco products for resale from any person who is not licensed by DRS as a tobacco products distributor.

Criminal Sanctions Imposed on Those Persons Who Sell Taxed Tobacco Products Without a Cigarette Dealer’s License: Any person not licensed by DRS as a cigarette dealer who knowingly sells at retail, offers for sale at retail, or possesses with intent to sell at retail any taxed tobacco products will be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than three months, or both, for each offense. Each day of unauthorized operation may be deemed a separate offense.

Criminal Sanctions Imposed on Those Persons Who Manufacture, Purchase, Import, Receive, or Acquire Untaxed Tobacco Products Without a Tobacco Products Distributor’s License: Any person not licensed by DRS as a tobacco products distributor who knowingly manufactures, purchases, imports, receives, or acquires any untaxed tobacco products will be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not more than three months, or both, for each offense. Each day of unauthorized operation may be deemed a separate offense. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to a person licensed by DRS as an unclassified importer.

In addition, untaxed tobacco products are contraband and may be seized by the Commissioner of Revenue Services without a warrant.

Conspicuous Display of License Required : Every person licensed by DRS as a tobacco products distributor is required to conspicuously display the license on the premises covered by the license.

Effect on Other Documents: None affected.

For Further Information: Call DRS during business hours, Monday through Friday:

SN 2006(3)
Tobacco Products Tax
Issued:   06/30/2006