Pa. Cigar Tax, Again

[SkinsFanLarry]

Pennsylvania Governor Proposes Cigar Tax, Again


Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, for the second time in as many years, is proposing a first-ever tax on premium handmade cigars for the Keystone State.

Included in Rendell's $29 billion budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year is a 30 percent levy on cigars and Other Tobacco Products (OTP) like smoking tobacco and smokeless tobacco.

Pennsylvania is one of only two states that does not tax cigars, with Florida being the other. The Keystone State, though, is the only state in the country that does not tax OTP.

The lax tobacco tax laws mean some of the nation's major cigar distributors, Cigars International, Holt's Cigar Co., and the Tinder Box, call the state home.

"We are going to fight [the tax proposal]," said Robert Levin, president and chief executive officer of Holt's Cigar Co, located in Philadelphia. "We have a good shot at defeating it. There are a lot of Republican senators who oppose any cigar tax."

 

[Robinsond]

Ugh...if this passes, I won't be as proud to come from the Keystone State! Our freedoms are being taken away, and I'm sick of paying taxes that our government is irresponsible at spending. Stop taking more and more of our money, JUST MANAGE WHAT YOU HAVE :angerFU:

 

[Big Beef Bueno]

this sucks since I buy some of my smokes from PA!

 

[ctaylor]

Bummer...Hope it doesn't pass.
I thought Ed smokes the occasional stick too

 

[vperlman]

CRA has links for you to email Rendell and a couple of other key players in the Senate. There is no excuse for anyone on this list, and especially those who have a PA address, not to do it.

 

[bigbwalls]

Yeah, it's ridiculous. I pray it doesn't pass.

 

[vperlman]

Yeah, it's ridiculous. I pray it doesn't pass.

Prayers won't work. Enough emails, calls and letters might...

 

[bigbwalls]

Prayers won't work. Enough emails, calls and letters might...

Way ahead of you, sir. Done and done.

 

[smokinghole]

Maybe I'll go shit on the lawn at the Governor's mansion. Well that and email them all over and over and over. Maybe I can be annoying at the capitol physically in person.

 

[joey322]

Please sign up if you are from PA

http://nocigartax.holts.com/

 

[FH Finster]

Well, there goes my boys' college fund.

 

[ssaka]

This has always been my issue with establishing a cigar business in PA... the state for two decades plus have been so politically close it is always one election away from enacting a punitive tobacco tax and given that their neighbors all have absurd tax levels they want to come right out of the gate with a crippling one. :<

In the end, when a tax goes from 0% to 30% overnight the state just loses jobs and tax revenues in the long run. This has been proven time and time again, yet these morons are oblivious.

STS

 

[Cigary43]

Pa. has been one of those states that was reliable for not taxing the bejeebers on tobacco....I have my own feelings about Rendell and his agendas...tax those who already are overtaxed as it is. Maybe tax his "free" stuff that lobbyists give to him under the table..RICO on this mofo.

 

[apnutter]

It's Wolfe proposing the new tax and it's BS. Going to chase the large stores from the state along with closing the doors on B&Ms because it'll be cheaper to buy online from out of state stores.

 

[CVAC085]

Apparently, this was denied once before!? Cigars International is rallying people on facebook to get active and speak up for no taxes. Hopefully, everyone can pull together and say NO again....

 

[Rupe]

Make your voices heard PA brothers!!

Here in Minnesota the tax is 95% of wholesale (maximum $3.50 per cigar) and needless to say there are very few B&M's left. Be prepared for places like Famous and CI to move to Florida along with thousands of jobs. You may also want to refine your Google skills since you will more than likely be buying a lot more stuff online.

Unless you speak up the nanny state will do everything in their power to get as much of your money through tobacco taxes as they can. Unfortunately the net result will be a vastly different landscape for PA cigar smokers.

 

[Sirspanksalot]

0 to 30%? Ouch.

 

[Rupe]

0 to 30%? Ouch.

Actually the proposal is for 0-40%!!!

This thread was originally posted in 2010 when they were proposing 30%. It was defeated at that time but has been brought up again with a bump to 40% this time.

 

[Famous Smoke]

I know it's been said already, but just reminder if you are a PA resident and haven't already, please submit a message to Tom Wolf and other State Representatives via: http://www.capwiz.com/cigarrights/issues/alert/?alertid=64193991&type=ML

There is a pre-written message already on there to make it a tad easier, but feel free to give it your personal touch as needed.




As much of a jerk the Cigar Monster can be to the new hires here... he doesn't deserve to die!

 

[TraderCigarCo.]

Actually the proposal is for 0-40%!!!

This thread was originally posted in 2010 when they were proposing 30%. It was defeated at that time but has been brought up again with a bump to 40% this time.

I read somewhere that the taxes in other states surrounding PA are ridiculously high. Does anyone know what they are in NY and NJ?