Cigarette and tobacco products tax

What is the tax on cigarettes?

New York State and New York City impose an excise tax on all cigarettes possessed in the state for sale.

• The state excise tax rate is $5.35 per package of 20 cigarettes.

• The New York City local excise tax is $1.50 per package of 20 cigarettes, bringing the combined tax rate for a package of 20 cigarettes purchased in New York City to $6.85.

How is the tax paid?

The excise tax is paid when a licensed cigarette stamping agent purchases New York State tax stamps from the Tax Department. As evidence of payment of the state tax, stamps must be affixed to the bottom of each pack of cigarettes sold in New York State. A joint New York State and New York City tax stamp is evidence that both the state and city excise taxes were paid.

In addition to the excise tax, the agent pays a prepaid sales tax at the time the cigarette tax stamps are purchased and passes that tax on to wholesalers and retailers. For more information on the prepaid sales tax, see Form ST-133, Certificate of Prepayment of Sales Tax on Cigarettes.

When are minimum wholesale and retail cigarette prices changed?

New York State establishes minimum resale prices for sales of cigarettes at the wholesale and retail levels. Minimum wholesale and retail selling prices are subject to change when a manufacturer price change or cigarette excise tax rate change occurs.

For additional information regarding cigarette price changes and minimum pricing, see Publication 509, Minimum Wholesale and Retail Cigarette Prices.

What is the tax on tobacco products?

New York State imposes an excise tax on tobacco products possessed in the state for sale at the following rates:

• 75% of the wholesale price on cigars and tobacco products (other than little cigars and snuff);
• $0.2675 for each little cigar;
• $2 per container of snuff with one ounce or less; and
• $2 per ounce of snuff and a proportionate rate on any fractional amount for containers with more than one ounce (for example, the tax on a 1.25 oz. container would be $2.50).

How is the tax paid?

The tax is paid by a distributor when the distributor imports tobacco products into this state or causes them to be imported.

Additional information

If you are starting a business that will sell cigarettes or tobacco products, see Get started now.

If you are licensed or registered to sell cigarettes or tobacco products and need information about filing requirements and license and registration renewal, see Filing requirements and license and registration renewal.

• Oneida Nation Settlement Agreement
• Sales of cigarettes to Indian nations, tribes, or reservation cigarette sellers
• TSB-M-14(1)M, (4)S, Federal Court Ratifies Settlement Agreement by the Oneida Nation, the State of New York, the County of Madison and the County of Oneida
• Research Tobacco Product Informational Report