I remember there was a big deal about buying cigarettes online a while ago, something about going around taxes and stuff.
Would I get into trouble if I buy cigarettes online?
(shipping to Jersey)
The states aren’t going after people for buying them online, they’re going after people for ducking the state tax on cigarettes by buying them online. There is a good possibility that if you’ve been buying them online for a while you will be hit with a big tax bill. Here is a good example of what I’m talking about.
EDIT: The article does say that online cigarette purchases are illegal in 10 states. I missed that when I skimmed it. My apologies.
“From New Jersey to Michigan to Oklahoma, state revenue departments are cracking down in unison… In January, a New Jersey man received a tax bill for $4,100 from the state’s treasury department, for two years’ worth of taxes he didn’t pay on Pall Mall cartons.”
Found here.
You most likely won’t get in trouble as a consumer. However, your state really, really wants to see those tax stamps at the bottom of the pack to get their cut of their money. Even as a non-smoker this really disgusts me but it is what it is. Like lots of things, state law hasn’t caught up with Internet realities. It isn’t really legal if that is what you are asking but they aren’t going to haul you to prison personally either.
I understand.
How do I go about getting the packs stamped?
Buy them at the corner convenience store or the supermarket, of course. The tax has already been assessed and paid on those.
Yeah, but I figure if I buy them wholesale and pay the tax, I’ll still be saving money. Am I totally wrong about that?
I’m not equipped to answer that. I wouldn’t know who you’d have to pay the tax to.
You might want to refer to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives website or the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau website to get your answer in that regard.
In Minnesota, you can just buy them online (or at one of the Indian casinos) and declare that and pay the tax when you pay your income taxes.
The same thing you are supposed to do if you buy anything online where they don’t charge you the Minnesota Sales & Use Tax – you are supposed to report that & pay the tax along with your income taxes. Very few people do, though.
If you would like to be hooked up with a site that doesn’t report sales - PM me and I’ll share my source. I’ve used 2 different sites, one reports the sales. Each annual quarter I receive a tax notice from California instructing to pay tax on those cartons that were reported. Most recently (like three days ago) I had to mail off a check for an ADDITIONAL $36 in taxes to CA. Which, in actuality, made each of those cartons MORE EXPENSIVE than buying in a stinkin’ 7-11. I think the carton price was like $45 and I can get a carton here @ a smoke shop for $35. Online I pay $26 per, plus shipping, which makes final cost $27.50.
Actually, if you consequently order from them, we will both get a nice discount out of it as a “referral”.
Mods, if this is inappropos, please let me know & I’ll not do it again!
mercy, please, I humbly scrape & bow… 
Its not illegal, but as folks have stated its possible that you will get a tax bill from the state. In most cases, they are going after large purchasers, but you never know. States are hungry for cash. My advice is to buy off an Indian Reservation that has a record not reporting sales to the state. Or just drive to Delaware and stock up. You’ll pay about $27 a carton.
Just make sure they are offshore
This blogger explains what happens if you buy from a u.s company and where you can buy to avoid that
Here in Minnesota, the Reservations are mostly reached by only 1 or 2 roads. The state periodically stops cars on that road, checks the cigarettes for a tax stamp, and collects the tax on unstamped ones (and maybe a penalty?). They seem to stop only the cars that have cigarettes; like they have surveillance on the Reservation smoke shop. These do seem to have a coincidental connection to the state budget shortfalls.
And though the tribe doesn’t report sales to the state, people sometimes get a bill from the state tax department for cigarette purchases at the Reservation, with fairly accurate details. It’s rumored that the state tax people pay undercover informants at the Reservation, or that they have access to credit card records from there.
You realize that states are trying to go after all internet purchases.
Buying them wholesale implies that you have a particular tax ID that you are a retailer or import/export guy.
Hang out a shingle, and best of luck!
Do zombies buy cigarettes?
Altered quote to link to spam.
Reported. (Theare)