Posted on 05/06/2008 9:20:47 AM PDT by bigcat32
The state is smoking out Ohio smokers who evaded cigarette taxes by shopping online between July and March.
Nearly 5,500 buyers should expect a bill for unpaid excise and use taxes on cigarettes purchased during that nine-month period, the Ohio Department of Taxation announced Monday. The combined tab? More than $2.15 million, including nearly $370,000 owed to Cuyahoga County.
The largest bill -- $2,700 -- belongs to a Huron County resident who bought 2,160 packs from out-of-state Internet vendors. Most bills are less than $600. They must be paid within 30 days, according to the department, which did not release names.
"If people bought online to avoid taxes," said state spokesman Mike McKinney, "they're going to be disappointed."
(Excerpt) Read more at cleveland.com ...
Why does this story make me think of FISA courts?
Wonder if the Cigar companies are on the hit list?
I could be getting a bill.
Ohio is the 2nd highest taxed state in the U.S. I lived there for the last 24 years; my husband and I filed taxes regularly on a quarterly basis - with an accountant helping us - a really GOOD accountant. However, the state recently claimed we owed an additional $1700 in state income tax for the year of 2004. I paid it online as soon as I got my notice. HOWEVER - because of their rolling billing cycle, they added on an additional penalty and interest fee that wasn’t available online. The fees and penalties snowballed without our knowledge. Yesterday, we got a call from the State Attorney General’s office - mind you, we moved to Arizona last July - they were calling to collect an additional $650. I called them back to be sure that’s who it was but I told them when I paid the money I better get some sort of letter confirming the account was paid in full and closed or I would go to the press. Maybe I’ll go to the press anyway. Ohio is a really jerky state. Incredibly high taxes with nothing to show for it. We even had to pay for trash pickup.
Let this be a lesson to those who think that the “solution” to the drug war is to “legalize it” AND “tax the hell out of it”. It just moves the DEA under the ATF.
You can bet they will be.
i go to kentucky to purchase my cigarettes. much cheaper there.
“The combined tab? More than $2.15 million”
I wonder how much it’s going to cost my state, in total, to collect this money????
I wonder what happens if you don't pay? Can't repo the smokes.
“Wonder if the Cigar companies are on the hit list?
I could be getting a bill.”
This morning I purchased cigars on the net for a great price then I noticed this article on cleveland.com. My GUESS is that it’s cigarettes for now but sooner or later cigars will be hit. I hope they’re only going after items where they’ll maximize income. There’s probably a lot more internet cigarette sales than cigar. The sites I use sell cigars ONLY.
Headline should read: Elected Mafia members make another money grab. Seriously, other than stealing money from citizens (they call it taxes, Mob calls it something else) what business is it of any state where I or anyone else purchase anything.
And if you do not pay these forced thefts of your money, our elected Mafia has thugs to come and force you to pay.
“The combined tab? More than $2.15 million”
I wonder how much it’s going to cost my state, in total, to collect this money????
...$3.15 million.
Yes, they should be disappointed. In the people they elected to office.
“I wonder what happens if you don’t pay? Can’t repo the smokes”.
...they take a lung.
And gee, wouldn't that be a horror? I mean, taxing users instead of the minor inconveniences we have today, like gang warfare, funding for terrorists, $50 billion in law enforcement spending per year, and endless construction of prisons to incarcerate addicts. That's a much better solution than forcing the poor, beleaguered users to pony up a few hundred bucks a year.
Thus, they lose their tax exemption by way of a 'legal'? back door.
There's too much destruction of law by writing a law that doesn't supercede a protectionist law, but makes it toothless.
“Ohio is the 2nd highest taxed state....”
Most politicians in Ohio, especially Cuyahoga County, are clueless as to why people and businesses are leaving in droves. Their answer? MORE TAXES!!!
Congrats on getting out and good luck with that $650 bill.
“$3.15 million.”
That’s what I’m thinkin’!
“I wonder what happens if you don’t pay? Can’t repo the smokes.”
The house will work fine.
The lure of cheap tobacco often sends consumers to the Web. Up to 78 percent of Internet merchants advertise "tax-free" cigarettes to appeal to customers living in states with high excise taxes, according to the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program.
'The lure of cheap tobacco..', yes and no. Online I, oops, 'you', can get Old Gold Straights and other 'obsolete' or obscure brands not sold in local stores. Are they cheaper, yeah maybe, whoopee. As to this: "Substance Abuse Policy...". Go take a flying flock.
Another thing - when entering IL they have signs along the highway saying no more than three cartons may be brought in for personal use. BUT - if you buy those same three cartons online now the state wants a 'use tax'. They can Bite Me.
Nope they can't but they can put a lien on your house, car or go after your bank accounts. The State also may make an example out of a select few to put fear into the rest of the people. I am sure they have their plan of action all worked out
Nothing.
Y’know...if you look at “structuring” laws, which say it is illegal to deposit less than $10,000 to avoid being listed as depositing OVER $10,000, I bet some goofy liberal lawyer can come up with the same concept towards avoiding cigarette taxes.
Simply charge NON-smokers the same cigarette tax that smokers pay, on the basis that because they refuse to smoke, they are deliberately avoiding paying the taxes that smokers are paying, and thus structuring their non-smoking habit so as to avoid paying their fair share of society’s ills!
Ed
“Simply charge NON-smokers the same cigarette tax that smokers pay, on the basis that because they refuse to smoke, they are deliberately avoiding paying the taxes that smokers are paying, and thus structuring their non-smoking habit so as to avoid paying their fair share of society’s ills!”
Hey! Now there you go! I like that kind of thinking! ;)
FMCDH(BITS)
They should have learned from Prohibition but nooooooo!
so at least the state recognizes the importance of a border in collecting cig taxes, lol
but seriously if cigarettes are so bad how come the governmnet makes more from a pack of smokes that the cig companies do?
Who doesn't, unless you haul your own. Either pay to a company or it's included in your taxes.
Do not use credit or debit cards.
Two years ago llinois sent me a seperate form along with my state income tax form. They wanted me to voluntarily list all tobacco and liquor that I had purchased in other states. I laughed as I tore it up. Last year they didn’t send me one.
I posted a vanity at the time, showing a copy of the form, I can’t find it now.
I don’t drink but I buy all my cigs in Missouri and I pay cash.
“Yes, they should be disappointed. In the people they elected to office.”
Just look at the Marc Dann debacle! Hope all of the RATs and RINOs are happy with their choice of Attorney General now. Even the gov and other high-ranking RATs are deserting him and asking him to resign. BUT, in true RAT/lib/socialist fashion, Dann-the-Man is refusing. He was elected to do the peoples’ work, doncha know!
Yep, about two years ago (maybe 3 now?) I got like four separate 'bills' from the IL Treasury Dept. One was like $12.00, another $16.00, etc. I threw them away. And not one penny was deducted from my tax refunds. And I haven't heard a word since.
But the funny part was - I also got the exact same 'Use Tax' bills from a Law Firm representing... Cook County. And I don't live in Cook County. I called them and told them to pound sand, look at a map.
“Simply charge NON-smokers the same cigarette tax that smokers pay, on the basis that because they refuse to smoke, they are deliberately avoiding paying the taxes that smokers are paying, and thus structuring their non-smoking habit so as to avoid paying their fair share of society’s ills!”
Hey! Now there you go! I like that kind of thinking! ;)
That's not funny. Ban yourselves for even thinking of it:-).
Sounds like a Really Really Good accountant. :-)
Hah hah!
It’s scary how close that is to how liberals think, huh?!
Ed
No, but they can repo your vehicle, your home, your bank accounts, and just about anything else you have claim to.
Owing taxes is worse than owing a private company by far.
At least a private company has to take you to court.
I do understand that it’s included in taxes. But what I mean was, in Upper Arlington, we had to pay additionally - that is, per can. $3.50 per can - 33 gallons. This in addition to a sales tax of 7%, and property taxes of about $2300 per $100,000 of property value. Four times what we pay here.
Thanks, SEXY!! ;^)
Tar, feathers, rails, free transportation to the city dump.
Thanks for the ping!
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