West Virginia: Tobacco Excise Taxes
West Virginia Cigarette and Tobacco Excise Taxes
| Total West Virginia Cigarette Taxes | Average Cost Per Pack | Ranking (Highest to Lowest) |
|---|---|---|
| $1.20 / pack | $5.53 / pack | 31st / 51 |
In addition to (or instead of) traditional sales taxes, cigarettes and other tobacco products are subject to excise taxes on both the West Virginia and Federal levels. Excise taxes on tobacco are implemented by every state, as are excises on alcohol and motor fuels like gasoline.
Current West Virginia Tobacco Excise Tax Rates
The primary excise taxes on tobacco in West Virginia are on cigarettes, though many states also have taxes on other tobacco products like cigars, snuff, or e-cigarettes. The tax on cigarettes is $1.20 per pack of 20 cigarettes, raised from $0.55/pack in 2016. Other tobacco products are taxed at 7% of the wholesale price.
West Virginia Cigarette Tax - $1.20 / pack
In West Virginia, cigarettes are subject to a state excise tax of $1.20 per pack of 20. Cigarettes are also subject to West Virginia sales tax of approximately $0.31 per pack, which adds up to a total tax per pack of $1.51.
The average cost of a pack of cigarettes in West Virginia is $5.53, which is the 31st highest in the United States.
West Virginia Other Tobacco Products Tax - 7% / Wholesale Price
In West Virginia, other tobacco products are subject to a state excise tax of 7% / wholesale price as well as federal excise taxes (listed below).
West Virginia Medical Marijuana Tax - 10.00%
Medical marijuana is legal in West Virginia, and is subject to state taxes. There are no federal excise taxes collected on marijuana, since it is still seen as illegal under Federal laws.
Currently, the West Virginia sales tax does not apply to medical marijuana
Medical marijuana is subject to a state cannabis excise tax of 10%.
Payment of West Virginia Tobacco Excise Taxes
Payments of tobacco excise taxes are made by vendors, not by consumers, though the taxes will be passed on in the tobacco's retail price. Sales reports and payments of cigarettes and other tobacco products are due on the 15th day of each month.
Federal Tobacco Excise Taxes
The price of all tobacco products sold in West Virginia also includes Federal Tobacco excise taxes, which are collected from the manufacturer by the Tobacco and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and generally passed on to the consumer in the product's price. Federal excise tax rates on tobacco products are as follows:
Cigars and Cigarettes
| Small Cigarettes | $50.33 per 1,000 cigarettes, or $1.01 per pack of 20 |
|---|---|
| Large Cigarettes | $105.69 per 1,000 cigarettes, or $2.11 per pack of 20 |
| Small Cigars | $50.33 per 1,000 cigars, or $1.01 per pack of 20 |
| Large Cigars | 52.75% of sales price but not to exceed $402.60 per 1,000 cigars, or $0.4026 maximum each |
Other Tobacco Products
| Pipe Tobacco | $2.8311 per pound, or $0.1769 per one-ounce tin |
|---|---|
| Chewing Tobacco | $0.5033 per pound, or $0.0315 per one-ounce tin |
| Snuff | $1.51 per pound, or $0.0944 per one-ounce tin |
| Roll-your-own Tobacco | $24.78 per pound, or $1.5488 per one-ounce tin |
There are also federal excise taxes on cigarette rolling paper and cigarette tubes.
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