Section 205.427 - Levy of tax on sale of tobacco products; filing return; payment of tax; inventory; importation or acquisition of tobacco product; tax abatement or refund; reimbursement by adding to
TOBACCO PRODUCTS TAX ACT (EXCERPT)
Act 327 of 1993
205.427 Levy of tax on sale of tobacco products; filing return; payment of tax; inventory; importation or acquisition of tobacco product; tax abatement or refund; reimbursement by adding to price of tobacco product; sale or transfer of unaffixed stamps by wholesaler or unclassified acquirer; prohibition; exchange of unaffixed stamps; inspection; reports; "unstamped cigarettes" defined.
Sec. 7.
(1) Beginning May 1, 1994, a tax is levied on the sale of tobacco products sold in this state as follows:
(a) Through July 31, 2002, for cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, and smokeless tobacco, 16% of the wholesale price.
(b) For cigarettes, 37.5 mills per cigarette.
(c) Beginning August 1, 2002, for cigarettes, in addition to the tax levied in subdivision (b), an additional 15 mills per cigarette.
(d) Beginning August 1, 2002, for cigarettes, in addition to the tax levied in subdivisions (b) and (c), an additional 10 mills per cigarette.
(e) Beginning July 1, 2004, for cigarettes, in addition to the tax levied in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d), an additional 37.5 mills per cigarette.
(f) Beginning August 1, 2002 and through June 30, 2004, for cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, and smokeless tobacco, 20% of the wholesale price.
(g) Beginning July 1, 2004, for cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, and smokeless tobacco, 32% of the wholesale price.
(2) On or before the twentieth day of each calendar month, every licensee under section 3 other than a retailer, unclassified acquirer licensed as a manufacturer, or vending machine operator shall file a return with the department stating the wholesale price of each tobacco product other than cigarettes purchased, the quantity of cigarettes purchased, the wholesale price charged for all tobacco products other than cigarettes sold, the number of individual packages of cigarettes and the number of cigarettes in those individual packages, and the number and denominations of stamps affixed to individual packages of cigarettes sold by the licensee for each place of business in the preceding calendar month. The return shall also include the number and denomination of unaffixed stamps in the possession of the licensee at the end of the preceding calendar month. Wholesalers shall also report accurate inventories of cigarettes, both stamped and unstamped at the end of the preceding calendar month. Wholesalers and unclassified acquirers shall also report accurate inventories of affixed and unaffixed stamps by denomination at the beginning and end of each calendar month and all stamps acquired during the preceding calendar month. The return shall be signed under penalty of perjury. The return shall be on a form prescribed by the department and shall contain or be accompanied by any further information the department requires.
(3) To cover the cost of expenses incurred in the administration of this act, at the time of the filing of the return, the licensee shall pay to the department the tax levied in subsection (1) for tobacco products sold during the calendar month covered by the return, less compensation equal to both of the following:
(a) One percent of the total amount of the tax due on tobacco products sold other than cigarettes.
(b) Through July 31, 2002, 1.25% of the total amount of the tax due on cigarettes sold.
(c) Beginning August 1, 2002, 1.5% of the total amount of the tax due on cigarettes sold.
(4) Every licensee and retailer who, on August 1, 2002, has on hand for sale any cigarettes upon which a tax has been paid pursuant to subsection (1)(b) shall file a complete inventory of those cigarettes before September 1, 2002 and shall pay to the department at the time of filing this inventory a tax equal to the difference between the tax imposed in subsection (1)(b), (c), and (d) and the tax that has been paid under subsection (1)(b). Every licensee and retailer who, on August 1, 2002, has on hand for sale any cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, or smokeless tobacco upon which a tax has been paid pursuant to subsection (1)(a) shall file a complete inventory of those cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, and smokeless tobacco before September 1, 2002 and shall pay to the department at the time of filing this inventory a tax equal to the difference between the tax imposed in subsection (1)(f) and the tax that has been paid under subsection (1)(a).
(5) Every licensee and retailer who, on July 1, 2004, has on hand for sale any cigarettes upon which a tax has been paid pursuant to subsection (1)(b), (c), and (d) shall file a complete inventory of those cigarettes before August 1, 2004 and shall pay to the department at the time of filing this inventory a tax equal to the difference between the tax imposed in subsection (1)(b), (c), (d), and (e) and the tax that has been paid under subsection (1)(b), (c), and (d). Every licensee and retailer who, on July 1, 2004, has on hand for sale any cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, or smokeless tobacco upon which a tax has been paid pursuant to subsection (1)(f) shall file a complete inventory of those cigars, noncigarette smoking tobacco, and smokeless tobacco before August 1, 2004 and shall pay to the department at the time of filing this inventory a tax equal to the difference between the tax imposed in subsection (1)(g) and the tax that has been paid under subsection (1)(f). The proceeds derived under this subsection shall be credited to the medicaid benefits trust fund created under section 5 of the Michigan trust fund act, 2000 PA 489, MCL 12.255.
(6) The department may require the payment of the tax imposed by this act upon the importation or acquisition of a tobacco product. A tobacco product for which the tax under this act has once been imposed and that has not been refunded if paid is not subject upon a subsequent sale to the tax imposed by this act.
(7) An abatement or refund of the tax provided by this act may be made by the department for causes the department considers expedient. The department shall certify the amount and the state treasurer shall pay that amount out of the proceeds of the tax.
(8) A person liable for the tax may reimburse itself by adding to the price of the tobacco products an amount equal to the tax levied under this act.
(9) A wholesaler, unclassified acquirer, or other person shall not sell or transfer any unaffixed stamps acquired by the wholesaler or unclassified acquirer from the department. A wholesaler or unclassified acquirer who has any unaffixed stamps on hand at the time its license is revoked or expires, or at the time it discontinues the business of selling cigarettes, shall return those stamps to the department. The department shall refund the value of the stamps, less the appropriate discount paid.
(10) If the wholesaler or unclassified acquirer has unsalable packs returned from a retailer, secondary wholesaler, vending machine operator, wholesaler, or unclassified acquirer with stamps affixed, the department shall refund the amount of the tax less the appropriate discount paid. If the wholesaler or unclassified acquirer has unaffixed unsalable stamps, the department shall exchange with the wholesaler or unclassified acquirer new stamps in the same quantity as the unaffixed unsalable stamps. An application for refund of the tax shall be filed on a form prescribed by the department for that purpose, within 4 years from the date the stamps were originally acquired from the department. A wholesaler or unclassified acquirer shall make available for inspection by the department the unused or spoiled stamps and the stamps affixed to unsalable individual packages of cigarettes. The department may, at its own discretion, witness and certify the destruction of the unused or spoiled stamps and unsalable individual packages of cigarettes that are not returnable to the manufacturer. The wholesaler or unclassified acquirer shall provide certification from the manufacturer for any unsalable individual packages of cigarettes that are returned to the manufacturer.
(11) On or before the twentieth of each month, each manufacturer shall file a report with the department listing all sales of tobacco products to wholesalers and unclassified acquirers during the preceding calendar month and any other information the department finds necessary for the administration of this act. This report shall be in the form and manner specified by the department.
(12) Each wholesaler or unclassified acquirer shall submit to the department an unstamped cigarette sales report on or before the twentieth day of each month covering the sale, delivery, or distribution of unstamped cigarettes during the preceding calendar month to points outside of Michigan. A separate schedule shall be filed for each state, country, or province into which shipments are made. For purposes of the report described in this subsection, "unstamped cigarettes" means individual packages of cigarettes that do not bear a Michigan stamp. The department may provide the information contained in this report to a proper officer of another state, country, or province reciprocating in this privilege.
History: 1993, Act 327, Eff. Mar. 15, 1994 ;-- Am. 1997, Act 187, Eff. Apr. 15, 1998 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 503, Imd. Eff. July 18, 2002 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 164, Imd. Eff. June 24, 2004 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 458, Imd. Eff. Jan. 9, 2009